After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples and gave them a sacred mission to proclaim the gospel throughout the world. He promised them the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit as they carried His message of salvation. He then made this remarkable statement:
“Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.” John 20:23
Does this mean that Peter, the apostles, or Christians today have the power to forgive sins? Can a human being decide whether another person will be forgiven or condemned?
We must examine the context and compare this verse with the rest of Scripture. When we do so, the meaning becomes clear. Jesus did not give His disciples the divine power to forgive sins. He gave them the responsibility to preach the gospel and declare the conditions upon which God forgives or retains sins.
Only God Can Forgive Sins
The Bible clearly teaches that only God can forgive sins in the saving sense. When Jesus told a paralyzed man that his sins were forgiven, the scribes reasoned:
“Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?” Mark 2:7
Their conclusion that only God could forgive sins was correct. Their mistake was that they did not recognize Jesus as God.
Jesus responded:
“But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins.” Mark 2:10
Jesus demonstrated His divine identity by forgiving the man and healing his body. Christ has the authority to forgive because He is God.
Forgiveness is possible through the sacrifice of Christ:
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:14
No apostle, priest, minister, or other human being died for the sins of the world. Therefore, no human being possesses the independent power to remove the guilt of sin.
Examine the Context
The key to understanding John 20:23 is found in the verses immediately before it. Jesus said to His disciples:
“Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” John 20:21
Jesus was commissioning His disciples. The Father had sent Him to accomplish salvation, and Jesus was now sending them to proclaim what He had accomplished.
He continued:
“And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” John 20:22
The disciples needed the Holy Spirit to fulfill their mission. Jesus then spoke about remitting and retaining sins. Therefore, His statement was connected with their mission of proclaiming the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit.
They did not create forgiveness. They announced what God had made possible through the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Declaring What God Has Already Decided
God has clearly revealed the conditions of forgiveness. Those who repent and believe in Christ may be assured that their sins are forgiven. Those who reject Christ and refuse to repent remain in their sins.
“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.” John 3:36
The same verse warns:
“And he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” John 3:36
Christ’s messengers can therefore speak with certainty. To those who genuinely repent and believe, they may declare, “Your sins are forgiven.” To those who reject Christ, they must warn, “Your sins remain.”
This declaration is based upon God’s Word, not the messenger’s personal opinion. Christians do not decide whom God should forgive. They proclaim the conditions God has already revealed.
How Peter Understood Christ’s Words
The book of Acts shows how Peter understood and obeyed John 20:23. On the Day of Pentecost, he preached the death and resurrection of Jesus. When the people were convicted, they asked:
“Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Acts 2:37
Peter did not claim that he could personally forgive them. He answered:
“Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.” Acts 2:38
Peter directed them to repentance and faith in Jesus. He was God’s messenger, explaining where forgiveness could be found.
Peter later declared:
“Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.” Acts 5:31
Jesus gives repentance and forgiveness. Peter proclaimed the message, but Christ provided salvation.
Peter and the Man Who Tried to Buy God’s Power
The experience of Simon the sorcerer gives us especially strong evidence. Simon saw the Holy Spirit being given through the ministry of the apostles. He then offered them money and said:
“Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.” Acts 8:19
Peter strongly rebuked him:
“Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.” Acts 8:20
Simon’s heart was not right with God. If Peter had possessed the divine authority to forgive sins, this would have been an opportunity for him to use it. Peter could have declared Simon forgiven. Instead, he directed Simon to repent and seek forgiveness from God:
“Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.” Acts 8:22
Peter did not say, “Confess your sin to me, and I will forgive you.” He told Simon to repent and pray to God. This demonstrates how Peter understood the words of Jesus. Peter could proclaim the way of forgiveness, but only God could forgive Simon’s sin.
The Apostles Always Directed People to Christ
The same pattern appears throughout the book of Acts. The apostles never traveled from place to place personally forgiving sins. They preached Jesus and called people to repentance.
When Peter preached in the home of Cornelius, he said:
“To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” Acts 10:43
Forgiveness came through the name of Jesus, not through Peter.
Paul proclaimed the same truth:
“Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins.” Acts 13:38
Forgiveness was preached through Jesus. It was never presented as a personal power belonging to the apostles.
Even when Stephen was being stoned to death, he did not personally remove the guilt of his attackers. He prayed:
“Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.” Acts 7:60
Stephen placed their forgiveness in the hands of the Lord. He could forgive them personally and refuse to cherish hatred, but only God could remove their guilt.
The Gospel Brings Forgiveness
Before returning to heaven, Jesus explained the mission of His followers:
“And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” Luke 24:47
This verse helps explain John 20:23. The disciples were not sent to replace God as the Forgiver. They were sent to preach forgiveness in the name of Jesus.
The gospel presents both a promise and a warning:
“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Mark 16:16
The messenger does not create salvation or condemnation. He announces the conditions established by God.
The Holy Spirit makes this message effective. Jesus said:
“And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” John 16:8
The disciples preached, but the Holy Spirit brought conviction. They explained the way of salvation, but God led people to repentance and faith.
Forgiving Others Is Different
The Bible also commands us to forgive those who sin against us:
“Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any.” Colossians 3:13
This is personal or horizontal forgiveness. We release bitterness, hatred, and the desire for revenge. However, our forgiveness cannot remove another person’s guilt before God.
Only God grants vertical forgiveness—the forgiveness that cleanses the sinner and brings salvation.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
We forgive people for what they have done against us, but God alone can cleanse their record and heart from sin.
The Same Mission Is Given to Us
The responsibility given to the disciples continues through the church today. Every believer is called to share the gospel and show others where forgiveness may be found.
Paul wrote:
“And hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:18
He continued:
“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us.” 2 Corinthians 5:20
An ambassador does not invent his own message. He faithfully communicates the message of the one who sent him. In the same way, Christians do not decide who deserves forgiveness. We proclaim what God has said.
To those who believe, we may confidently give this assurance:
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:31
To those who reject Christ, we must lovingly repeat His warning:
“If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.” John 8:24
Conclusion
Jesus did not give Peter, the apostles, or Christians today the divine power to forgive sins. Only God can remove the guilt of sin, and He does so through Jesus Christ.
In John 20:23, Jesus commissioned His disciples to proclaim the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit. They could assure repentant believers that their sins were forgiven and warn unbelievers that their sins remained.
Peter’s response to Simon makes this especially clear. Peter did not forgive him but instructed him to repent and pray to God for forgiveness. We are Christ’s messengers, called to tell the world that complete forgiveness and eternal life are available through faith in Jesus.
