Can another's unforgiveness keep us bound (in light of John 20:22b, 23: Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.)?

Word for word, the Greek of John 20:23 literally reads, Of whomever you forgive sins, they have been forgiven to them; of whomever you hold, they have been held.  Does this mean that when someone refuses to forgive us, their unforgiveness continues to "hold" us on some level?

After verse 22 (Receive the Holy Spirit), the Spirit is said to give us authority to pronounce that another person is or is not forgiven.  This verse says nothing about another`s personal unforgiveness binding us. It only says that we act as ambassadors on Christ`s behalf as He forgives or does not forgive sin.  Others` unforgiveness might indeed negatively affect us, for Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer (1 Jn. 3:12).  Another's murderous intention can feel quite oppressive.  But as long as we do not respond in kind, it cannot bind us in the sense that is conveyed by John 20.  Such hatred holds back the bitter one's forgiveness, but not the Holy Spirit's power to forgive us or our freedom of choice to respond in love, for the Spirit is not at the beck and call of the whims of those who hate us.  Hatred holds no authority over heaven.

 

 

Tags : Mark Sandford, Bitter Root Expectancies