Can Men Forgive Sins? Understanding John 20:22–23
One of the most debated passages concerning the authority of the Church is found in John 20:22–23. After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples, breathed on them, and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” He then told them that if they forgave anyone's sins, those sins would be forgiven, and if they withheld forgiveness, it would be withheld. Some interpret this passage to mean that Jesus gave certain men the authority to forgive sins on God's behalf. But does Scripture actually teach that human beings have the power to determine who receives God's forgiveness, or was Jesus giving His disciples an entirely different responsibility?
To understand this passage, we must first examine its context. In John 20:21, Jesus tells His disciples, “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you” (ESV). Immediately afterward, He speaks about receiving the Holy Spirit and forgiving sins. This was part of their commission to carry the gospel into the world. Jesus was sending them to proclaim the salvation made possible through His death and resurrection. The question is whether they were being given the authority to personally grant forgiveness or the responsibility to declare the forgiveness that comes through Christ.
What Does the Original Greek Tell Us?
The Greek wording of John 20:23 provides an interesting detail. The words translated “they are forgiven” and “it is withheld” use the perfect passive tense. This grammatical construction emphasizes a completed action with continuing results. Some scholars understand this to mean that the disciples were announcing a forgiveness or judgment already established by God, rather than making that determination themselves. However, the Greek grammar alone does not prove this interpretation. We must examine the rest of Scripture to understand how the apostles exercised the authority Jesus gave them.
In Mark 2:5–12, Jesus forgives the sins of a paralyzed man. The religious leaders immediately object, asking, “Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Jesus responds by performing a miracle to demonstrate His authority to forgive sins. The significance of this account is that forgiving sins against God is a divine prerogative. Jesus possesses this authority because of who He is. The apostles, however, were never presented as possessing divine authority independently of Christ.
Jesus Christ Is Our Only Mediator
Perhaps the clearest passage concerning this issue is 1 Timothy 2:5, which declares that there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, Jesus Christ. Hebrews 7:24–25 further explains that Christ holds His priesthood permanently and continually intercedes for those who draw near to God through Him. Likewise, 1 John 2:1 identifies Jesus as our advocate with the Father.
These passages establish that our access to God and our forgiveness rest upon Jesus Christ. This does not mean Christians cannot pray for one another, confess their struggles, or help others find salvation. Scripture encourages all these things. However, there is an enormous difference between helping someone come to Christ and possessing the power to save that person. No pastor, priest, apostle, or other believer can take the place of Jesus as our mediator.
How Did the Apostles Understand Jesus' Words?
One of the strongest ways to interpret John 20:23 is to examine what the apostles actually did after receiving this commission. Fortunately, the Book of Acts gives us numerous examples.
In Acts 2:38, Peter tells the people to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins. In Acts 3:19, he again calls people to repent and turn back so their sins may be blotted out. Rather than presenting himself as the source of forgiveness, Peter consistently directs people toward God.
An even more revealing example appears in Acts 8:20–23. When Simon attempts to purchase spiritual power, Peter rebukes him and instructs him to repent and pray to the Lord so that his sinful intentions might be forgiven. Peter had personally heard Jesus speak the words recorded in John 20:23, yet he did not offer to personally absolve Simon. He directed Simon to seek forgiveness from God.
Then, in Acts 10:43, Peter declares that everyone who believes in Jesus receives forgiveness of sins through His name. Paul makes the same point in Acts 13:38–39, proclaiming forgiveness and justification through Jesus Christ. Throughout these accounts, the apostles consistently present Christ as the source of salvation, not themselves as the individuals who determine who receives it.
What About Withholding Forgiveness?
Jesus also told His disciples that if they withheld forgiveness, it would be withheld. This statement must be understood alongside passages such as John 3:18 and John 3:36, which explain the consequences of accepting or rejecting Christ. Those who believe in Him receive eternal life, while those who reject Him remain under condemnation.
When the apostles preached the gospel, they proclaimed both promises. They could confidently declare forgiveness to those who believed in Christ while warning those who rejected Him that their sins remained. They were communicating God's established conditions for salvation, not inventing their own.
This authority also relates to church discipline, as described in Matthew 18:15–20 and 1 Corinthians 5. The Church has a responsibility to confront sin, call people to repentance, and restore those who turn back to God. But confronting someone's sin is not the same as having the final authority to determine that person's eternal destination.
Did Jesus Establish Priestly Confession?
The Catholic Church interprets John 20:23 as part of the foundation for priestly absolution. Catholic teaching acknowledges that God alone forgives sins but maintains that Christ delegated authority to bishops and priests to administer that forgiveness. This is different from claiming that priests can independently save whomever they choose.
Nevertheless, John 20:23 never explicitly mentions an ordained priesthood, private confession, apostolic succession, or a requirement that believers receive forgiveness through a priest. Those teachings depend upon additional theological arguments and church tradition.
James 5:16 encourages believers to confess their sins to one another and pray for one another. Yet 1 John 1:9 teaches that when we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us. Hebrews 4:14–16 invites believers to approach God's throne of grace confidently because Jesus is our great high priest. None of these passages establishes another human being as a necessary mediator between a believer and God.
The Authority to Proclaim Forgiveness Is Not the Power to Save
When John 20:22–23 is examined alongside the rest of Scripture, I believe the most consistent interpretation is that Jesus commissioned His disciples to proclaim the forgiveness of sins through Him. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, they could declare the promise of forgiveness to those who received the gospel and warn those who rejected it that their sins remained.
The disciples were given a tremendous responsibility, but they were not made independent sources of salvation. Their authority came from Christ, their message concerned Christ, and the forgiveness they proclaimed was made possible entirely through Christ.
This distinction matters because Scripture repeatedly teaches that salvation is found in Jesus alone (Acts 4:12). The Church has been entrusted with the message of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18–20), but the Church itself is not our redeemer.
We can lead someone to Christ, explain the gospel, pray with them, and proclaim God's promise of forgiveness. But we cannot save them. Only Jesus Christ can do that.
The apostles understood this distinction. They never presented themselves as replacements for Jesus. Instead, they continually directed sinners to repent, believe, and seek forgiveness through His name. That is the very same responsibility Christians have today: not to stand between people and their Savior, but to point them directly to Him.
