A question has come to us regarding the proper understanding of John 20:23, which reads, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” The question is whether the apostles (and by extension, anyone else) has the power to personally forgive or retain the sins of individuals today.

This teaching of the Lord in John 20:23 is like that found in Matthew 16:18-19, in which Peter and the other apostles were said to be given the “keys” to the kingdom. Keys are used to unlock doors. As the apostles went forth and preached the gospel, they were unlocking the doors of the kingdom of heaven to mankind.

The statement in John 20:23 was the same teaching given by the Lord to His apostles. This time, it occurred after His resurrection and immediately prior to the work He was sending them to perform. They were to receive the Holy Spirit (v. 23) and go forth and preach repentance and remission of sins to all nations (Luke 24:47). As they carried out this work, they would be telling individuals what they had to do to receive the forgiveness of their sins. If people received their message and responded in obedience, their sins would be forgiven. If people rejected their message, their sins would be retained (would not be forgiven).

The apostles were messengers, not legislators. They did not make up the rules of entrance into the kingdom. They simply used the keys that were given to them by the Lord (the gospel) and encouraged people to enter the kingdom on God’s terms.

When the Jews in Antioch of Pisidia opposed the preaching of Paul, he responded by saying, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles” (Acts 13:46). Paul did not personally judge them as unworthy and choose to retain their sins. He said that in their personal rejection of the word of God they had judged themselves as being unworthy of everlasting life. Paul was simply the spokesman and told them the consequences of their own actions.

When Peter confronted Simon the Sorcerer about the sin in his life, he said, “You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you” (Acts 8:21-22). Simon’s heart was not right in the sight of God. He was told to pray to God for the forgiveness of his sin. Such instruction would have been unnecessary if Peter had been in a position to personally forgive Simon’s sins.

The apostles were messengers. They were not given the power to personally forgive or retain the sins of any man. God forgives sins. It is blasphemous for a man to take upon himself a power that belongs to deity. “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” (Mark 2:7).