John 20:21

21 And he saith to them again, Peace to you; as the Father sent me, I send you. [Therefore he said to them again, Peace to you; as the Father hath sent me, and I send you.]

John 20:21 Meaning and Commentary

John 20:21

Then said Jesus to them again
The words he said before:

peace be unto you;
which he repeated, to put them out of their fright, by reason of which they returned him no answer; and to raise and engage their attention to what he was about to say; and to pacify their consciences, distressed with a sense of their conduct towards him; and with a view to the Gospel of peace, he was now going to send them to preach:

as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you;
Christ's mission of his disciples, supposes power in him, honour done to them, authority put upon them, qualifications given them, and hence success attended them; what they were sent to do, was to preach the Gospel, convert sinners, build up saints, plant churches, and administer ordinances. The pattern of their mission, is the mission of Christ by his Father, which was into this world, to do his will, preach the Gospel, work miracles, and obtain eternal redemption for his people; and which mission does not suppose inferiority in his divine person, nor change of place, but harmony and agreement between the Father and Son: the likeness of these missions lies in these things; their authority is both divine; they are both sent into the same place, the world; and in much the same condition, mean, despicable, hated and persecuted; and in part for the same end, to preach the Gospel, and work miracles, for the confirmation of it; but not to obtain redemption, that being a work done solely by Christ; in which he has no partner, and to whom the glory must be only ascribed.

John 20:21 In-Context

19 Therefore when it was even in that day [Therefore when eventide was in that day], [in] one of the sabbaths, and the gates were shut, where the disciples were gathered, for dread of the Jews, Jesus came, and stood in the middle of the disciples, and he saith to them, Peace to you [and said to them, Peace be to you].

20 And when he had said this, he showed to them [his] hands and side; therefore the disciples joyed, for the Lord was seen.

21 And he saith to them again, Peace to you; as the Father sent me, I send you. [Therefore he said to them again, Peace to you; as the Father hath sent me, and I send you.]

22 When he had said this, he blew on them, and said, Take ye the Holy Ghost;

23 whose sins ye forgive, those be forgiven to them [they be forgiven]; and whose sins ye withhold, those be withheld [they be withholden].