John 20:23 Made Simple

KJV ORIGINAL

Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

Close to the original. Clear modern English.

✦ MADE SIMPLE

Whatever sins you choose to forgive, they're forgiven. Whatever sins you decide to hold onto, they stay unforgiven.

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

You have the power to decide what gets forgiven and what doesn't.

📚 Historical Context

In the Gospel of John, this verse occurs shortly after Jesus' resurrection when He appears to His disciples in a locked room and breathes on them, symbolizing the imparting of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is granting the apostles authority to forgive or retain sins as part of their commissioning for the early church's mission, reflecting the transition from His earthly ministry to their role in proclaiming the gospel. This event is set in Jerusalem around 30-33 AD, emphasizing the continuity of God's redemptive work through His followers.

Explore Similar Verses

Matthew 12:32

If someone talks trash about me, they can be forgiven. But if someone speaks against the Holy Spirit, that's not something that gets forgiven, not in this life, not in the next.

Mark 3:28

I'm telling you the truth, every single sin can be forgiven. Every terrible thing people do, every way they disrespect God, all of it can be wiped clean.

Luke 12:10

If someone talks trash about me, they can be forgiven. But if someone completely rejects and disrespects the Holy Spirit, that's crossing a line that can't be uncrossed.

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