John 20:23 kjv
Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
John 20:23 nkjv
If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
John 20:23 niv
If you forgive anyone's sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."
John 20:23 esv
If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld."
John 20:23 nlt
If you forgive anyone's sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."
John 20 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 20:22 | "And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit." | Implies divine enablement for their mission. |
| Matt 16:19 | "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." | Links binding and loosing to Jesus' authority. |
| Matt 18:18 | "Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." | Repeats the binding and loosing concept in a community context. |
| 1 Cor 5:1-5 | Paul exercises church discipline, binding sin by excommunication. | Demonstrates practical application of authority. |
| 2 Cor 2:5-11 | Paul forgives a repentant sinner, emphasizing the church's role. | Highlights the reconciliation aspect of forgiveness. |
| 1 John 1:9 | "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." | Emphasizes personal confession as a condition for forgiveness. |
| Luke 24:47 | "and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem." | Connects proclamation of forgiveness to repentance and Jesus' name. |
| Acts 2:38 | "And Peter said to them, 'Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'" | Peter links repentance, baptism, and forgiveness. |
| Acts 10:43 | "To him all the prophets bear witness that through his name everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins." | Links forgiveness solely to belief in Jesus' name. |
| Acts 26:18 | "to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in me." | Describes the purpose of evangelism as leading to forgiveness. |
| Rom 5:1 | "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." | Justification through faith results in peace and forgiveness. |
| Eph 1:7 | "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace," | Forgiveness is a gift of grace through Christ's blood. |
| Col 1:14 | "in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins." | Repeats the theme of forgiveness through Christ's redemptive work. |
| 1 Pet 3:7 | "Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered." | Prayer can be hindered by unhealed relationships, implying unconfessed sin. |
| Prov 28:13 | "Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy." | Connects confession with obtaining mercy. |
| Psa 32:1-5 | David describes the blessedness of forgiveness and the misery of unconfessed sin. | Emphasizes the relational and experiential aspect of sin and forgiveness. |
| Mark 2:5-12 | Jesus forgives a paralytic, demonstrating His authority to forgive sins. | Jesus' intrinsic authority to forgive sins is shown. |
| Luke 5:20 | "And when he saw their faith, he said, 'Man, your sins are forgiven you.'" | Jesus preemptively forgives, showing divine prerogative. |
| 1 John 2:12 | "I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake." | Assures believers of forgiveness in Christ. |
| Gen 3:15 | The "protoevangelium" hints at the conquest of sin and Satan through Christ's seed. | Seeds the idea of a savior who overcomes sin. |
John 20 verses
John 20 23 Meaning
This verse declares that when the disciples have their sins forgiven, those sins are indeed forgiven. Conversely, if their sins are not forgiven, they remain unforgiven. This power is bestowed by Jesus to His followers.
John 20 23 Context
This verse appears in John chapter 20, immediately after Jesus' resurrection appearances. He has shown the disciples His wounds and breathed the Holy Spirit upon them. The disciples are in a state of awe and confusion, grappling with the reality of Jesus' victory over death. This passage follows the appearance to Thomas, who had previously doubted. Jesus' commission to the disciples is about continuing His ministry on earth, a ministry that fundamentally involves reconciling humanity to God through the forgiveness of sins. The disciples are being equipped and empowered by the Holy Spirit for this crucial task. The historical context is the early days of the nascent church, which would need clear guidance on how to apply Christ's redemptive work.
John 20 23 Word Analysis
- "Peace" (Eirēnē - εἰρήνη): Greek for peace, often encompassing wholeness, well-being, and harmony.
- "be with": Indicates presence and fellowship.
- "you" (Hymēn - ὑμῖν): Plural pronoun, addressing the assembled disciples.
- "If" (Ean - ἐὰν): Conditional particle introducing a stipulation.
- "you" (Apheten - ἀφῆτε): Second person plural aorist active indicative of 'aphiēmi' (ἀφίημι).
Aphiēmimeans to send away, forgive, leave, permit. Its use here signifies a decisive act of releasing from debt or guilt. - "forgive" (Autōn - αὐτῶν): Genitive plural pronoun, referring to the sins of others.
- "the" (Hamartias - ἁμαρτίας): Greek for sins, meaning missing the mark, error, transgression. Plural, indicating multiple sins.
- "sins": Transgressions against God's law or will.
- "of" (Tinis - τινός): Genitive singular pronoun, of someone.
- "anyone": Refers to any person whose sins might be forgiven.
- "whose" (Autōn - αὐτῶν): Genitive plural pronoun, of them, referring back to the sins.
- "sins" (Aphetē - ἀφῆτε): The aorist tense here suggests a completed action or a definitive statement about the nature of forgiveness. The Holy Spirit's enablement is implicit in the authorization.
- "you" (Te - τε): A connective particle, similar to 'and'.
- "retain" (Kratēte - κρατῆτε): Second person plural aorist active indicative of 'krateō' (κρατέω).
Krateōmeans to hold fast, grasp, keep firm, retain. It implies a binding or holding onto the sin. - "their" (Hamartiai - ἁμαρτίαι): Greek for sins, a repeat of the earlier term but in the accusative plural, the direct object of 'retain'.
- "sins": Reinforces the subject matter of divine judgment and mercy.
- "are" (Exēphēn - ἐξῆφεν): Not a word in the original Greek. This is likely a typo or misinterpretation. The verb here is "aphyientai" (ἀφίενται), passive third person plural present indicative of
aphiēmi. This passive voice suggests that God is the ultimate actor in the remission of sins, but it is declared through the authority given to the disciples.
Group Analysis:
- "If you forgive anyone's sins, their sins are forgiven": This clause establishes the principle of delegated authority. The forgiveness enacted by the disciples is recognized and ratified in heaven. This reflects the pattern established by Jesus where He conferred His own authority onto His followers.
- "If you retain anyone's sins, they are retained": This clause outlines the opposite reality. Where forgiveness is withheld or not appropriately declared (often tied to repentance), the sin remains unforgiven in God's sight, as declared by those who represent Christ's ministry of reconciliation.
John 20 23 Bonus Section
The authority given here is not to be understood as the disciples having the independent power to decide who is forgiven. Rather, they are commissioned to proclaim the gospel of Christ, in which forgiveness is freely offered to all who repent and believe. Their pronouncements of forgiveness or retention are an outworking of the gospel's reception. When a person embraces Christ in faith, their sins are forgiven by God, and the disciples, acting as His messengers, declare this forgiveness. Conversely, if someone rejects Christ and persists in unrepentance, their sins remain unforgiven, and the disciples are empowered to declare this reality. This reflects the pastoral care and accountability within the community of faith, guiding individuals towards salvation or highlighting the consequences of persistent sin. The early church interpreted this as a significant aspect of their mission to administer the means of grace.
John 20 23 Commentary
Jesus grants His disciples the authority to forgive sins, a power uniquely His as God. This authority is not arbitrary but is exercised under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, whom He had just given them. The "binding and loosing" language found in Matthew 16:19 and 18:18 provides parallel understanding, referring to the power to declare what is permitted or forbidden by God's law, and by extension, to declare absolution or retain guilt. This is a ministry of reconciliation, where the church, empowered by the Spirit, declares God's forgiveness to repentant sinners and holds individuals accountable when they refuse to repent. The focus is on the objective reality of God's judgment being declared on earth through His appointed messengers. It underscores the seriousness of sin and the transformative power of God's mercy offered through Christ's finished work.