Kernan Community Groups
Sermon Discussion Guide
May 24, 2026
Matthew: Forgiveness
Matthew 18:21-35
Colossians 3:12-13
[12] Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, [13] bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
Matthew 18:21-35
[21] Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” [22] Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
[23] “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. [24] When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. [25] And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. [26] So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ [27] And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. [28] But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ [29] So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ [30] He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. [31] When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. [32] Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. [33] And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ [34] And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. [35] So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
Main Point: As God has forgiven us, so we must forgive others.
1. The basis for forgiveness
What are some things you’ve heard about forgiveness from a worldly perspective? What is the world’s general view or practice of forgiveness like?
Who does the king represent in this story?
Ten thousand talents is the modern equivalent of six billion dollars! Like this servant, our sin debt to God is insurmountable. However, how do we fool ourselves into thinking we can “pay off” this debt to God?
Behavioral modification will never get to the heart of the matter. The bottom line is we need our debt to be paid, and we can’t pay it.
But, there’s good news:
Colossians 2:13-14
[13] And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, [14] by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
2. The motivation for forgiveness
What hinders you from accepting God’s forgiveness of your sins? What keeps you from rejoicing in God’s forgiveness?
How does thinking about your own forgiveness change the way you think about others who have wronged you?
3. The practice of forgiveness
What might it cost you to forgive someone?
1. This does not imply that if you are in an abusive situation, you should just forgive the person and deal with it — that is not at all what this parable is saying — you need to remove yourself from that situation and seek help immediately.
2. There’s a difference between forgiveness and reconciliation. Reconciliation can only truly happen when there is genuine repentance — when the forgiveness is appropriated.
You don’t have to answer this out loud. Who are you having trouble forgiving?
Why is it so important for our non-Christian friends to see us be forgiving towards others?
