I don't understand this verse about forgiveness. Perhaps you can enlighten me on the context/meaning of this? I thought that unconditional forgiveness is commanded according to Matthew 6:14. -- Josephine
In John 20, Jesus is explaining that the apostles will lay down the will of God concerning forgiveness. They will teach about how men and women are to receive forgiveness of sins. What they say, goes. Matthew 6:14, however, is addressing a different subject: forgiving those who have sinned against us (as in the Lord's Prayer immediately preceding). In that case you are right--unconditional forgiveness is in view. The reason apostles might not "forgive" sins (see the apostolic teaching in Acts 2:38) is failure of an individual to believe, repent, and be baptized. Jesus had chosen the apostles to understand the will of God, and then to clarify it to us.
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