Pathway to Victory

Speaker 1

Hey, podcast listeners. Thanks for streaming today's podcast from Pathway to Victory.

Pathway to Victory is a nonprofit ministry featuring the Bible teaching of Dr. Robert Jeffress. Our mission is to pierce the darkness with the light of God's Word through the most effective media available, like this podcast.

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Now here's today's podcast from Pathway to Victory.

Speaker 2

Hi, this is Robert Jeffress, and I'm glad to study God's Word with you every day. This Bible teaching program on today's edition.

Speaker 3

Of Pathway to Victory, probably the single best illustration, I call it a case study in forgiveness, is found in the Old Testament story of Joseph.

Let me share with you the four principles of forgiveness that you find in Joseph's story.

Four Steps to Releasing Yourself from the Prison of Bitterness welcome to Pathway to.

Speaker 1

Victory with author and pastor Dr. Robert Jeffress. You know, at some point we're going to be hurt by another person. We simply cannot control what other people do to us. But we can control how we respond to those hurts in life.

Today on Pathway to Victory, Dr. Robert Jeffress urges us to let go of bitterness and forgive those who offend us. But first, let's take a moment to hear some important ministry updates.

Speaker 2

Thanks, David, and welcome again to Pathway to Victory. For 30 years, Pathway to Victory has been delivering biblical truth to millions around the world. And that's thanks in part to our faithful Pathway partners. A Pathway partner agrees to give a recurring monthly gift. And by making this commitment, you're building a spiritual legacy in real time. You're equipping us to proclaim the gospel without compromise or apology.

To welcome you into our Pathway Partner family, I want to place David Green's powerful book, *The Legacy Life*, in your hands. David is the founder of Hobby Lobby, and his book will transform how you understand generosity—not as mere giving, but as kingdom investment with eternal ripple effects.

Plus, in addition to David Green's book, *The Legacy Life*, I'm going to send you my bestselling book for this teaching series as well. It's called *Choose Your Attitudes, Change Your Life*. I'll share more details right after today's teaching, but for now, let's get started.

In Ephesians, chapter four, I titled my message "Choosing Forgiveness over Bitterness."

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Turn to Matthew, chapter 18. As we look at, first of all, Forgiveness Illustrated, let me tell you a story. Jesus said the kingdom of heaven can be compared to a certain king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. And when he had begun to settle them, there was brought to him one who owed him ten thousand talents.

Verse 25. Since the slave did not have the means to repay, the king commanded him to be sold along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. The slave, therefore, falling down, prostrated himself before the king, saying, "Have patience with me, and I will repay you everything." Now, how was he gonna do that? It was impossible for him to repay the debt.

But the Lord, verse 27, the King of that slave felt compassion, and he released him, and he forgave him the debt. There is the meaning of forgiveness. It's a financial term. It means to release someone of a debt.

Then this is where the story takes a twist. But the slave, the one who had just been forgiven the $16 billion, went out and found a fellow slave who owed him 100 denarii. That would be about $16. And he seized him, and he began to choke him, saying, "Pay back what you owe."

So his fellow slave fell down and began to entreat him, saying, "Have patience with me, and I will repay you." Sound familiar? It's exactly what the first slave had said to the king. "Have patience with me, and I will repay you."

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But.

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But unlike the king, this first slave was unwilling. Verse 30 says, "And he went and he threw his fellow slave into prison until he should pay back what was owed." So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their Lord all that had happened. Then, summoning him, the king said to him, "You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you entreated me. Should you not have also had mercy on your fellow slave, even as I had mercy on you?" And the king, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him.

And then Jesus adds the zinger in verse 35: "So shall my heavenly Father also do to you if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart." Now Jesus is saying, you and I are to forgive others, just as God has forgiven us. Listen to this. First of all, we're to forgive those who don't deserve to be forgiven. We're to forgive those who don't deserve to be forgiven. And secondly, we forgive on the basis of grace, not works. We refuse to require somebody to earn our forgiveness. We grant it as a gift, just as it was granted to us.

Since the moment I began this sermon, there's a name, a picture that has come to some of your minds of somebody you need to forgive. You know what Jesus is saying right now? Where you are in that pew, you've got the ability to let go, to release that hurt. It doesn't matter if the other person is in the next city, the next state, or the cemetery. It doesn't matter whether that person knows he's wronged you or cares that he's wronged you. It doesn't matter. Right now you have the ability to forgive.

Jesus says conditional forgiveness misinterprets scripture. Secondly, conditional forgiveness makes us a prisoner of our offender. It makes us a prisoner of our offender. When you say, "I'm not going to forgive until this person does this, or this, or this or this," you are binding yourself to that other person emotionally. That means you can go no further in your Christian experience than that person is willing to let you go. You become their prisoner.

I've used this illustration before, but it's such a good one, I'm going to use it again. You've been to those three-legged races they used to have at old-fashioned picnics. You know what I'm talking about, the three-legged races. If you've ever been in that situation, you know the first thought that goes through your mind is, "If I could just get rid of this idiot, I could go a lot further." But you see, three-legged races don't allow for solo contenders. You are bound to that person. You can go no faster or farther than your partner is willing to go.

Now listen, when you say, "I'm not gonna forgive so and so until they do this, this, and this," you are just wrapping yourself around that other person. You're tying yourself emotionally to that other person. You can't go any farther or faster than he or she is willing to let you go. But forgiveness is the process by which I separate myself from my offender. It's when I say what this person did to me is wrong; they deserve...

Speaker 2

To pay for it.

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But you know what? I'm gonna leave that up to God. I'm gonna free myself of this person. I'm gonna give up my right to hurt them for hurting me. I'm gonna let go so I can be free to move forward in the life God has for me. That's the freedom that comes from forgiveness.

You say, how do I do that? Probably the single best illustration, I call it a case study in forgiveness, is found in the Old Testament story of Joseph. Turn over to Genesis chapter 50 for the climax of Joseph's story. You remember the story, don't you? Joseph, who was one of 12 sons of Jacob, was the favored son. Because of his favored status, his brothers were jealous of him and decided to get rid of him at their first opportunity. One day, the opportunity came, and they threw him in a pit, left him to be sold into slavery, and told their father that Joseph was dead.

But through a series of miraculous circumstances, God took Joseph out of that pit and put him into Pharaoh's palace in Egypt. He became Pharaoh's right-hand man. Suddenly, there was a great famine that engulfed the land, not just of Israel, but of Egypt as well. The remaining 11 brothers and their father Jacob, when they heard that there was food that could be purchased in Egypt, made the decision to send the brothers to Egypt to try to buy grain for their starving family. Little did they know that the man to whom they would be making their appeal for food was, in fact, their own brother Joseph, whom they presumed was dead by this time.

In the great climactic scene, Joseph calls for his brothers to come near. When they realize who it is, you can feel the sweat coming down off their faces and dripping onto your Bible as you read that scene. And then you remember the great climactic scene. Genesis 50:20. Joseph said, "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive." He goes on to say, "It was not you who sent me here, it was God." And the Bible says he spoke kindly to his brothers.

In closing, today let me share with you the four principles of forgiveness that you find in Joseph's story—four steps to releasing yourself from the prison of bitterness.

First of all, acknowledge that you have been wronged. You know forgiveness. Don't be mistaken about this. Forgiveness is not denial. It's not sweeping under the rug something bad that has happened to you. It's not like it never happened before. Joseph was very honest. He said to his brothers, "You meant it for evil." Somebody has said, "You cannot forgive those you're not willing to blame." You have to blame people before you can forgive people. Remember, forgiveness is about releasing a debt—something somebody owes you, literally or figuratively, for what they've done to you. But for you to release that debt, you've got to acknowledge that that debt exists. Sometimes you even have to calculate what that person might owe you for what they've done to you.

It might be a divorce. They may deserve prison; they may deserve the death penalty. You need to acknowledge a debt, even calculate the debt before you can release the debt. Doctors Menrith and Meyer suggest that you do an inventory of your own life about those who may have wronged you and who need your forgiveness. They suggest now put it on your outline: your parents, maybe yourself.

Now, I always have a little trouble with that. You can't forgive yourself. Trying to forgive yourself is like trying to play solo tennis. You can't be on the serving and the receiving end of the court at the same time. You can't forgive yourself. Only God can forgive, or others you've wronged can forgive. But you can receive God's forgiveness. That's what we need—to receive God's forgiveness, not grant it to ourselves. Maybe a spouse who needs your forgiveness, authority figures in your life, or other people. Some people talk about forgiving God. Again, that technically is wrong. You can't forgive God because God can't do anything wrong.

But at least looking at your hurt from God's perspective is the second step of forgiveness. Once you've acknowledged the offense that has occurred, view your hurt from God's perspective. Instead of asking the question, "Why did this person do this to me?" ask, "What is God trying to do in my life?" What is he trying to do in my life? That's what Joseph did. He said to his brothers, "You meant it for evil." But he goes on to say, "But God used it for good, to bring about this present circumstance, to preserve many people alive."

You know what Joseph was saying to his brothers? He said, "What you did was rotten. It was wrong. But thankfully, I serve a God who is bigger than you are." God was able to take your worst motivations, your worst intentions, and use them for my good and for his glory. Do you believe in a God that powerful? A God who is so big, so wise, so powerful that he can take the worst things that happen to you and use them for good?

Joseph got to see the result of that hurt and how God used it for good. Because Joseph was sold into slavery, because he was in Egypt, because he was Pharaoh's right-hand man, he was in a position of influence. It was Joseph who suggested that Pharaoh store up the grain for the time of famine that was coming. It was Joseph who was in a place of privilege to be able to sell food to his brother and keep his whole family alive. He believed in a God who was bigger than his offenders.

Now, sometimes God allows us to see the good that comes from our hurt. But sometimes we go to our grave without ever seeing it. We have to wait until heaven to see how it all worked together. But we can claim that great promise of Romans 8:28: "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love him and are called according to his purpose." Paul's not saying all things are good. There's nothing good about abuse. There's nothing good about divorce. There's nothing good about adultery. There's nothing good about murder. There's nothing good about any of those things.

But God is so powerful, he can take the worst things people want to do and use them for his good and his glory. Isn't that what Peter said in Acts chapter two? He said, "This man Jesus was delivered up by the predetermined plan of God, and you nailed him to the cross." He said, "You did it for evil." He was talking to the people who had crucified Christ just 50 days earlier. He said, "You were angry; you nailed him to the cross, but it was all according to the predetermined plan of God." That's the kind of God we serve—a God who can take the worst things that happen to you and use them for good.

Romans 8:29 says, "For whom God foreknew, he predestined to be conformed to the image of his will." Even if you go your entire life without seeing the good that comes, you can know that the heartache you've experienced is making you more and more like Jesus Christ. Hebrews 5:8 says, "Although Jesus was the Son, he learned obedience by the things that he suffered." God is at work. Try to see what it is God is doing in your life. View your hurt from God's perspective.

Thirdly, acknowledge your failure and receive God's forgiveness. Acknowledge your failure and receive God's forgiveness. Now, I don't want you to misunderstand this. I'm not engaging in victim blaming here. But what I am saying is this: you can never truly forgive other people until you have received God's forgiveness. And you will never receive God's forgiveness until you understand how desperately you need it. You and I have done things that are wrong for which we need forgiveness.

You and I will never be in a position to grant forgiveness to others until we realize the forgiveness we need from God. I found that those people who have a hard time forgiving really have an inflated view of their own righteousness. They really don't understand in God's eyes what sinners they are and how much they need his grace and his mercy. That's why it's important, if you're ever going to forgive others, to receive God's forgiveness in your life. Trying to forgive somebody without receiving forgiveness is like trying to write a check on an account for which you have no money. I mean, it just bounces from here to the moon. The check does. The same thing happens if you try to forgive somebody without having received God's forgiveness. We forgive because we have been forgiven.

Fourth, finally, there comes a time when we actually have to choose forgiveness over bitterness. We can't choose what other people do to us, but we can make the choice of letting go, forgiving, or holding on and being destroyed. Just think for a moment what would have happened if Joseph, instead of forgiving, had held onto that bitterness. What if he had said, "Here those brothers are. This is my chance to get even with them. I'm not gonna sell them any grain, or I'm gonna execute them right here on the spot." Just think about it. If he had done that, that would have wiped out not just Joseph's family, but those 12 sons were the nucleus of the 12 tribes of Israel. There would not only have been no family, there would have been no Israel. And if there had been no Israel, there would have been no Messiah. And if there had been no Messiah, you and I would still be left in the consequences of our sin for all eternity.

One man's decision to choose forgiveness over bitterness still reverberates today to your life and my life. Why should I forgive? Well, there are certainly some great spiritual reasons to forgive. The best one is what Jesus talked about in this parable we looked at. He said, "So shall my heavenly Father do to you if you do not forgive his brother from your heart." Just as that slave was thrown into the prison and tortured day and night, so shall my Heavenly Father do to you.

If you're not sure what he's talking about there, listen to his words. In Matthew 6:14-15, Jesus said, "For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your Heavenly Father will also forgive. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions." You know, I hear people all the time trying to explain away those verses. "Well, what Jesus meant was..." What Jesus meant was what Jesus said: if you do not forgive other people, God will not forgive you, and you will die in your sins.

Pastor, are you saying I'm going to lose my salvation? No, I'm not saying you lose your salvation. What I'm saying is, if you find yourself saying over and over again, like I hear some people say, "I will not forgive. I will not forgive. I will not forgive this person," it's not that you lose your salvation. It means you never had it to begin with. Because when you truly understand the great debt from which God has forgiven you, it's only natural that you would extend that forgiveness to somebody else. Forgiveness is the obligation of those who have been forgiven. That's the spiritual reason for forgiving.

But there's a practical reason that affects our life right now. The fact is, forgiveness leads to life. Bitterness leads to emotional and sometimes even physical death. It is a poison that will destroy you and everyone around you. The great theologian Frederick Buechner once wrote, with tongue firmly in cheek, of the seven deadly sins, anger is perhaps the most fun. To lick your wounds, to smack your lips over grievances long past, to roll over your tongue the prospect of bitter confrontation to come, to savor to the last toothsome morsel both the pain you are giving others and the pain you are receiving in return. Why? In many ways, it's a feast fit for a king. The chief drawback is that what you are wolfing down is yourself. The skeleton at the feast is you.

Are there offenses in your life that you need to acknowledge? Are there hurts in your life that you need to release? Go ahead and acknowledge that hurt. Release it and begin today to experience the freedom that comes from choosing forgiveness over bitterness.

Speaker 2

If someone has popped into your mind today and God's spirit is prompting you, please respond to his call. Don't allow the day to pass by without reaching out to extend a hand of forgiveness.

Earlier, I invited you to become one of our valued pathway partners. Here's why people are searching desperately for answers and we have the life-changing truth they're longing to discover. So here's what I'm asking you to do: join our pathway partner family today. You select a monthly gift amount, and it processes automatically. The eternal shock waves from your decision will echo forever. I mean this literally. Imagine standing in glory one day and having a real chat with real people who encountered Jesus Christ because of your partnership right now. Can you picture those moments when you respond today?

David Greene's powerful new book, *The Legacy Life*, is on its way to you. Whether you commit as a pathway partner or invest through a one-time contribution, here's the liberating truth David unpacks: creating an eternal legacy has zero connection to your net worth. You don't have to be wealthy to leave fingerprints on eternity.

In that same spirit, know that each time you invest in Pathway to Victory, you're writing your spiritual legacy in real time. Your partnership penetrates communities you'll never walk through, transforms lives in nations you'll never see, and extends far beyond the years you have on this earth. And it all begins the second you become a Pathway Partner.

Here's David to tell you more today.

Speaker 1

When you support the ministry of Pathway to Victory by becoming a Pathway Partner or by giving a generous one-time gift, we'll say thanks by sending you the Legacy Life. In addition, you'll receive "Choose Your Attitudes, Change Your Life." That's the book written by Dr. Jeffress that has served as the basis of this series. To request your copy, call 866-999-2965 or simply go online to ptv.org when your gift is $100 or more.

You'll not only receive the two books, but we'll also include the audio and video discs for this month's series, "Choose Your Attitudes, Change Your Life." Plus, you'll get a personal or group study guide. Call right now at 866-999-2965 or go online to ptv.org. You could also mail your gift to P.O. Box 223609, Dallas, Texas 75222.

I'm David J. Mullins. Join us again Friday for the next Attitude Choice: Choosing Productivity Over Laziness, right here on Pathway to Victory. Pathway to Victory with Dr. Robert Jeffress comes from the pulpit of the First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas.

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Speaker 3

Set sail with amy and me June.

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13, 2026 for seven unforgettable days. Enjoy daily Bible teaching, worship led by Michael o' Brien and laughter with Dennis Swanberg. All aboard Holland America's five Star Koningsdam.

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You made it to the end of today's podcast from Pathway to Victory, and we're so glad you're here. Pathway to Victory relies on the generosity of loyal listeners like you to make this podcast possible. One of the most impactful ways you can give is by becoming a Pathway Partner. Your monthly gift will empower Pathway to Victory to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ and help others become rooted more firmly in His Word. To become a Pathway Partner, go to ptv.org/donate or you can follow the link in our show notes.

We hope you've been blessed by today's podcast from Pathway to Victory.

Oh, and one last thing before we go. Have you reserved your spot yet for the 2026 Pathway to Victory Cruise to Alaska? You've been hearing me and Dr. Jeffress mention it, so what are you waiting for? Just picture yourself on the deck of Holland America's elegant Koningsdam and stepping out on deck to witness nature's grandeur. It's beautiful. These moments in God's creation will deepen your faith in powerful ways. It really will.

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