Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1921-01-06
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
SUNDESCIOOL
LESSON
(By REV. P. B. FITZWATER, D. d,
Teacher of English Bible in the Moody
Bible Institute of Chicago)
q. 1920. Western Newspaper Union.)
LESSON FOR JANUARY 8
JESUS TEACHES FORGIVENESS.
LESSON TExT-Matt. 18:21-a5.

LESSON TEXT-Matt. 1S:21-95.
GOLDEN TEXT-If ye forgive men
their trespasses, your heavenly Father
Will also forgive you.-Matt. 6:14.
REFERENCE MATERIAL-Matt. 6:12-
Is; 1S:15-20; Luke 1913, 4; Eph. A: 81, 81;
Col. 3:12-14
PRIMARY TOPIC-Forgiving One An
other
JUNIOR TOPIC-Learning to Forgive.
INTERMEDIATES AND SENIOR TOPIC
-Forgiving and Forgiven.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
forgiveness: Its Meaning and Scope.
In this lesson we have divine in
structiOns as TO our behavior in case
Of iIl-treatment.
|. Peters Question ". 2D.
This question, How often shall my
brother sin against me and 1 forgive
him?' probably was Occasioned by the
i'll treatment which Peter was then re-
ceiving at the hands of his fellow dis
ciples. Christ's confession of Peter
brought him into the limelight. The
question of the disciples (18:D "Who
is the greatest in the kingdom of heav.
en?" shows that there was some jeal-
Ousy of Peter among the disciples and
consequent contention among them,
From the Lords teaching as to the
efforts to bring about reconciliation in
case of offenses between brother and
| brother He knew that it would require
| the exercise of the spirit of forgive
ness. Peter disposed to be gracious in
| quires "Till seven times?" showing his
readiness to forgive his brother not
three times, but twice three times and
little over.
IL. Jesus Answer ". 22).
The Lords answer was an astonish-
ing revelation to Peter. He said "Not
until seven times, but until seventy
times seven" This shows that our
willingness to forgive should be limit
less.
Ill. The Two Creditors (vv. 23-35).
This parable of the two creditors il
lustrates His principles Of forgiveness.
1. The gracious creditor wv. 1920.
The king in this parable represents
God, and the servant who is greatly in
debt represents the sinner-any sin
ner, every sinner, you and me. We
were hOpelessly in debt to God. Ten
thousand talents are equal to some
twelve millions of dollars. To meet
this obligation would be an utter i'm
possibility. This mans plea for time,
promising to pay all, much resembles
our vain imaginings that we can pay
our debt to God, that by our future
good works we can atone for our past
most griveOUs sins. By the justice of
Gods law we were hopelessly con-
demned by the grace of God we were
freely pardoned.
2. The cruel creditor wv. 2S-35).
This man who was forgiven so much
found a man who owed him a small
sum-about fifteen or seventeen dol
lars. He shut his ears to the mans
entreaty to be patient with him, flew
at his throat and cruelty put him into
Jail. The great mercy shown him did
not touch his heart, so he refused to
be merciful. Being set free from so
great a debt as our sins against God
we should make Gods act of unlimited
forgiveness toward us the standard OF
unlimited forgiveness toward others
In dealing with others we should al
ways keep these considerations before
US: ID We ourselves need it and dc
every day continue to need the for
giveness of God. With all our imper
fections and positive sins we need tht
continued mercy of God. When W.
pray, Forgive us our debts as we for
give our Debtors" let US be sure that
we have put away all thought Of sill
held against others. To pray thai
prayer otherwise is an abOminatiOn
(2) That there is a day of judgmen
, coming and at that day we shall bC
treated as we treat others. No mere!
will be shown to those who have no
shown mercy.
The heart. then, of this lesson is tina
Gods gracious act toward US shOulC
be the standard of our actions to
ward others, and that we must eXer
else the same spirit of forgiveness
/ toward our fellOwmen if we woulC
continue to enjoy Gods forgiveness
The proof that we are Gods childrel
is that we manifest the spirit of God
"Be We therefore perfect, even as you
Father which is in heaven is perfect
= Matt. :4S).