2nd Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
[The Desire of Ages pp 413>414] These words have power to open and to shut heaven. They declare the conditions upon which men are received or rejected. Thus, the work of those who preach God's word is a savor of life unto life or of death unto death. Theirs is a mission weighted with eternal results. The Savior did not commit the work of the gospel to Peter individually. At a later time, repeating the words that were spoken to Peter, He applied them directly to the church.
And the same in substance was spoken also to the twelve as representatives of the body of believers. If Jesus had delegated any special authority to one of the disciples above the others, we should not find them so often contending as to who should be the greatest. This leads us to our case study for today, in which persons presumed to usurp the authority of God to pardon, and as we will observe, perversion would inevitably be woven into act.
Pardon: The action of forgiving or being forgiven for an error or offense. The authority to forgive sin was never ordained, nor was it ever intended to be exercised by anyone, but God alone, yet, the people in Christ’s day had come up with a custom that had become quite popular at the time. And, as will always be the case when mortals take to themselves authority that belongs to God alone, the practice was adopted ultimately perverted by Pilate.
2nd Timothy 3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!