The scripture makes it plain Peter and us can and must forgive only a brother who has sinned against him or us.
The Our Father prayer nor the Unnmerciful Debtor parable say that ONLY debts/offenses against them are to be forgiven. Besides, these are forgiven for the benefit of the forgiver: the Father then forgives him who is himself merciful. Further, while you can speculate that a forgiving heart will also forgive sins against others (you add "or us"), that part is not really in the prayer or in the parable. They are really about forgiving "debtors" or "my brother sin against me", that is in both cases sins against personally the one who is to forgive.
I added "or us" because I believe everything Jesus taught was for all His disciples. Again you fail to address the point that Jesus specially tells Peter he can and must forgive a man who sins against him, Peter. Jesus taught you and I the same thing.
The commandment in John 20:23, however, speaks clearly of forgiving sins and the select disciples are sent in the person of Jesus (v.21) to forgive sins. They are also breathed in the Holy Ghost (22). But they already had the instruction to forgive sin against themselves from the teaching of Christ prior to resurrection. No special task would seem necessary if the purpose of this episode was to reiterate the importance of forgiving attitude. This, therefore, was a task, -- not a general moral commandment, -- given by Resurrected Christ as a part of the mission of the Church that He outlined in the last chapters of the gospels.
What will be the effects of the forgiving of sins commanded in John 20? The sins of those thus forgiven will be forgiven. This is consistent with the overall prerogative of the Church to to things on earth with the effect promised in heaven (Matthew 18:18; it does not say there that every believer but specifically the Church that can do so). This however is different from the forgiving heart commandment where the forgiver shall be therefore forgiven his, the forgiver's, sin. Next, the sins can be either forgiven or retained. But the forgiving heart commandment said nothing about retaining debts/sins against the disciple; in fact, the power to also retain sins, likewise taking effect in heaven, has nothing to do with the merciful attitude. The confessor priests sent in John 20 therefore are to become judges of sin. Finally, who is it whose sins are to be forgiven or retained? The scripture says "whoever", -- in contrast to the forgiving hear tepisodes whare it says "our debtors" and "sin against me".
The episode in John 20:21-23 explains that a select people: once receiving the Holy Ghost in that particular manner, are to not merely be of merciful attitude but also are to become judges of sin of others, regardless of who is the sin against, if anyone, to forgive the sins against God. This is the only power that belongs exclusively to God that these men are given as they are sent in the person of Christ. This is the power given them as priests.
I find it interesting you keep going to these scriptures to say it was only given to specific disciples to form the priesthood. We have no number or sex mentioned for those disciples. The upper room had 120 with some women. If that room held that many, who is to say there wasn't that many or more in that room? You state that Jesus made it special because he breathed the Holy Spirit on them. I believe Peter was probably there but we can't tell by the context. His name is not mentioned. We know Thomas was not and Jesus did not breath the special gift on him when He saw him later. The real deal came at Pentecost. The baptism of the Spirit.
If I don't forgive a sin on earth when asked, I bind my sins against God in heaven. When I forgive that sin on earth, I loose my sins against God in heaven. I have the power to bind and loose by forgiving or not forgiving.
You, for some reason ask specifically where that power is given St. Peter. The answer would be that in Matthew 16:19 a sweeping power to bind and loose is given exclusively to Peter with the keys; it is that power, given initially St. Peter as pope that is later expanded to the entire Church (Matthew 18:18)
I showed you scriptue where Jesus told Peter he had to forgive a brother who sinned against him. One man forgiving another man. I have asked you to show me a scripture as plain as that where Jesus tells Peter he can forgive another man's sin against God for God.
From your next post: Do you think
St. Paul and those he taught administer the Eucharist?
The correct term is "offered" or "celebrated". Not only I think so, I know so from the Holy Scripture. In 1
Cor. 11 St. Paul corrects a certain attitude spread among the Corinthians regarding the celebration of the Lord's Supper, which we now call the Eucharist. St. Paul reminds them of the words of consecration spoken by Christ at the Last Supper, the same words the priest repeats today as he elevates the consecrated bread. Then
St. Paul concludes:
[26] For as often as you shall eat this bread, and drink the chalice, you shall shew the death of the Lord, until he come. Therefore whosoever shall eat this bread, or drink the chalice of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and of the blood of the Lord. [...] [29] For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh judgment to himself, not discerning the body of the Lord.(1 Cor. 11)
The point he makes is twofold: that the consecrated bread and the chalice "show the death" of Christ and are to be "discerned" as "the body of the Lord" and (2) if abused, it is Christ's real body and blood that suffer the abuse.
This episode shows that St. Paul understood and taught the correct Catholic doctrine of real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, that is he understood the distinction that the Protestant don't understand: between a memorial meal to remember the sacrifice of Christ and the actual Sacrifice becoming visible at the Holy Mass.
It shows no such thing. It shows he did it exactly like Christ.
23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat;[a] this is My body which is broken[b] for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
He did it the Christian way. The Catholic way came long after Paul's death.
May God the Father lead us all to His truth. BVB
Form the example I gave you it is clear that some people were priests and some were not in the Early Chruch. For example, the example in James 5:14 the scripture said to send away for a priest; in Acts 8:14-17 the baptism was not enough for the Holy Spirit to enter the person baptized and Sts. John and Peter had to be present. But I agree that the forgiving heart instruction applies to all of us, and to st. Peter. However, that is not the instruction given in John 20:23, and I explained the differnce in the post 147 to which you have now responded.
We have no number or sex mentioned for those disciples. The upper room had 120 with some women. If that room held that many, who is to say there wasn't that many or more in that room? You state that Jesus made it special because he breathed the Holy Spirit on them. I believe Peter was probably there but we can't tell by the context. His name is not mentioned.
We don't need to have the names and sexes listed in the scripture to tell that Christ is giving a specific commandment to those gathered. St. Peter received his power to open or shut the gates of heaven first and his name is mentioned in Matthew 16, but in this episode that same power (to forgive or retain sin is to open or close the gate of heaven) is given to some more disciples.
Naturally, this power was propagated down to other priests as we see from numerous examples of ordinations done by St. Paul, St. Timothy and St. Titus. If a priest to be was not there, well, he always could get his ordination later from someone empowered to do so.
I have the power to bind and loose by forgiving or not forgiving.
No because you do not do so sent by Christ to forgive sins against God. You should indeed forgive sins against you, but as the gospels explained, that would only matter for your own salvation, not the one whom you forgive. Besides, while you have the power also to not forgive, that will render your salvation impossible (see the power of the Unmerciful debtor); however, the disciples in John 20:23 are told to also retain sin, -- clearly this is then a different power.
John 20:23 does to but it does not mention St. Peter or anyone. It does not mean John 20:23 does not apply to St. Peter. Matthew 16:19 specifically mention St. Peter and his is given the power to operate the key to heaven. I don't know what else you want, but what I gave you is clear scripture in support of the point I am making and in answer to what you ask.
it shows no such thing
It says "you shall shew the death of the Lord, until he come" (1 Cor 11:26). That death is the sacrifice and it is shown at the Mass. Read your scriptures.
The Catholic way came long after Paul's death
The doctrine of the Eucharist showing sacrifice of Christ and Christ's body is really present is the "Catholic way", explained in that passage.