John 20:23 What Does It Mean?
 

Whosoever sins you remit, they are remitted unto them;and whosesoever sins you retain, they are retained.

whats it mean peoples?

Re: John 20:23 What Does It Mean?
 

Christ commanded His disciples to receive the Spirit (which from Luke and Acts we see meant they were to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Ghost before beginning their gospel mission). They were given authority to remit or retain sins, meaning those whom they baptised would have their sins remitted through faith in His Name (see Acts 2:38, Luke 24:47, etc).

This did not give them the power to CHOOSE whose sins to remit or retain, but that those whom they baptised would have their sins remitted, and those who were NOT baptised would have their sins retained.

Jesus was establishing the fact that remission of sins comes through apostolic baptism and being joined to Christ's church, there is no other way.

Re: John 20:23 What Does It Mean?
 

I find it interesting that there is no mention of baptism in this passage of scripture and there is no mention of remission of sins in Matthew 28:19 where it mentions baptism but Peter preaches on the Day of Pentecost that they would receive remission of sins through repentance and baptism in His name.

Also in John 20:23 the second time it mentions "sins" as in whosoever sins you retain they are retained, was added in by the translators and does not appear in the original manuscript.

So

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

It just read a little differently. Maybe the second mention of sins was added by translators to bolster the catholic doctrine of absolution?

Re: John 20:23 What Does It Mean?
 

The KJV was not translated by Roman Catholics. The word "sins" in the second clause is in italics, so the translators wanted everyone to know they had added that word in order for the verse to be clear. Otherwise, it might not be clear as to what exactly is being retained.

Re: John 20:23 What Does It Mean?
 

I think you have to look at verse 21. There, Jesus said, "As the Father has sent Me, even I am sending you". Just a few chapters earlier, He said "This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent". John's Gospel is full of this "sending" language.

So then, what was the purpose and manner in which the Father sent the Son, Jesus?

To herald eternal life.

Therefore, in the same manner, Jesus sent the Apostles, that is, as heralds of eternal life. In order for that to be accomplished, they needed to receive the Holy Spirit. Once received, their mission was the same as Christ's: to remit or retain sins. Remission of sins grants eternal life.

For example, earlier in John, Jesus tells the Pharisees that where He was going they could not come. They assumed He was talking about suicide, but Jesus was talking about the Holiest of All and the Right Hand of God. So, when Jesus said that, it was a de facto claim the people He was speaking with, were damned and were not going to be otherwise, hence, their sins were retained, that is, no eternal life was abiding in them (See and compare John 5:39-49).

The same with the Apostles. Anyone who dishonored the Son and rejected Him, dishonored and rejected the Father. The doctrine the Son preached was not His own, but belonged to His Father. And that doctrine or commandment is eternal life. So, to dishonor and reject the Apostles dishonored and rejected the One who sent them. When the Apostles preached Christ and the doctrine and commandments of the Father, whenever it was rejected instead of received, sins were retained, as they would dust their feet off and move on. No eternal life for that person, unless they repented and conformed to the Word of Truth.

Re: John 20:23 What Does It Mean?
 

His NAME is Jesus!

Very well said, Beloved.

Unlike the OT, where the blood of animals could not blot out (erase) the sins
of the people and there was still remembrance of sin, the blood of Jesus, God's
son, REMITTED (blotted out, erased) sin forever: having His blood applied in the
waters of baptism.

We can see John's baptism, where he refused to acknowledge any sign of repentance
of the Pharisees and Sadducees, saying, "O generation of vipers, who hath warned
you to flee from the wrath to come?"

Even so, having a more perfect baptism ("...for the remission of sins...") and not only
because of repentance, the apostles could in that manner withhold baptizing anyone:
thus that people would retain their sins!

Brother Villa