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Matthew 18: 15-20

"As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and LIVE. " (Ezek. 33: 11)

Ezekiel was called thousands of years ago for a mission. He was called to be a watchman for God. The concept of a watchman starts from Israel. They had fields of vegetables and fruits. They built towers so that they have a watchman keeping his eyes on the fields.

This new job was to alert the people of Israel to examine themselves and see if they are in a wicked ways and help them to turn to God who enjoys life and not death.

We have the responsibility to ALERT people.

Last Sunday I was telling about our journey to Jerusalem. Our journey will effect the world as well.

As God commands Ezekiel to be a watchman for his nation, Jesus comes with a similar concept, this time for the individuals who are sinning against you. These individuals are your close ones; he is calling them BROTHERS or SISTERS. It could be blood relationship or a spiritual relationship. Church is the body of Christ. Jesus is talking about church dynamics. He knows we are different from each other and we might hurt each other and create wounds. If wounds are not healed, the effect could be dangerous and lead the person to death. Watch out!

When I was in Middle East, I have been in situations when families did not forgive each other for generations. The wound is often so deep that for years they keep the grudge. Even they call each other names, "the sun of thief", or "daughter of murderer"... For years they keep the wound alive. That is very dangerous. It is actually a burden.

*There is a Russian saying: " Make peace with men, and make war with your sins". Unfortunately, we do the opposite.

Jesus loves to forgive and forget. He did explain to Peter that there is no limit for forgiveness, seventy time seven.

Today’s passage is tricky. At first glance it may be confusing. Forgiveness is good, but there are limits. What about seventy times seven?

When a brother sins against you, you talk to him. If he does not listen to you, you take two or three people. If he refuses to listen, take it to the church.

In baseball you have a call, three strikes, YOU ARE OUT.

After three attempts of reconciliation and no move from the other side, treat him as you would "a Gentile or a Tax Collector".

There is problem with the three strike philosophy. This approach is totally against Jesus' theology and ethics. Just before this incident, Jesus speaks about the Lost Sheep. Leave the 99 and try to find the lost one. Everyone is important. (Matthew 18:10-14). How about his relationship with sinners? He believed in giving a chance to people for repentance.

However, let us be careful with individuals who abuse mercy and kindness.

Do not understand me wrong, we need to learn to forgive, but how?

* Let me give you an example of a mother with two children and a husband addicted to gambling. Many times the wife forgave her husband. She started a new life all over again. But unfortunately, the husband misused his wife's kind Christian approach. Jesus is saying there should be a new action. Try three times with different people. If no response: NEW ACTION: treat him as you would treat Gentiles and Tax collectors.

How many times we should forgive ones who do not repent and continue in the same way? Treat them as you would treat Gentiles and tax collectors.

Doesn't that sound harsh?

Who are Tax collectors? The ones who were cheating the nation and collecting money for Romans. SHAME.

Who are Gentiles? The ones who are not JEWS. They are not chosen ones. ODARNER.

For the general jewish public at the time of Jesus, gentiles and tax collectors were the ones who didn't belong in the society. They were the cast out. BUT, BUT, BUT, be aware: Jesus does see potential in these people.

Matthew our Gospel author used to be a tax collector himself.

Zacchaeuss was a tax collector.

The Canaanite women who came to see Jesus was a gentile.

The Roman Centurion who witnessed the crucifixion of Jesus was a gentile.

Jesus said that these people have faith. Sometimes more than Jews.

Therefore, how should we treat "gentiles and tax collectors?"

These individuals need to be visited again.

These individuals who have problems can not be thrown out just like that. The CHURCH needs to pray for them. It is not easy to pray for individuals who are sinning against us.

There should be a different way to approach them. Sometimes silence, sometimes smile, sometimes prayer, sometimes visit, sometimes professional help. Jesus is not dumping them in a ditch, NO, he is putting a safety boundary, but an open one. Because for Jesus, gentiles and tax collectors offer a potential for evangelism.

* Pastor Dennis A Becker tells a story about a candid camera. They have put a fake soap bar in a wash room. People came and try to wash, and wash, and wash... nothing happens. The same happens for the ones who sin agaianst you and refuse to listen anyone and the church. You are full of anger toward that person who does not recognize his sin. Also the same happens for the one who is sinning against you and is not ready to accept it. Both are trying to solve their problem but without real soap. Instead of feeling cleaner, you are becoming dirtier. Instead of feeling better, you feel worse. One needs God. Only when you tasted the forgiveness of God, you can learn to forgive others.

Once Bill Clinton asked Nelson Mandela: “As you marched from the cellblock across the yard to the gate of the prison, the camera focused in on your face. I have never seen such anger….WHY?”

Mandela answered, “I’m surprised that you saw that, and I regret that the cameras caught my anger. As I walked across the courtyard that day I thought to myself, ‘They’ve taken everything from you, that matters. Your cause is dead. Your family is gone. Your friends have been killed. Now they’re releasing you, but there’s nothing left for you out there’. And I hated them for what they had taken from me. Then, I sensed an inner voice saying to me, “Nelson! For twenty-seven years you were their prisoner, but you were always a free man! Don’t let them to make you into a free man, only to turn you into their prisoner!”

Hate bounds you; it makes you a prisoner.

If you are bounded by the pain of unforgiveness towards certain persons, you can't be free.

Rev. Serop Megerdichian my friend from Aleppo, was visiting Badveli Krikor in Istamboul.

We have an Armenian Evangalical church there. He attended the service and gave the sermon in Armenian and pastor Krikor traslated the sermon to Turkish.

After the service a Turkish woman, who had become a christian, asked Badveli Serop to pray for her. She said her name was Damat and does not speak Armenian. Suddenly Badveli Serop realized that she was 100% Turk. He wanted to escape this situation by saying that he doesn't speak Turkish and referred her to Badveli Krikor.

The woman insisted: "Please pray in Armenian, for God's sake."

Badveli Serop was silent. He remembered the dark days of the Armenian people. Was Turks did to us came to his mind. And now a Turk asking and Armenian pastor to pray for her. But there was an inner voice reminding him of Jesus' love and forgiveness.

Hate bounds you; it makes you a prisoner.

If you are bounded by the pain of unforgiveness towards certain persons, you can't be free.

For three times try to reconcile with the person.

DO NOT IGNORE THEM even if they refuse you.

Continue in prayer asking God to help open his/her eyes.

This is going another mile.