Jesus Discourse with Nicodemus
Student’s Guide
Quick links in this study:
This is one of the most impactful chapters in the book John’s book. John records a private theological conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin. This study also contains the most recognizable verse in the entire Bible, John 3:16.
How Much Should We Forgive?
Matthew 18:21-22
(Have someone read the verses outlined in Matthew 18:21—22.)
1. What prompted Peter to ask Jesus about forgiveness?
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2. Why did Peter suggest forgiving someone seven times?
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3. What assumptions were behind Peter’s question?
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4. What did Jesus mean by “seventy times seven”?
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5. Why is Matthew 18:22 important to Christian discipleship?
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Understanding the Enormous Debt
Matthew 18:23-25
(Have someone read the verses outlined in Matthew 18:23—25.)
6. Why does Jesus begin the parable with the word “therefore”?
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7. Who does the king most likely represent?
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8. What does the servant’s enormous debt represent?
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9. Why did Jesus describe the debt as “ten thousand talents?”
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10. What does the servant’s inability to pay teach us about humanity’s condition before God?
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11. Why did the king order the servant and his family and possessions to be sold?
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Receiving and Extending God’s Mercy | Matthew 18:26-30
(Have someone read the verses outlined in Matthew 18:26—30.)
12. What did the servant do when he realized he could not pay?
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13. Could the servant actually repay his enormous debt?
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14. What did the king do that the servant did not deserve?
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15. What does the cancellation of the debt represent?
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16. Why is the servant’s treatment of his fellow servant so shocking?
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17. Does the smaller debt mean that offenses against us are unimportant?
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The Heart of a Forgiving Person
Matthew 18:31-35
(Have someone read the verses outlined in Matthew 18:31—35.)
18. What does the servant’s refusal to forgive reveal about his heart?
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19. What does Jesus mean by forgiving “from your hearts”?
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20. What is the central lesson of the entire passage?
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