Jesus makes a curious statement to his disciples. And if you take it in isolation outside of greater context, it can lead to strange doctrine.
“If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven” (v. 23).
Did Jesus mean that the disciples could forgive sins? By no means! Only God can forgive sins (Luke 5:21). Man cannot forgive sins because he is a sinner also.
Then what does Jesus mean?
If we look at the greater context of Jesus’ teaching on forgiveness, we see that clearly those who repent and put their faith in Christ have their sins forgiven by God. We see this teaching from Jesus, and the preaching of the apostles.
Peter 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 (Acts 2:38)
All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name” (Acts 10:43).
Perhaps the clearest explanation of this verse is to see how one of the apostles interpreted it. Peter said this:
“Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you (Acts 13:38).
It isn’t that the disicples could forgive or not forgive sins. It is that they had authority to “proclaim” that those who put their faith in Jesus will have their sins forgiven. And those who do not put their faith in Jesus remain in the state of not being forgiven.
It’s as Jesus said:
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them” (John 3:36).
If you do not find forgiveness for your sins, you will not be with God in eternity. He is holy and you are not.
Repentance and forgiveness is the greatest gift God can give to mankind. It isn’t through works, but as a gift (Ephesians 2;8-9).
It is not an easy forgiveness. Jesus suffered horrifically to give it to us. But it is a gift none-the-less. It was the only way because it wasn’t something we can achieve ourselves.
So let’s be exceedingly glad for this great gift. And the enormous cost it took to give it to us.