John 20:23

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

John 20:23 (KJV)

Context

This verse takes place on the evening of the first day of the week, following Jesus’ resurrection. The disciples were gathered together in a locked room, fearful and uncertain about the events that had transpired. Suddenly, Jesus appeared in their midst, showing them His hands and side, confirming His identity as the risen Lord. He had just breathed on them and said, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost” (John 20:22), preparing them for the commission that follows.

Meaning

Jesus tells His disciples that they have the authority to remit or retain sins. This authority is bestowed upon them by Jesus Himself. It implies that the disciples, as His chosen representatives, would play a crucial role in the proclamation of the gospel and the forgiveness of sins. The Greek perfect tense behind “are remitted” indicates a present state resulting from a past action, suggesting that the disciples’ pronouncement is a declaration of an already-existing reality rather than a new act of forgiveness. God alone can forgive sins; Christ, being God, has this power, but He never communicated this authority to His apostles to exercise independently. The apostles never assumed this power for themselves.

This verse is closely related to a similar statement made by Jesus in Matthew 16:19, where He tells Peter about the keys of the kingdom of heaven and the authority to bind and loose. This authority to bind and loose signifies the power to declare what is permissible or forbidden in the realm of God’s kingdom. The disciples were given the responsibility to proclaim the message of forgiveness and salvation through Christ. By preaching the gospel, they were to declare the forgiveness of sins to those who repent and believe in Jesus. They were also entrusted with the discernment to confront unrepentant sinners and withhold forgiveness until there was evidence of genuine repentance.

It’s important to note that the power to forgive sins does not originate from the disciples themselves but is given to them by Jesus. They act as instruments through whom God’s forgiveness is extended to humanity. The verse does not grant any human being the authority to forgive sins, but rather authorizes the church to announce the conditions under which God grants forgiveness. This is in agreement with Christ’s words in Mark 16:16 and Luke 24:47, which connect the preaching of repentance and remission of sins to the Gospel message.

Application

In summary, John 20:23 reveals Jesus’ commissioning of His disciples with the authority to proclaim forgiveness of sins. They were entrusted with the responsibility to share the good news of salvation, declaring forgiveness to those who repent and believe. This verse highlights the vital role of the disciples in the establishment and expansion of the early Christian community. For believers today, it underscores the privilege and responsibility of proclaiming the gospel, calling all to repentance and faith in Christ, and assuring them of God’s forgiveness through Him.