21. Lost Sheep & 22. Unmerciful Servant
Matthew 17:24 - 18:35
Mark 9:33-50
Luke 9:46-50
Spoken during Week 33 of Yeshua’s Ministry in Kfar Nahum
Mathew 17:24 When they came to Kfar Nahum, those who received tribute money came to Kefa, and said, “Does not your master pay tribute?” 25 He said, “Yes.” When Kefa came into the house, Yeshua prevented him, “What were “you thinking, Shimon? Tell me, of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute – from their own children, or of strangers? 26 Kefa said to him, “from strangers.” Yeshua said to him, “Then the children are free from this. 27 Notwithstanding, lest we should now offend them [over this trivial issue], go to the lake, cast in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. When you open his mouth you shall find a piece of money. That take, and give to them for me and you.
Matthew 18:1 At that time the disciples came to Yeshua, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 Yeshua called a little child to him and set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, “Truth I say to you, unless you are changed and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever shall receive one such little child in my name receives me. 6 Whoever offends one of these little ones who believes in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hung about his neck and that he were drowned in the depths of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of offences! Yes, offences must come; but woe to the man by whom the offence comes! 8 Therefore, if your hand or your foot offends you, cut them off and cast them from you! It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the fires of Gehinnom. 9 If your eye offends you, pluck it out, and cast it from you! It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. 10 Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones. I say to you, that in heaven their guardian angels continually behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
11 The Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. 12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go into the mountains and seek that which has gone astray? 13 If he finds it, truth I say to you, he rejoices more for that one sheep, than for the ninety-nine which did not stray. 14 Even so, it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. 15 Moreover, if your brother shall trespass against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he shall hear you, you have gained your brother; 16 but if he will not hear you, then take with you one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 If he shall neglect to hear them, tell it to the kehilah – but if he refuses to hear the kehilah, let him be the same to you as a heathen or a publican. 18 Truth I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven – and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them.
21 Then Kefa came to him and said, “Master, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him – seven times?” 22 Yeshua said to him, “I say not to you, ‘seven times,’ but, ‘until seventy times seven.’ 23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is likened to a certain king, which took an account of his servants. 24 When he began to reckon, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But forasmuch as he had nothing with which to pay, his master commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 The servant fell down and begged him, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 27 The master of the servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him and forgave him the debt. 28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, “which owed him a hundred pence. He laid hands on him, and took him by the throat saying, ‘Pay me all that you owe.’ 29 Then his fellow servant fell down at his feet and besought him, ‘Have patience with me and I will pay you all.’ 30 But he refused and he cast him into prison until he paid the full debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what was done they were very sorry, and came and told to their master all that was done. 32 Then his master called him and said, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, even as I had pity on you?’ 34 His master was wroth, and he delivered him to the slavemasters until he paid all that was due to him. 35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also to you, if you, from your hearts, do not forgive every one of his brother’s trespasses.
Mark 9:33 Yeshua came to Kfar Nahum, and when he was in the house he asked his disciples, “What was it that you disputed among yourselves along the way?” 34 But they held their peace, for along the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest. 35 He sat down and called the twelve, and said to them, “If any man desire to be the greatest, he shall make himself last of all, and servant of all.” 36 Then he took a child and set him in the midst of them and when he had taken him in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever shall receive one such child in my name, receives me; and whoever shall receive me, receives not me, but him that sent me.”
8 Yochanan answered, “Master, we saw one casting out demons in your name, and he does not follow us, so we forbade him because he does not follow us.” 39 But Yeshua said, “Do not forbid him, for there is no man who can do a miracle in my name, that can readily revile me. 40 He that is not against us, is on our side. 41 Whoever gives you a cup of water to drink, in my name, because you belong to Messiah, truth I say to you, he shall not lose his reward. 42 Whoever shall offend one of these little ones that believes in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hung about his neck and he was cast into the sea. 43 If your hand offends you, cut it off! It is better for you to enter into life maimed than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched, 44 where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched! 45 If your foot offends you, cut it off! It is better for you to enter into life lame, than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched, 46 where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched. 47 If your eye offends you, pluck it out! It is better for you to enter into the kingdom of JeHoVah with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire, 48 where the worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched. 49 Every one will be seasoned with fire, just as every sacrifice is salted with salt. 50 Salt is good, but if the salt has lost his saltiness, how will you season your sacrifice? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.”
Luke 9:46 Then there arose a question among them as to which of them should be the greatest. 47 So Yeshua, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him, 48 and said to them, “Whoever shall receive this child in my name receives me; and whoever shall receive me receives him that sent me! He that is least among you all, he shall be great.” 49And Yochanan answered, “Master, we saw one casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he does not follow us.” 50 Yeshua said to him, “Do not forbid him – for he that is not against us is for us.”
The Mystery of the Kingdom will be revealed in the heart of the Young. Let us join hands, with great numbers, and march to the beat of the drummer for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand! Yeah, we stand on the threshold of The Door ready to enter in to open the Ark in the Tabernacle of the Mind.
Do the scars upon your heart and mind bind you as the plane passes by up on high? Is the rhythm of forgiveness not found beating deep inside? Do you cry and wale before the master to be forgiven of the scars made so long ago? I tell you TRUTH, that only by forgiveness of others can one find peace and perfect all the others deep in the well of souls. The chains will be broken by the chisel of iron beaten as a hammer, the forgiveness beats through the everlasting heart with love and charity for ALL!
It is a pure heart, like a child, is how He saves you. The One who teaches you all the unseen things cleanses your unforgiving nature and takes you on the journey to walk with the Holy Spirit, this was known in the first century as The Way.
Forgive and Forget. Step into the Glory that is to Come.