Matthew: The Power to People

Text: Matthew 18:15-35

Title: The Power to People

“A triangulated relationship is any three person relationship that should have two people in it…Gossip is always a form of triangulation, as are most middle school relationships.” - Steve Cuss

“In an environment of suspicion, assuming the best is a revolutionary act.” Matt Smethurst

“Most people don’t want accurate information, they want validating information. Growth requires you to be open to unlearning ideas that previously served you.” - James Clear

 “In this context Jesus is almost certainly referring to the procedures of vs. 15–17 involving the withholding or bestowing of forgiveness and fellowship.” Craig Blomberg

“The next story—the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant—confirms this. The servant there, who at first is repentant and forgiven, is loosed; but when this same servant proves to be vindictive, he is literally bound and cast into prison. “Binding and loosing,” then, simply means banning and forgiving, the church’s announcing in the name and power of Christ the loss of life to the unrepentant and the gift of life to the repentant.” Dale Bruner

“Forgiveness is not so much a word spoken, an action performed, or a feeling felt as it is an embodied way of life in an ever-deepening friendship with the Triune God and with others… Forgiveness does not mean risk your life, but it does require our death.” - L. Gregory Jones