John 20:23

Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; [and] whose soever [sins] ye retain, they are retained.

Whose {G5100} soever {G302} sins {G266} ye remit {G863}, they are remitted {G863} unto them {G846}; and whose {G5100} soever {G302} sins ye retain {G2902}, they are retained {G2902}.

If you forgive someone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you hold them, they are held.”

If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.”

whose soever sins ye forgive, they are forgiven unto them; whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

Context of John 20:23

This powerful statement by Jesus comes immediately after His resurrection and His first appearance to His disciples gathered in the Upper Room, sans Thomas. Having shown them His hands and side, proving His identity, Jesus declares, "Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you." (John 20:21). He then breathes on them and says, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost", commissioning them for their future ministry. Verse 23 details a specific aspect of this divine commission and the authority granted to them.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Authority and Commission: Jesus, having all authority in heaven and on earth, delegates a significant spiritual authority to His disciples. This is not an inherent power to forgive sins, but rather the authority to declare God's verdict on sin based on the preaching of the Gospel.
  • The Ministry of Reconciliation: The disciples are empowered to proclaim the terms of salvation and forgiveness offered through Christ's atoning work. Where repentance and faith are present, they declare God's forgiveness (remission); where they are absent, sins remain unforgiven (retained). This aligns with the ministry of reconciliation entrusted to believers.
  • The Role of the Church: This verse underscores the Church's role as God's instrument in declaring the Gospel. It is through the proclamation of the good news that people either receive forgiveness or reject it. The Church acts as an ambassador, declaring what God has already determined based on an individual's response to Christ.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek verbs for "remit" (aphiēmi, meaning "to send away, let go, forgive") and "retain" (krateō, meaning "to hold fast, grasp, keep") are crucial here. What's particularly significant is their grammatical construction: they are in the perfect passive indicative tense. This means that the action of remitting or retaining sins has already been completed in heaven, and the disciples are simply declaring an accomplished fact. They are not initiating the forgiveness or retention, but rather announcing what God has already determined based on an individual's spiritual state. This mirrors the concept of "binding and loosing" authority granted elsewhere in the Gospels.

Practical Application and Significance

For believers today, John 20:23 emphasizes the vital role of the Church in proclaiming the Gospel message. It reminds us that:

  • Our Authority is Declarative: We do not personally forgive sins, for only God can truly forgive sins. However, as followers of Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, we have the authority to declare God's forgiveness to those who repent and believe in Jesus Christ. Conversely, we declare that sins are retained for those who reject Him.
  • The Urgency of the Gospel: This verse highlights the profound consequences of accepting or rejecting Christ. The message we carry holds eternal significance, leading either to the remission or retention of sins.
  • Empowerment for Ministry: Just as Jesus breathed on His disciples, the Holy Spirit empowers believers to participate in this vital ministry of reconciliation, guiding them in discerning spiritual truth and boldly sharing God's terms for salvation. This is part of the power received for witness.

It is a call to faithful proclamation of the Gospel, trusting in God's sovereign work to bring about salvation and judgment.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Matthew 18:18

    Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

  • Matthew 16:19

    And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

  • Mark 2:5

    When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

  • Mark 2:10

    But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)

  • Acts 13:38

    Be it known unto you therefore, men [and] brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

  • Acts 13:39

    And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

  • Acts 10:43

    To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

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