Does "trespasses" mean sins? If we sin against our brother, and our brother forgives us, are we not forgiven, and is not this what is meant in John 20:23? "Sin" is the broader term, covering more than mere "trespass;" but in Matt. 6:14, 15 "trespass" seems to be used in the sense of sin. Yes, we sin against men (1 Cor. 8:12) when we do them injury. All sin is against God, for all sin is the transgression of His law. 1 John 3:4; Rom. 7:7. Whatever sin we commit against man, is also against God, and must be confessed to both as to one. Then whether man forgives or not, God will forgive, and we are forgiven. Sometimes man may forgive when God does not; because man bases his forgiveness upon words, while God weighs motives. John 20:23 does not relate to the above. It has reference to God's Gospel ministers. They have authority to remit or retain sins in the message which they bear which states the conditions on which sins are remitted or retained. The Gospel herald may say with assurance that the repentant man who confesses his sins is in that forgiven; and if he does not truly confess, his sin is retained. So to Jeremiah was given power over kingdoms and nations (Jer. 1:10), but that power was in the message of God's conditions which he proclaimed (Jer. 18:7-10).