Jesus teaches that unforgiveness locks us in an inner prison. Pastor Dave Smale preaches from Matthew 18:21–35 on the high cost of holding a grudge and the freedom found in real forgiveness. You’ll hear a powerful modern example from the Athena Strand case and her grandfather’s public decision to forgive.ScripturesMatthew 18:21–35; Romans 5:12; Romans 6:23; Proverbs 14:30; Luke 23:34Key ideas • Trespass is certain. Your response is the variable. • Bitterness poisons body and soul. • God forgave a massive debt. We pass it on or we stay chained. • Forgiveness is not denial of justice. It is release from hate.[00:00] - Welcome[00:33] - The Tragedy of Athena Strand[02:30] - Peter’s Question: How Many Times Must I Forgive?[05:00] - The Root of Suffering and Sin[07:40] - Living in the World We Create[09:00] - The Certainty of Being Offended[10:18] - “Living Rent-Free” in Your Head[12:09] - The Futility of Revenge[13:33] - The High Price of Sin and Unforgiveness[14:14] - Spiritual Causes of Physical Disease[16:11] - The Story of Bitterness: A Personal Example[19:34] - The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant[20:49] - The Self-Inflicted Torture of Unforgiveness[22:05] - The Key to Freedom: Radical Forgiveness[23:27] - Athena’s Grandfather: A Testimony of Forgiveness[27:55] - Who Can You Forgive Today?[28:34] - Jesus: The Ultimate Example of Forgiveness[29:52] - Invitation to Receive Forgiveness and Extend ItShow Notes• Did you benefit from this message? Support our ministry with a generous donation: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://give.vbph.church⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://give.vbph.church/) • Keep up with all the latest events happening at VBPH: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://vbph.org/events⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• Subscribe to text updates by sending the keyword "ALERTS" to 757-785-9881• Follow our YouTube channel for all the latest video content: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/PottersHouseVB⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• Subscribe to our VBPH Sermon Podcast to never miss a message: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podfollow.com/vbph-sermon-podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• Want to read through the Bible with us this year? Join our YouVersion Bible Reading Plan here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/VBPH-BiblePlan-2025⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• Let us know if this message has influenced you by connecting with us using one of these options: • Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://vbph.church⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Let us know you're coming: https://form.church/vgSQszyXdkGlOgqDFnG6⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • Looking for more fellowship sermons? Check out TAKING THE LAND - CFM Sermon Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://takingthelandpodcast.com