John 20:23

 “…If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” 

 Wow. This verse, when I came across it while studying for this topic, 

surprised me more than the two "...if he repents..." verses spoken by Jesus in the Gospels.

How often is this verse used in Bible studies on forgiveness? Believers have the authority power to leave someone unforgiven? 

How could Christ give such trust to those who at one time abandoned Him? Well, apparently, He did. 

This is important: I went to Sunday school for 10 years as a child. 

I watched television preachers occasionally as an adult, between the time I became an adult and got saved at age 29.
I’ve attended church regularly for the 35+ years I’ve been saved…
And I can’t remember this portion of scripture ever being read in church, spoken on TV, nor seen it printed apart, from the Bible. 

I can’t imagine why this portion of scripture is has been so utterly ostracized, when forgiveness is taught so frequently. 

Aren’t all the words of Jesus useful? 

How does this verse work?

I know there must be conditions, for while God is immutable, he is also the God of conditional promises.

If I were asked to give a young pastor a unique piece of advice, it would be, 

“Be sure, that over the course of your preaching life, you have publicly read every word of the New Testament, in one way or another. 

And keep a score-Bible, where you cross-out each scripture as you read it, print it on a bulletin or however you share it. 

For what if, when Christ reviews each pastor’s life, He quotes all the Bible verses the pastor refused speak from the pulpit, 

because that pastor hated certain verses, or was too scared of his congregation to speak those words?"