SEV Biblia, Chapter 20:23
A los que soltaris los pecados, les son sueltos; a los que los retuviereis, sern retenidos.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - John 20:23
Verse 23. Whose soever sins ye remit] See the notes on Matt. xvi. 19; xviii. 18. It is certain God alone can forgive sins; and it would not only be blasphemous, but grossly absurd, to say that any creature could remit the guilt of a transgression which had been committed against the Creator. The apostles received from the Lord the doctrine of reconciliation, and the doctrine of condemnation. They who believed on the Son of God, in consequence of their preaching, had their sins remitted; and they who would not believe were declared to lie under condemnation. The reader is desired to consult the note referred to above, where the custom to which our Lord alludes is particularly considered. Dr. Lightfoot supposes that the power of life and death, and the power of delivering over to Satan, which was granted to the apostles, is here referred to. This was a power which the primitive apostles exclusively possessed.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 23. Whose soever sins ye remit , etc.] God only can forgive sins, and Christ being God, has a power to do so likewise; but he never communicated any such power to his apostles; nor did they ever assume any such power to themselves, or pretend to exercise it; it is the mark of antichrist, to attempt anything of the kind; who, in so doing, usurps the divine prerogative, places himself in his seat, and shows himself as if he was God: but this is to be understood only in a doctrinal, or ministerial way, by preaching the full and free remission of sins, through the blood of Christ, according to the riches of Gods grace, to such as repent of their sins, and believe in Christ; declaring, that all such persons as do so repent and believe, all their sins are forgiven for Christs sake: and accordingly, they are remitted unto them ; in agreement with Christs own words, in his declaration and commission to his disciples; (see Mark 16:16,) ( Luke 24:47). On the other hand he signifies, that whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained : that is, that whatsoever sins ye declare are not forgiven, they are not forgiven; which is the case of all final unbelievers, and impenitent sinners; who dying without repentance towards God, and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, according to the Gospel declaration, shall be damned, and are damned; for God stands by, and will stand by and confirm the Gospel of his Son, faithfully preached by his ministering servants; and all the world will sooner or later be convinced of the validity, truth, and certainty, of the declarations on each of these heads, made by them.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 19-25 - This was the first day of the week, and this day is afterwards ofte mentioned by the sacred writers; for it was evidently set apart as the Christian sabbath, in remembrance of Christ's resurrection. The disciples had shut the doors for fear of the Jews; and when they had n such expectation, Jesus himself came and stood in the midst of them having miraculously, though silently, opened the doors. It is a comfor to Christ's disciples, when their assemblies can only be held i private, that no doors can shut out Christ's presence. When He manifests his love to believers by the comforts of his Spirit, he assures them that because he lives, they shall live also. A sight of Christ will gladden the heart of a disciple at any time; and the mor we see of Jesus, the more we shall rejoice. He said, Receive ye the Holy Ghost, thus showing that their spiritual life, as well as all their ability for their work, would be derived from him, and depende upon him. Every word of Christ which is received in the heart by faith comes accompanied by this Divine breathing; and without this there is neither light nor life. Nothing is seen, known, discerned, or felt of God, but through this. After this, Christ directed the apostles to declare the only method by which sin would be forgiven. This power di not exist at all in the apostles as a power to give judgment, but onl as a power to declare the character of those whom God would accept of reject in the day of judgment. They have clearly laid down the mark whereby a child of God may be discerned and be distinguished from false professor; and according to what they have declared shall ever case be decided in the day of judgment. When we assemble in Christ' name, especially on his holy day, he will meet with us, and speak peac to us. The disciples of Christ should endeavour to build up one anothe in their most holy faith, both by repeating what they have heard to those that were absent, and by making known what they have experienced Thomas limited the Holy One of Israel, when he would be convinced by his own method or not at all. He might justly have been left in his unbelief, after rejecting such abundant proofs. The fears and sorrow of the disciples are often lengthened, to punish their negligence.
Greek Textus Receptus
αν 302 PRT τινων 5100 X-GPM αφητε 863 5632 V-2AAS-2P τας 3588 T-APF αμαρτιας 266 N-APF αφιενται 863 5743 V-PPI-3P αυτοις 846 P-DPM αν 302 PRT τινων 5100 X-GPM κρατητε 2902 5725 V-PAS-2P κεκρατηνται 2902 5769 V-RPI-3P
Vincent's NT Word Studies
23. Remit (afhte). Only here in this Gospel in connection with sins. Often in the Synoptists (Matt. vi. 12; ix. 5; Mark ii. 5; Luke v. 23, etc.).
