Authority to forgive or not to forgive
John 20:19 – 23
After Jesus was raised back to life after crucifixion, He met His disciples and they were overjoyed.
Jesus gave his disciples the authority to forgive or not to forgive.
See John 20:23.
23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.’
Jesus gave his disciples the authority that is considered only God has – the authority to forgive or not to forgive.
Jesus demonstrated the authority to forgive through miraculous healing in Mark 2.
As written in Mark 2, Jesus said to a paralyzed man “Son, your sins are forgiven.” (Mark 2:5), and some of teachers of the Law thought, ‘Who can forgive sins but God alone?’ (Mark 2:7). To demonstrate this authority, Jesus said to the man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.’ (Mark 2:10-11) and he got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all (Mark 2:12).
Jesus gave his disciple the keys of the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus gave his disciple the keys of the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 16:19) after his confession of faith (Matthew 16:16) given to him not by flesh and blood, but by God, the Father (Matthew 16:17).
See Matthew 16:19.
19 I 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.’
Similar promise is written in Matthew 18:18 – 20.
Jesus taught how to deal with if brother or sister sins in Matthew 18:15 – 17, to determine whether he or she should be treated as a believer or an unbeliever. And this determination on the earth will take effect in heavenly realm as written in Matthew 18:18.
18 ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
See Matthew 18:19.
19 ‘Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.’
This verse is referred to define ‘what is church’ – two or three gathered in His name, and Jesus with them as promised.
References
The Holy Bible: New International Version (Anglicised Edition, 2011). (2011). (Revised and updated edition., Jn 20:19–23). London: Hodder & Stoughton.
