The document discusses the importance of patience and forgiveness. It defines patience as maintaining a good attitude while waiting, and explains that experiencing tribulations can help develop patience. It then tells the story of a king who forgave a servant's enormous debt out of compassion, but the servant later refused to show compassion to a fellow servant who owed him a small amount. The king punished the unforgiving servant to illustrate that if we fail to forgive others, God will not forgive us either. The document encourages developing patience by appreciating God's immense patience and forgiveness toward us.

1. PATIENCE

2. Growing in the Likeness of Christ

3. Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

4. PATIENCE Matthew 18:21-35

5. Patience is not the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting.

6. And not only so , but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; Rom 5:3

7. Rom 5:4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

8. Heb 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

9. Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus. Rom 15:5

10. BIBLE READING Matthew 18:21-35

11. 21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. 23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. 24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshiped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 27 Then the lord of that 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: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. 29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. 32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: 33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow servant, even as I had pity on thee? 34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. 35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

12. Μακροθύμησε Matthew 18:26 Μακροθυμία Galatians 5:22 ’ Υπομονή Romans 5:3 Patience

13. Patience ὑπομονή, hupomonḗ , μακροθυμία, makrothumía “Patience” implies suffering, enduring or waiting, as a determination of the will and not simply under necessity. We need to “wait patiently” for God, to endure uncomplainingly the various forms of sufferings, wrongs and evils that we meet with, and to bear patiently injustices which we cannot remedy and provocations we cannot remove. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

14. Discussion

15. 1. Why is it hard to keep forgiving people who do the same thing wrong over and over? 2. In the passage above, the Lord Jesus had just been talking about forgiveness when Peter approached him (v.21). What had Peter been wondering as he listened to the Lord Jesus? 3. The rabbis taught that a repeated sin should be forgiven three times. (Peter’s offer seems generous!). What was shocking about The Lord’s reply (v.22)?

16. 4. The Lord’s reply to Peter is enlarged by the parable in verses 23-35. What is the first servant’s problem in this parable? 5. How was his problem solved far beyond anything he could have hoped for? 6. How does the master illustrate God’s patience and forgiveness toward us? 7. How does the way the first servant was treated contrast with the way he treats his fellow servant?

17. 8. Why do you think he failed to be patient or forgiving after having been forgiven so much? 9. If we fail to treat others with patience and forgiveness, how will God treat us (vv. 34-35)? Why is His judgment so harsh? 10. How can a deep appreciation for God’s patience and forgiveness help you with the kind of person mentioned in question 1? 11. Pray that the God who has been so patient with you will help you be patient with others.

18. John 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. Key Verse