“Who can forgive sins but God alone?” the Pharisees protested (Mark 2:7). And they were theologically correct: only God can forgive sins in the absolute sense. But Jesus also said something strange to the disciples: “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven.”
Divine forgiveness is God’s exclusive prerogative
“Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Mark 2:7
When Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “your sins are forgiven,” He was claiming divine authority. This is not a human competence. A person cannot erase the record of sin before God—only the One against whom that sin was first committed can do that.
What the commission to the disciples meant
“If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain them, they are retained.” John 20:23
This is not the handing over of “the keys of absolution” in the sense of sacramental forgiveness (as understood by the Catholic Church). The context of John 20 is missionary: the disciples proclaim the gospel, which brings forgiveness. Whoever accepts Christ through their testimony receives forgiveness. Whoever rejects Him remains in their sins.
Interpersonal forgiveness is a different level
A person can and should forgive personal offenses:
“Forgive one another, as Christ also forgave you.” Col. 3:13
But this forgiveness is interpersonal: you release the person from your grievance and leave the final accounting to God. This is not the same as what Jesus did in erasing sin before God.
Practical meaning
- Only God forgives sins against Himself—and He does this through Christ (1 John 1:9).
- The disciples proclaim forgiveness—they do not produce it.
- We forgive one another—and this is a great power, but it is a different dimension of forgiveness.
Forgiveness of sins is God’s prerogative. But He shares this forgiveness through the gospel and through those who carry it. We are messengers, not judges.
