What does John 20:23 mean?

Well, if this is what Jesus says, I can't assume I really understand what this means.

But what I have now is this can be what we do as a church, in dealing with people who have sinned against the church, as a whole, by trying to take us all the wrong way. This would be presided over by leaders . . . whom Jesus approves and has chosen.

But we handle this, possibly, as a whole church knowing about this, as many as get involved. We pray for the person. We do not want to just condemn him or her.

And I think of when the disciples would go to a place, but the people would refuse the Gospel. They would kick the dust off their feet, and this could mean the people refusing would not be forgiven. However, we are ready with forgiveness; it is the person who is refusing it.

And we have Ephesians 4:31-32 >

"Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:31-32)

To me, this means any of us can forgive > "even as God". This means putting away the bitterness and evil speaking and any forms of readiness to be or stay unforgiving, and become kind and tenderhearted in how we forgive. This is in the Holy Spirit "of adoption" (Romans 8:15) who makes us "even as God" our Heavenly Father who is forgiving in His adoptive and family and tenderly caring and sharing way. Because we want family loving with the person, if the person is capable of this.

Sam91 said:

What does this mean 'if you forgive the sins of any, their sinshave been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.'

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Not sure what translation you are using but my translation could not be more clear. Jesus has delegated judgement of sins to his disciples.

This is analogous to Jesus giving his disciples the power to heal people and cast out demons.


If you forgive anyone’s sins, they will be forgiven. But if you don’t forgive their sins, they will not be forgiven.”
John 20:23 (CEV)

Sam91 said:

It just occured to me that this happened just after He breathed the Spirit on them. I wonder if it was to do with that and Jesus empowering them fof their task ahead?

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Well > the Holy Spirit would make them able to have compassion for people who need forgiveness, so the forgiving can be done kindly and generously . . . "even as God" (Ephesians 4:31-32).

So, they would be given authority, yes, and more . . . the way of personal loving needed in our forgiving. The keys to Christ's kingdom are keys to have authority and power, yes, but even more-so to have family tenderly caring and sharing love which is in Jesus alone . . . in His Holy Spirit.

Forgiving is not only a legal process, then, of keeping a person's record clean.

Forgiving can be treated like a thing of authority and power . . . of having special status over others. But our Apostle Peter says how leaders need to lead >

"nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." (1 Peter 5:3)

How they forgive can be our example. And our Apostle Paul says Jesus on the cross is our example to follow >

"And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma." (Ephesians 5:2)

So, while Jesus was getting forgiveness for us, He was being sweet-smelling about it. We need to prepare in prayer so we are able to sweetly and kindly and generously forgive.

On the cross our example Jesus prayed > "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." (in Luke 23:34) Even while, I would say, those people could care less about being forgiving, already Jesus in His heart was forgiving them and so He prayed. And then, a few verses later . . . we see how one of those criminals hanging next to Christ asked Jesus to remember Him. Possibly, then, I would say, that prayer worked to get that man forgiven and changed so he trusted in Jesus for salvation and became Jesus Christ's own brother; he even stood up for Jesus.

And we are directed by our Apostle Paul to so walk in love, as Christ loved us.

And yes the Holy Spirit in us has us lovingly forgiving like this, including with prayer for people, not against them. We have been ministered this "Spirit of adoption" (Romans 8:15) who makes us likewise lovingly adoptive and generously forgiving like Jesus.

Jesus and His "examples to the flock" (1 Peter 5:3) are our example of this which is for all of us.

Within traditional churches such as Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran and Anglican it is refering to the office of the keys bestowed upon the Pastorial calling.

The forgive part is fairly easy. Christ's followers can forgive each other. There are disagreements about just how this works. Can anyone do it? Just church leaders? Just church leaders in the Apostolic succession? Given the context, and the second half (which speaks of church discipline) I'd say it's referring to the community and its leaders, without specifying how the community is organized.

Given the second half, not forgiving, this passage seems to be about church discipline. It surely doesn't mean that when someone repents we can randomly decide to forgive or not forgive them. Church discipline should apply to unrepentant sinners.

Sam91 said:

So do you think that the disciples were given this power to testify as to the authority Jesus was giving them through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit then?

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Yes. Only God can forgive but he can also delegate that. ;-)

Sam91 said:

Hi

What does this mean 'if you forgive the sins of any, their sinshave been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.'

Thank you.

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It is Jesus giving to his apostles the authority to forgive sins. That authority has been passed down since then through their successors.

Sam91 said:

Hi

What does this mean 'if you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.'

Thank you.

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We are to forgive one another if we sin against one another. We are to forgive just as Christ forgave us.

We know Jesus wasn't asking us to forgive someone from the penalty of their sin in eternity for only God can do that. The only kind of forgiveness we can extend to another person is the restoration of our earthly fellowship with that person. So when Jesus asks us to forgive another, He must be speaking in terms of earthly relationships, not eternal outcomes.

If a believer forgives in this way, Jesus says God will forgive us. God will forgive us in the same way He asks us to forgive others: by restoring His fellowship with us. Once again, Jesus is speaking in terms of earth consequences and earthly forgiveness. The Lord will forgive us from the earthly consequences of our sins provided we are willing to show forgiveness to others (which is a part of our mission to show the love of Christ to the world).

If we do not forgive one anothers' sin then one or both will retain a negative emotional result/consequence until they do ... that is ... they carry around the burden (effects of) the sin until they do forgive.

The sin can be forgiven even if the person does not ask for forgiveness.

Luke 23

34 Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."

Ephesians 4

31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and tender-hearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.

Forgive in the same way.

God Bless.

Matthew 6:9-13 obviously teaches that all Christians can and should forgive others but I do believe John 20:23 is referring to ministerial gifts.

Sam91 said:

What does this mean 'if you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.'

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Do you want the Catholic view of this?

Sam91 said:

After a fuller reading of the commentaries, it seems that the writers' opinions are diverse as to the meaning of this verse.

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Yes, this is common. How does a lowly humble Christian choose between the many differing interpretations? Perhaps it's better to de-emphasize those passages; to not worry about them?

Sam91 said:

Hi

What does this mean 'if you forgive the sins of any, their sinshave been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.'

Thank you.

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Forgive those who trespass against you, as you would want the Lord to forgive you your trespasses.

Sam91 said:

Hi

What does this mean 'if you forgive the sins of any, their sinshave been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.

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Disciples of Jesus had right to forgive sins. And if there was a person whose sins they were not willing to forgive, they were not forgiven.