Why not? Enduring Word Bible Commentary John Chapter 20 (Expanded Edition), John MacArthur, 1994, Zondervan. I dont know just exactly what he believed fully, because the next verse says, As yet they didnt understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. So hes maybe like the man who said, Lord, I believe; help my unbelief. The point that I want you to notice is that they had no expectation that Jesus would rise: the women didnt, the leaders of the apostles didnt. 20 Those guilty of sin must be rebuked before all, . Resources on John 20 | Desiring God John MacArthur (June-23-2021) Christ Is Risen, Part 1 (John 20:1-10) He was about to leave, and he was delegating to them authority to make some authoritative decision for the church. The cancellation comes after revelations that MacArthur had apparently promoted a convicted child abuser and shamed the abuser's wife. In order to answer this question, I would like to consider a parallel passage that deal with this question. As you think about those elements that weve just look at, let me just identify them. So this was the first day after Sabbath. The Jewish leaders didnt have any idea that Jesus was the Messiah. Peter and John never refer to them when they get there. John 20:23 appears to give the ability to forgive sins to Christians. John 20 Commentary - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Over four decades of ministry, John has written dozens of bestselling books, including The . (Study more about this in our articles How to Forgive and Grudges.). Slider with Animated Blocks . This time he has been exposed for how he and Grace Community Church abused a woman for refusing to reconcile with her abusive husband. There is nothing here (or anywhere else in the New Testament) about apostolic succession that says priests have the authority to forgive sins and that it is passed down. She has no thought of resurrection. They actually have in mind, Well go back and pour some more anointing on the body of Jesus., So thats the scene as we come to verse 1. The bulk of his revenues are from his position as minister of Grace Community Church. Now lets pick up the soldiers. Will God take their decision into account? " (John 20:19-21) How do we understand this? 23 If you forgive anyone's sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven. John 20:23 NIV - If you forgive anyone's sins, their - Bible Gateway I am not sure exactly what Jesus meant by this, but I believe he is giving them authority over disputable mattersover matters on which Jesus had not already clearly spoken. But if, perchance, they might do that, you wouldnt see the linen wrappings lying in one place and the wrapping around and around the head lying in one place. Every miracle, teaching, and reaction John writes has one clearpurposeto prove that Jesus is the Word, the Messiah, and the Son of God. Therefore, I conclude that in Matthew 18:18 Jesus is delegating real authority and responsibility for the church which I assume is the leadership of the local church in spiritual matters. Site design and hosting by Whistlepig Softworks, LLC. whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained: that is, that whatsoever sins ye declare are not forgiven, they are not forgiven; which is the case of all final unbelievers, and impenitent sinners; who dying without repentance towards God, and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, according to the Gospel declaration, shall be damned, and are damned; for God stands by, and will stand by and confirm the Gospel of his Son, faithfully preached by his ministering servants; and all the world will sooner or later be convinced of the validity, truth, and certainty, of the declarations on each of these heads, made by them. This raises a difficult question. John 20:21 It's Time to Go J. Mike Minnix. Whatever you bind on the earth will be, having been bound in Heaven (Literal Translation Version). Everyone knew He was dead. Christ also alluded to this in another Gospel. So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb second time he refers to his speed - then also entered, and he saw and believed.. John 20:23: Did Jesus Give Authority to Forgive Sins? - Life, Hope & Truth They went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were in a panic. Theyre trying to process something they never, ever, ever expected. sobre las alturas de las nubes subir, y ser semejante al Altsimo", todo en oposicin a la voluntad de Dios, fue arrojado del cielo (Is. Instead, Gods leadership strives to come to Spirit-led judgments, representing outcomes that God will have already determined as right or wrong. The apostles expected Messiah to reign, and Messiah died. The disciples wouldnt do it, because they didnt even expect a resurrection. God is not giving the apostles ultimate authority to determine anyones eternal destiny when he gives them authority to forgive sins in the local church. Sabbath was the seventh day, because it commemorated the seventh day when God rested from creation, and they always worshiped on the Sabbath day. Jesus' words in John 20:23 were stated immediately after alluding to a tool in this process that that would be new to them: "He breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit'" (verse 22). If only God can forgive sins, then how can you explain John 20:23, which seems to contradict this? The other women never refer to them when they get there. He has been the pastor of Grace Community Church, a non-denominational church in Sun Valley, California since February 9, 1969. God only can forgive sins, and Christ being God, has a power to do so likewise; but he never communicated any such power to his apostles; nor did they ever assume any such power to themselves, or pretend to exercise it; it is the mark of antichrist, to attempt anything of the kind; who, in so doing, usurps the divine prerogative, places himself You start in the book of Acts with the first sermon by Peter. First Name (max. The Old Testament promised the Messiah would rise. What you find everywhere is this unbelief, or this small amount of faith thats confused. That doctrine declares that the whole human race is sinful. All you need to see is the Person who was dead, and there were many witnesses. If Christians are forgiven of thier sins, then why do they have to give account their lives at Judgement (1 Peter 4:5-6)? Clearly His body was there, and then it wasnt. However, a church where MacArthur also was slated to speak in March has stated MacArthur is cancelling its engagement due to "family health issues." Matthew28, verses 1-4 describes it. Nevertheless, this tool would allow the apostles to make Spirit-led judgments. All rights reserved. It was rolled away to let the witnesses in. Back to John MacArthur's Bio & Resources. Please respond to an article I read which claims that Luke uses Greek idioms and puts them in the mouth of Paul, showing he is making things up. Look at Luke24, Luke24. The proper translation of these three accounts underscores that God determines that which is bound or loosed, as opposed to leaving such decisions solely in the hands of men.The proper translation of these three accounts underscores that God determines that which is bound or loosed, as opposed to leaving such decisions solely in the hands of men. Thank you for your interest in supporting CARM. Study more about judgment, repentance and forgiveness in our articles Judgment of God: The Real Story, How to Repent and What Is Forgiveness?. John has also written several bestselling books, including The MacArthur Study Bible, The Gospel . She sees the stone taken away from the tomb. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New King James Version ( 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.). How do we know that it happened? The majority of Bible translations use similar wording here, making it sound like God has given the ministry of the Church the authority to forgive or retain sins. Theyre shocked and terrified. June 10, 2011. He will see His offspring, and He will be eternally glorified and exalted. They dont know how the stone was rolled away. Fouled by Rahmat . This raises the question of how John 20:23 applies today. Scripture: John 20:19-23. Get the latest blog posts from Life, Hope & Truth straight to yourinbox. They dont know why the body isnt there, but its not. We talk about it; we sing about it; we celebrate it. John MacArthur publicly shamed and excommunicated a mother for refusing Christs breathing on them was symbolic of their receiving Gods Spirit. Sermon. Facing a Tolerant World with Intolerant Truth (Selected Scriptures) Pastor John MacArthur. After His resurrection, Jesus told the disciples, If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained (John 20:23). We're on a mission to change that. Since the apostles on resurrection day, the first day of the week, met with Jesus that evening, the church has always met on the first day of the week to celebrate the resurrection. John MacArthur Net Worth, Wife Patricia McArthur and Kids More Buying Choices. The angel said this: Dont be amazed; youre looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. The first chapter of Genesis, you go from absolutely nothing to the entire universe coming into existence in six days. He will not corrupt in the grave, yet will through the grave into life. Isaiah53: He will be cut off, but He will be made alive. We are saved the moment we believe in our heart that Jesus is the Christ Who died FOR OUR SINS on the . But she got there first. But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. This is on Sunday. 1 D Mary Magdalene discovers the empty tomb and summons Peter and John (20:1-2) 2 D Peter and John visit the empty tomb and find Jesus' graveclothes (20:3-10) 2 E Mary turns and sees Jesus but does not at first recognize him (20:14-17) 1 D Jesus appears to his disciples, shows his wounds, and commissions them (20:19-23) 2 D Jesus appears to . Does it mean that God hands over authority for who will ultimately be in heaven to humans in the church? No Comments. The leaders of the local church have the authority and even the responsibility to Expel the wicked man from among you in extreme cases. A resurrected Jesus doesnt need the stone to be removed. It should be clear that only God forgives sins; and Christians, as representatives of Christ, pronounce to people what has already been forgiven them by God. , Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers. Married. It is early. Understanding Islam: Class by Dan Conder and John Oakes, Seattle Teaching Weekend Christian World View Freedom in Christ. They did not fake a resurrection. On the other hand he signifies, that. No one could come and steal the body. John 20:23 appears to give the ability to forgive sins to Christians To have sin abide, therefore, is to remain estranged from God. If the disciples did this, they wouldnt unwrap the body. Theyre so terrified, Luke says, They bowed their faces to the ground. I think probably the angels had to repeat themselves to get the point across in the middle of their shock. Theyre back at the Jewish supreme court trying to explain what happened. He tells them that if they, in their authority as apostles, forgive sins, then He forgives them as well. 3 f He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and Now we talk about the resurrection. Third, even if Jesus meant them to receive the Holy Spirit at that moment (in John 20:22 ), it was apparently in a different sense.