John 20:23
If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven; if you retain anyone’s sins, they are retained.”
Additional Resources
Referenced Verses
- Matt 16:19 : 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven.”
- Matt 18:18 : 18 “I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven.
- Acts 10:43 : 43 About him all the prophets testify, that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
- Acts 13:38-39 : 38 Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through this one forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and by this one everyone who believes is justified from everything from which the law of Moses could not justify you.
- Mark 2:5-9 : 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic,“Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 Now some of the experts in the law were sitting there, turning these things over in their minds: 7 “Why does this man speak this way? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 Now immediately, when Jesus realized in his spirit that they were contemplating such thoughts, he said to them,“Why are you thinking such things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic,‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say,‘Stand up, take your stretcher, and walk’? 10 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,”– he said to the paralytic–
- Acts 2:38 : 38 Peter said to them,“Repent, and each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
- 2 Cor 2:6-9 : 6 This punishment on such an individual by the majority is enough for him, 7 so that now instead you should rather forgive and comfort him. This will keep him from being overwhelmed by excessive grief to the point of despair. 8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him. 9 For this reason also I wrote you: to test you to see if you are obedient in everything. 10 If you forgive anyone for anything, I also forgive him– for indeed what I have forgiven(if I have forgiven anything) I did so for you in the presence of Christ,
- Eph 2:20 : 20 because you have been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.
- 1 Tim 1:20 : 20 Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.
- 1 Cor 5:4 : 4 When you gather together in the name of our Lord Jesus, and I am with you in spirit, along with the power of our Lord Jesus,
Similar Verses (AI)
These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.
- John 20:20-223 verses82%
20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
21 So Jesus said to them again,“Peace be with you. Just as the Father has sent me, I also send you.”
22 And after he said this, he breathed on them and said,“Receive the Holy Spirit.
- Mark 3:28-292 verses76%
28 I tell you the truth, people will be forgiven for all sins, even all the blasphemies they utter.
29 But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, but is guilty of an eternal sin”
- Luke 7:47-493 verses75%
47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which were many, are forgiven, thus she loved much; but the one who is forgiven little loves little.”
48 Then Jesus said to her,“Your sins are forgiven.”
49 But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves,“Who is this, who even forgives sins?”
- Matt 12:31-322 verses75%
31 For this reason I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven. But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
- Luke 5:20-212 verses74%
20 When Jesus saw their faith he said,“Friend, your sins are forgiven.”
21 Then the experts in the law and the Pharisees began to think to themselves,“Who is this man who is uttering blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
- 73%
18 “I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven.
- Luke 5:23-242 verses73%
23 Which is easier, to say,‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say,‘Stand up and walk’?
24 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”– he said to the paralyzed man–“I tell you, stand up, take your stretcher and go home.”
- Matt 6:14-152 verses72%
14 “For if you forgive others their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15 But if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive you your sins.
- 72%
10 If you forgive anyone for anything, I also forgive him– for indeed what I have forgiven(if I have forgiven anything) I did so for you in the presence of Christ,
- Mark 2:9-102 verses72%
9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic,‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say,‘Stand up, take your stretcher, and walk’?
10 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,”– he said to the paralytic–
- 72%
5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic,“Son, your sins are forgiven.”
- Matt 9:5-62 verses71%
5 Which is easier, to say,‘Your sins are forgiven’ or to say,‘Stand up and walk’?
6 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”– then he said to the paralytic–“Stand up, take your stretcher, and go home.”
- 71%
7 “Why does this man speak this way? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
- 71%
19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven.”
- 71%
25 Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven will also forgive you your sins.”
- 71%
10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the person who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
- 70%
35 So also my heavenly Father will do to you, if each of you does not forgive your brother from your heart.”
- 69%
38 Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through this one forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you,
- 69%
38 Peter said to them,“Repent, and each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
- 68%
20 I tell you the solemn truth, whoever accepts the one I send accepts me, and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”
- 68%
37 Do Not Judge Others“Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven.
- Luke 17:3-42 verses68%
3 Watch yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him.
4 Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to you saying,‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
- 68%
7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;
- 67%
41 Jesus replied,“If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin, but now because you claim that you can see, your guilt remains.
- 67%
24 The Response of Thomas Now Thomas(called Didymus), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.
- 67%
34 Jesus answered them,“I tell you the solemn truth, everyone who practices sin is a slave of sin.
- 67%
43 Simon answered,“I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.” Jesus said to him,“You have judged rightly.”
- 67%
14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
- 67%
34 [But Jesus said,“Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”] Then they threw dice to divide his clothes.
- 67%
2 Just then some people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic,“Have courage, son! Your sins are forgiven.”
- 66%
43 About him all the prophets testify, that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
- 66%
26 Eight days later the disciples were again together in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said,“Peace be with you!”
- 66%
21 Then Peter came to him and said,“Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother who sins against me? As many as seven times?”
- 66%
13 bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if someone happens to have a complaint against anyone else. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also forgive others.
- 66%
15 and to have authority to cast out demons.
- 66%
12 and forgive us our debts, as we ourselves have forgiven our debtors.
- 66%
12 so that although they look they may look but not see, and although they hear they may hear but not understand, so they may not repent and be forgiven.”