From the Haftarah, the prophet Isaiah-

““Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land; But if you refuse and rebel, You shall be devoured by the sword”; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭1‬:‭18‬-‭20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Only one who has authority to judge has authority to offer forgiveness. And in this case, the ONLY ONE with the authority to judge is the same one that DESIRES to show mercy. It is a package deal. This selection from Isaiah brings to my mind a story from Matthew 9:2-8 (CJB)

“Some people brought him a paralyzed man lying on a mattress. When Yeshua saw their trust, he said to the paralyzed man, “Courage, son! Your sins are forgiven.” On seeing this, some of the Torah-teachers said among themselves, “This man is blaspheming!” Yeshua, knowing what they were thinking, said, “Why are you entertaining evil thoughts in your hearts? Tell me, which is easier to say — ‘Your sins are forgiven’ or ‘Get up and walk’? But look! I will prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” He then said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, pick up your mattress, and go home!” And the man got up and went home. When the crowds saw this, they were awestruck and said a b’rakhah to God the Giver of such authority to human beings.”

In a culture obsessed with “the right” to any given thing, let us never forget that Jesus had the ONLY right… the right to judge (though he offered mercy), the right to be king (though he humbled himself), the right to command our allegiance and yet he wants to be chosen. There is no other GOD like this one! Ein kamocha ADONAI!