This sermon is part of the Matthew series, but is included here as a companion message in the series on Biblical Reconciliation. This passage is often taught as a stand-alone text and therefore misinterpreted and misapplied.

Peter asks Jesus a valid question:

What if my brother continues to sin repetitively against me after confessing and repenting of the original sin? How many times should I forgive him?

Important points to remember:

1. Jesus is not talking about civil or criminal offenses:
2. He is referring specifically to Christians who, having been biblically confronted, have already confessed and repented of their sin(s).
3. He is referring to Christians who keep committing the same sin, but keep responding biblically to their repeated failure.

If a fellow believer has sinned against you, you have an obligation as a citizen of God’s kingdom, to follow the biblical steps of reconciliation - Matthew 18:15-17. If your brother or sister confesses and repents of their sin, you are obligated by God to forgive and restore that person.

(2014)

May God bless you through this message!

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Who were these wise men?

The Greek word for wise men in this account (magoi) is rendered as astrologers where it occurs in the SEPTUAGINT, the Greek translation of the Old Testament (Dan. 1:20; 2:2) and as sorcerer in its other occurrences in the New Testament (Acts 13:6,8).

The Greek historian Herodotus, writing in the fifth century B. C., identified the Magi as a caste of Medes who had a priestly function in the Persian Empire. In the Book of Daniel the "astrologers" (magoi) are grouped with magicians, sorcerers, and Chaldeans as advisers to the court of Babylon with responsibility for interpreting dreams.

The role of the star in suggests a connection with astrology. These astrologers, pursuing their observations of the stars in the heavens, encountered a sign of God. God broke through their misguided system to make the great event known.

The joy, rejoicing, worship, and gifts which mark the response of these wise men to the birth of Jesus is quite a contrast to the troubled state and murderous intent of Herod and his Jewish advisers in Jerusalem.

The tradition that these men were kings dates back to Tertullian (second century). It probably developed as a result of OT passages that say kings will come and worship the Messiah (Ps 68:29, 31; 72:10-11; Is 49:7; 60:1-2)

The theory that there were three of them is probably a deduction from the three gifts.

By the end of the sixth century, the wise men were named; Melchoir, Balthasar, and Gaspar. But Mathew gives no names.

Although these various issues are interesting to consider, the real point of the story is found, not in the identity of, but in the actions and priorities of these wise men.

May God bless you through this message!

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There are at least three types of darkness a person can experience in life:

1. Physical darkness
2. Emotional darkness
3. Spiritual darkness

Fortunately, physical and emotional darkness are usually temporal. But the Good News is that spiritual darkness is something that no man or woman has to live with. If you want, you can come out of the darkness and into the light!

I The Promise of God's Light: Foreshadowed in the OT

1. In the Creation
2. In the Burning Bush
3. In the Pillar of Fire
4. In the Shekinah glory

A visible manifestation of the presence of God in the Holy of Holies of the tabernacle and in Solomon's Temple. The Shekinah was a luminous cloud which rested above the altar in the place of worship and lit up the room.

You can support this ministry: Donate

Blessings, The Epic Life https://www.theepiclife.org https://www.facebook.com/livetheepiclife https://www.instagram.com/Living_The_Epic_Life https://www.theepiclife.podbean.com

There are at least three types of darkness a person can experience in life:

1. Physical darkness
2. Emotional darkness
3. Spiritual darkness

Fortunately, physical and emotional darkness are usually temporal. But the Good News is that spiritual darkness is something that no man or woman has to live with. If you want, you can come out of the darkness and into the light!

I The Promise of God's Light: Foreshadowed in the OT

1. In the Creation
2. In the Burning Bush
3. In the Pillar of Fire
4. In the Shekinah glory

A visible manifestation of the presence of God in the Holy of Holies of the tabernacle and in Solomon's Temple. The Shekinah was a luminous cloud which rested above the altar in the place of worship and lit up the room.

You can support this ministry: Donate

Enjoy the message,

The Epic Life https://www.theepiclife.org https://www.facebook.com/livetheepiclife https://www.instagram.com/Living_The_Epic_Life https://www.theepiclife.podbean.com

Introduction

The church is a holy community created by God and intended to reflect His character and glory in the midst of a fallen world. God loves the church and His ultimate purpose for His church is to make it a gift to His Son; thus He calls it the Bride of Christ. For this reason the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are constantly at work to purify the church and bring her to maturity (Eph 4:7-16; 5:25-27).

Until He returns for His bride, He has given believers and church leaders the privilege, responsibility and authority to keep it pure, essentially saying, "You represent Me in that church and act on my behalf as an undershepherd of my sheep!

But the biblical disciplining of sinning Christians in a church body family is almost unheard of in our society. The question is, “Why?”

1. We haven’t seen it modeled and don’t know how to do it! (Ignorance)
2. We don’t want to be perceived as judgmental or unloving (Pride)
3. We don’t want the hassle of the corrective process (Apathy/indifference)
4. We fear losing long-time friends and ministry associates (Cowardice)
5. We are afraid of losing church members -- and their tithe (Greed)
6. We are afraid of lawsuits (Fear of man). Prov 29:25 “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.”

Regardless of what excuse we use for not following God’s directive to exercise church discipline, at the end of the day, it amounts to disobedience to His clear directives and commands!

I The Purpose of Church Discipline

What is Church Discipline? “It is the corrective process instituted by Christ Jesus to bring repentance, restoration and recovery to a sinning member of His body and to protect the church from the corrupting influence of sin.”

( 7/27/2014)

You can support this ministry: Donate

Blessings, The Epic Life https://www.theepiclife.org https://www.facebook.com/livetheepiclife https://www.instagram.com/Living_The_Epic_Life https://www.theepiclife.podbean.com

Introduction

The church is a holy community created by God and intended to reflect His character and glory in the midst of a fallen world. God loves the church and His ultimate purpose for His church is to make it a gift to His Son; thus He calls it the Bride of Christ. For this reason the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are constantly at work to purify the church and bring her to maturity (Eph 4:7-16; 5:25-27).

Until He returns for His bride, He has given believers and church leaders the privilege, responsibility and authority to keep it pure, essentially saying, "You represent Me in that church and act on my behalf as an undershepherd of my sheep!

But the biblical disciplining of sinning Christians in a church body family is almost unheard of in our society. The question is, “Why?”

1. We haven’t seen it modeled and don’t know how to do it! (Ignorance)
2. We don’t want to be perceived as judgmental or unloving (Pride)
3. We don’t want the hassle of the corrective process (Apathy/indifference)
4. We fear losing long-time friends and ministry associates (Cowardice)
5. We are afraid of losing church members -- and their tithe (Greed)
6. We are afraid of lawsuits (Fear of man). Prov 29:25 “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.”

Regardless of what excuse we use for not following God’s directive to exercise church discipline, at the end of the day, it amounts to disobedience to His clear directives and commands!

I The Purpose of Church Discipline

What is Church Discipline? “It is the corrective process instituted by Christ Jesus to bring repentance, restoration and recovery to a sinning member of His body and to protect the church from the corrupting influence of sin.”

( 7/27/2014)

You can support this ministry: Donate

Blessings, The Epic Life https://www.theepiclife.org https://www.facebook.com/livetheepiclife https://www.instagram.com/Living_The_Epic_Life https://www.theepiclife.podbean.com

Introduction

Matthew 18 is all about the King’s kids:

1. How they enter the Kingdom of Heaven - Matt 18:3-4
2. How they're to be treated - Matt 18:5-9
3. How they're to be cared for - Matt 18:10-14
4. How they're to be disciplined - Matt 18:15-20
5. How they're to be reconciled and forgiven - Matt 18:21-35

I The Simplicity of Children

Mark 9:33-34 “Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, "What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?" But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest.”

1. At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying: [Verse 1]
2. “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

Greatest = Meizon = “Larger, eldest, greatest”

Kingdom of Heaven = “The sphere of God's rule”

1. The Kingdom of God emphasizes the ruler
2. The Kingdom of heaven emphasizes the character of His ruling

Jesus had just taught in Matt 16:24 that if any would come after Me:

1. Let him deny himself
2. Let him take up his cross
3. Let him follow Me
4. Let him lose his life and he will find it

Summary: “The cross before the crown and grief before glory!”

But the disciples are so skewed in their biblical understanding of the mission and agenda of the Messiah that they remained adamant in their pursuit of position, promotion, prominence and personal greatness – and they would remain so until after Christ’s resurrection!

May God bless you through this message!

You can support this ministry: Donate

The Epic Life https://www.theepiclife.org https://www.facebook.com/livetheepiclife https://www.instagram.com/Living_The_Epic_Life https://www.theepiclife.podbean.com

Introduction

Matthew 18 is all about the King’s kids:

1. How they enter the Kingdom of Heaven - Matt 18:3-4
2. How they're to be treated - Matt 18:5-9
3. How they're to be cared for - Matt 18:10-14
4. How they're to be disciplined - Matt 18:15-20
5. How they're to be reconciled and forgiven - Matt 18:21-35

I The Simplicity of Children

Mark 9:33-34 “Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, "What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?" But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest.”

1. At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying: [Verse 1]
2. “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

Greatest = Meizon = “Larger, eldest, greatest”

Kingdom of Heaven = “The sphere of God's rule”

1. The Kingdom of God emphasizes the ruler
2. The Kingdom of heaven emphasizes the character of His ruling

Jesus had just taught in Matt 16:24 that if any would come after Me:

1. Let him deny himself
2. Let him take up his cross
3. Let him follow Me
4. Let him lose his life and he will find it

Summary: “The cross before the crown and grief before glory!”

But the disciples are so skewed in their biblical understanding of the mission and agenda of the Messiah that they remained adamant in their pursuit of position, promotion, prominence and personal greatness – and they would remain so until after Christ’s resurrection!

May God bless you through this message!

You can support this ministry: Donate

The Epic Life https://www.theepiclife.org https://www.facebook.com/livetheepiclife https://www.instagram.com/Living_The_Epic_Life https://www.theepiclife.podbean.com