Luke 24:47
Luke 24:4747and in His name repentance and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.
Taken as Jesus commissioning the preaching work — repentance and forgiveness proclaimed to all the nations, which the Watchtower identifies with the door-to-door ministry. The phrase "on the basis of his name" is read as meaning that forgiveness is available because of the ransom Jesus provided; Jehovah remains the one who forgives.
The commission is real, and the JW at your door is obeying what they understand of it. The question worth raising is quieter: whose name is forgiveness preached in? Through the Old Testament, forgiveness is asked for on the ground of Jehovah's name and no other. — "for the sake of your name, O Jehovah, forgive my error." — "deliver us and forgive our sins for the sake of your name." — "save me, O God, by your name." The name is the ground of pardon, and has Jehovah say he blots out transgressions for his own sake. Here, in the risen Christ's last instruction, that whole structure is transferred. Forgiveness is now proclaimed on the basis of his name. Peter says the same at and again at , that everyone believing in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. Ask gently: in the Hebrew Scriptures, could pardon be sought in any name but Jehovah's? Then read this verse. Compare , , .