A dying SS officer confesses his crimes to a Jewish prisoner and begs for forgiveness, and Simon Wiesenthal turns around and walks out without a word, only to spend the rest of his life asking whether he did the right thing. This haunting story opens a reflection on the words of Jesus from the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 18) about how to confront those who have wronged us and how many times we are to forgive. The sermon does not hide the fact that forgiveness hurts and costs, but it shows that unforgiveness costs even more, and that we ourselves are debtors who have been forgiven an unpayable debt. Listen before you put off that difficult conversation once again.
Discussion questions
For your small group or for personal reflection after the sermon.
- In Matthew 18:15-17 Jesus lays out a sequence: a one on one conversation, then one or two witnesses, then bringing it to the church. According to this passage, what is the goal at every step?
- How does the way Jesus treated tax collectors and sinners change how we understand the words "treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector"?
- What excuses most often keep you from talking personally with someone who has hurt you, and why is it easier to talk about it with others than with that person?
- In the parable, the servant is forgiven a debt of 10,000 talents but refuses to cancel 100 denarii. What helps you see how great the debt is that God has forgiven you?
- The sermon says forgiveness is costly but does not mean trusting again right away. How do you understand the difference between forgiving someone and rebuilding trust?
- The young woman in the therapist's story could not let go of her wounds. What hurt are you holding on to tightly, and what step toward forgiveness or an honest conversation can you take this week?
