If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.”
Parallel translations
- WEB If you forgive anyone’s sins, they have been forgiven them. If you retain anyone’s sins, they have been retained.”
- KJV Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
- NKJV If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
- NASB If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.”
- NLT If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus gives the disciples authority concerning the forgiveness of sins. The church proclaims forgiveness in his name.
Overview
This authority is understood by most Protestants not as the disciples deciding sins on their own, but as faithfully announcing God's forgiveness to those who repent and believe, and warning those who refuse. The Greek tense suggests the church declares what God has already determined. Thus the gospel is entrusted to Christ's people, who proclaim pardon through faith in him.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Matt 18:18Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
- Matt 16:19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
- Mark 2:5–10When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
- Acts 13:38–39Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.
- Acts 10:43All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”
- Acts 2:38Peter replied, “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.
- 2 Cor 2:6–10The punishment imposed on him by the majority is sufficient for him.
- 1 Tim 1:20Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.
- 1 Cor 5:4When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, along with the power of the Lord Jesus,
- Eph 2:20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
How John 20:23 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.