"And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.'" (Matthew 28:18–20)
This is what has been called the Great Commission. The risen Lord Jesus gave it to the apostles, and through them, to the church. The apostles themselves taught and baptized, and their teaching was recorded for future generations in the New Testament. The church today calls minsters to teach and baptize, and other elders to join with them in shepherding and governing the church. While not everyone is called to preach and baptize, every member of the church participates in this mission, not only by supporting these public ministries, but also by promoting the gospel by word and deed, promoting the cause of Christ in their callings, and edifying one another, each according to his or her gifts and place. Together, we strive side by side for the faith of the gospel (Phil. 1:27). At the same time, we are also being discipled. Christians are disciples of Jesus Christ. We have been baptized and we continue to be taught to observe all Christ's commandments.
The Great Commission contains four instances of the word "all": all authority, all nations, all that he has commanded, and always (word for word: "all the days"). Likewise, the Great Commission can be broken down into four parts, each containing an "all" and answering a question: why? what? how do we do this? how can we do this?
1. Why: Jesus has been given all authority in heaven and on earth.
Daniel 7 contains the vision of one like a son of man coming to the Ancient of Days. To this ascending figure was “given dominion … that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him.” Jesus is the prophesied Son of Man. What was prophesied was fulfilled in his exaltation. All authority in heaven and on earth had been given to him. Jesus had humbled himself by becoming man, taking the form of a servant, and being obedient unto death. His resurrection was the beginning of his exaltation. What Jesus proclaimed to his apostles would be further confirmed at his ascension.
1. Why: Jesus has been given all authority in heaven and on earth.
Daniel 7 contains the vision of one like a son of man coming to the Ancient of Days. To this ascending figure was “given dominion … that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him.” Jesus is the prophesied Son of Man. What was prophesied was fulfilled in his exaltation. All authority in heaven and on earth had been given to him. Jesus had humbled himself by becoming man, taking the form of a servant, and being obedient unto death. His resurrection was the beginning of his exaltation. What Jesus proclaimed to his apostles would be further confirmed at his ascension.
While Jesus has all authority from eternity as God, he was given all authority as the Mediator. We call this his mediatorial dominion. All authority was given to Jesus as our redeemer on the basis of his death and resurrection for the purpose of applying the redemption he purchased to God’s elect and bringing this sinful world into subjection to God (see also John 17:2, 1 Cor. 15:24-26, Ps. 2, 110).
The mediatorial dominion of the Lord Jesus is universal. He calls everyone to submit, he aims at the total restoration of the world, he powerfully works in all things as supreme ruler, and he will come as the judge of all. All things are put under his feet. He is raised far above all rule and authority, and above every name that is named (Eph. 1:20-21). All those who bear authority, whether angels or men, ought to do so in subservience to the King of kings and his ends. Christ is the “ruler of kings on earth” (Rev. 1:5).
Christ is given, as head over all things, to the church (Eph. 1:22). It is a comfort to the church to know that our king is the rightful king and the one who rules over all. He exercises his universal kingdom of power for the sake of his kingdom of grace, his willing subjects under his protection and government. Blessed are those who take refuge in him.
The devil had taken Jesus to a mountain and offered him “all the kingdoms of the world and their glory” on condition that Jesus fall down and worship the devil (Matt. 4:8). But now Jesus had defeated the devil and was ready to plunder his house (Matt. 12:29). Jesus himself was now worshipped on the mountain. He had been given all authority in heaven and on earth by the Father. The nations were given to him as his heritage (Ps. 2:8). Jesus was like Moses on Mount Nebo, looking over the promised land, except that he also promises to be with his disciples. He is both commissioning Moses and conquering Joshua.
All authority has been given to Jesus. This is the basis for the commission. “Therefore…” All the nations are his inheritance. They are his by right. He has the power to save sinners on the basis of his death and resurrection. The devil cannot stop him. He has power to protect his people and to restrain and judge his enemies. The earth is as much Christ’s as Canaan was Israel’s and the earth was originally Adam’s. In all three cases, the land was given by right, to be occupied confidently by a process of filling and subduing. And so you and I ought to work on fulfilling this commission and to do so with confidence.
2. What: Go make all nations disciples of Jesus.
The main imperative of the commission is to “make disciples” (one word in Greek). Preaching is a means, but it is not the final goal. The goal is disciples. Whose disciples? Jesus’ disciples. They will observe the commands of Jesus. Just as the eleven disciples became disciples by following Jesus, so now all the nations are called to follow Jesus, to turn away from a life of sin and to follow Jesus with faith in him. A “disciple” is a follower, a student of a teacher, someone in training. The book of Acts uses the word “disciple” about 25 times to describe Christians. Those who receive Christ, enroll themselves as his disciples.
Who are to be discipled? All nations. This matches the way Matthew first described Jesus: "Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham" (Matt. 1:1). Jesus is the offspring of Abraham, to whom it was said, “in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed” (Gen. 22:18). Jesus is the heir of David. Psalm 72 taught that the son of David would deliver his people and “have dominion from sea to sea,” saying, “May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him” (Psalm 72:8, 11).
The commission is aimed at bringing the nations to Christ, the peoples of the earth. Nations are groups of people who are united in common customs, history, life and, usually, government. The aim is to convert nations, bringing them back to God through Christ. Visions of this can be found in Isaiah 2:1-5, Micah 4:1-5, and Zechariah 8:20-23. It is said that all the nations shall go to the house of God. What does that look like? It looks like people calling out to one another, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths." And so the trickle becomes a mighty stream, and peoples flow to the house of God, and the Lord rules over the nations, their ways being transformed as they learn his ways. The target is not just a few people, but peoples; not man abstracted from his surroundings, but man and his whole life and relations - all of it to be brought to the service of Christ. As Ken Gentry writes in The Greatness of the Great Commission,
He calls for the discipling of ‘all the nations’ (ethnos), involving men as individuals united together in all their socio-cultural labors and relations. The discipling work of the Great Commission, then, aims at the comprehensive application of Christ’s authority over men through conversion. As the numbers of converts increase, this providentially leads to the subsuming under the authority of Christ whole institutions, cultures, societies, and governments.
And the goal is not merely some nations, but all nations - that is, the world. Not just the Jews, not just a few nations, but all of the nations of the earth. The goal is global and universal. The blessing of Christ is to be brought to every nation. As Matthew Henry comments,
Christ the Mediator is setting up a kingdom in the world, bring the nations to be his subjects; setting up a school, bring the nations to be his scholars; raising an army for the carrying on of the war against the powers of darkness, enlist the nations of the earth under his banner. The work which the apostles had to do, was, to set up the Christian religion in all places, and it was honourable work; the achievements of the mighty heroes of the world were nothing to it. They conquered the nations for themselves, and made them miserable; the apostles conquered them for Christ, and made them happy.
3. How we do this: baptizing in the triune name, teaching to observe all Christ’s commands.
Going
There are three subordinate imperatives in this passage, the first of which is “go.” To disciple all nations, preachers must go to all nations. The apostles had to travel to reach the nations. The church today must continue to send out missionaries to reach the nations today. Once there, the means by which the church fulfills this goal is by baptizing and teaching people.
Baptizing
Baptism is the mark of a disciple of Christ. "...baptizing them...” The pronoun "them" is grammatically masculine rather than neuter, referring to the members of the nations, not the nations themselves in the abstract. One aspect of making all nations Christ's disciples is baptizing the people of the nations. They are to be baptized as they become disciples of Christ.
Baptism is a sacrament of washing. Man by nature is defiled by sin, alienated from God, but cleansing and reconciliation with God is proclaimed through faith in Jesus Christ. Washing with water is used to represent and confirm the spiritual washing from sin unto new life proclaimed in the gospel of Christ. As Ananias told Paul after his journey to Damascus, "And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name" (Acts 22:16).
Baptizing
Baptism is the mark of a disciple of Christ. "...baptizing them...” The pronoun "them" is grammatically masculine rather than neuter, referring to the members of the nations, not the nations themselves in the abstract. One aspect of making all nations Christ's disciples is baptizing the people of the nations. They are to be baptized as they become disciples of Christ.
Baptism is a sacrament of washing. Man by nature is defiled by sin, alienated from God, but cleansing and reconciliation with God is proclaimed through faith in Jesus Christ. Washing with water is used to represent and confirm the spiritual washing from sin unto new life proclaimed in the gospel of Christ. As Ananias told Paul after his journey to Damascus, "And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name" (Acts 22:16).
It is a baptism into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. The other main passage concerning baptism in Matthew is chapter 3, and we find Father, Son, and Spirit also mentioned there. When Jesus was baptized, the Spirit of God descended like a dove and rested upon him, and the voice of the Father said, "This is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased."
These three persons are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory. They are eternally distinguished by the fact that the Son is eternally begotten of the Father, and the Spirit eternally proceeds from the Father and the Son. The Son was appointed the Mediator and took to himself human nature, being named Jesus at his birth. The Son of God brings us to the Father and gives to us the Spirit. In Christ, the Father receives us as his children and the Spirit rests upon us.
Those who profess faith in God the Father, Jesus Christ his Son, and the Holy Spirit should be baptized into his name, along with their children (Deut. 29:10-13, Josh. 24:15, Acts 2:38-39). We thus visibly enter into his covenant, with the Triune God as our God and we as his people. Baptism confirms his covenant promises and also our covenant obligations.
Teaching
Christ’s word is to be taught. The apostles were diligent to teach, and the early disciples rightly devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching (Acts 2:42). Christ gives some men, besides the apostles, to be teachers, ministers of the word, and the ministry of teaching is vital to the church (1 Cor. 12:28, Eph. 4:11). Parents should be diligent to teach their children, bringing them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Deut. 6:7, Eph. 6:4). While not all Christians are to be teachers of the church (James 3:1), yet all of us in some way should be encouraging and building up one another in the truth (1 Thess. 4:18) and ready to make a defense to anyone who asks us for a reason for the hope that is in us (1 Peter 3:15).
All that Jesus has commanded is to be taught and observed. The teaching is to be comprehensive, not minimal (Acts 20:27). What Jesus taught was faithfully taught by the apostles (Heb. 2:3) and is given to us in written form in the books of the New Testament (Luke 1:1-4). The faith once delivered to the saints is to be faithfully kept, taught, and observed (Jude 1:3, 2 Tim. 1:14, 2:2). What Christ commanded includes what he commanded concerning the abiding validity of the Law and the Prophets (that is, the Old Testament) in passages like Matthew 5:17-21. He came to fulfill the promises and types of the Old Testament, not institute a fundamentally different way of salvation. His moral instruction did not overturn Old Testament teachings, but vindicated and shed light on the true meaning of what God had taught all along. The Old Testament is also given by divine inspiration and remains canonical Scripture for us today, profitable for doctrine and training in righteousness, and it is rightly interpreted in accordance with Christ's teachings and redemptive work. The whole Bible is to be taught as one unified message from God, with Christ as the Teacher and the key to its message.
This teaching aims at the faithful observance of Christ’s commandments. Disciples are to be taught "to observe" all that Christ has commanded. This teaching is not merely academic. Instruction is given as part of a course of training. It calls for faith in Jesus Christ and repentance toward God (Acts 20:21). Paul wrote that he was an apostle, "for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness" (Titus 1:1). Ministers and other elders join in the oversight of the flock, shepherding them along in the way (1 Thess. 5:12-13), and all of us are to stir up one another to love and good works (Heb. 10:24).
So the church makes disciples by water and word. These are simple things, but Jesus sends his Spirit to make these means effective. These are the weapons used to extend his reign. We do not go forth with the power of flesh and blood, but with the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. We plant and water, but God gives the increase.
4. How we can do this: Jesus is with us all the days.
Jesus promises, “I will be with you.” This is a divine promise. Jesus is Immanuel, “God with us” (Matt. 1:23). This refers not simply to his omnipresence, but to his saving and favorable presence with his people. He is God with us to save and defend us. He pours out his Spirit upon his people.
Jesus makes his ordinances effectual. It is as when God told Joshua to go and conquer the land and said, “Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Josh. 1:9). The Son of God is with us. Therefore, the mission is doable. He did not give us a vain task. He did not leave us on our own to accomplish it. He will be with us. Therefore, be strong and courageous.
Remember the parables of the kingdom’s growth. The kingdom began like a mustard seed, like a little leaven in a large lump of dough (Matt. 13:31-33). It began small. But progressively, over time, in this age, it grows bigger and bigger, until it fills the earth. The seed is growing into a tree, the biggest plant in the garden, in which the birds shall nest. The leaven is filling and changing the whole lump of dough. These prophecies shall be fulfilled more and more in this age. Jesus is advancing his kingdom.
Jesus will be with us all the days, to the end of the age. Then he will return bodily. At that time, he will defeat the last enemy, death. He will raise his people to life and glory. He will judge the world and purify his kingdom. Those who are Christ's will remain in his kingdom in glory forever.
So the church makes disciples by water and word. These are simple things, but Jesus sends his Spirit to make these means effective. These are the weapons used to extend his reign. We do not go forth with the power of flesh and blood, but with the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. We plant and water, but God gives the increase.
4. How we can do this: Jesus is with us all the days.
Jesus promises, “I will be with you.” This is a divine promise. Jesus is Immanuel, “God with us” (Matt. 1:23). This refers not simply to his omnipresence, but to his saving and favorable presence with his people. He is God with us to save and defend us. He pours out his Spirit upon his people.
Jesus makes his ordinances effectual. It is as when God told Joshua to go and conquer the land and said, “Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Josh. 1:9). The Son of God is with us. Therefore, the mission is doable. He did not give us a vain task. He did not leave us on our own to accomplish it. He will be with us. Therefore, be strong and courageous.
Remember the parables of the kingdom’s growth. The kingdom began like a mustard seed, like a little leaven in a large lump of dough (Matt. 13:31-33). It began small. But progressively, over time, in this age, it grows bigger and bigger, until it fills the earth. The seed is growing into a tree, the biggest plant in the garden, in which the birds shall nest. The leaven is filling and changing the whole lump of dough. These prophecies shall be fulfilled more and more in this age. Jesus is advancing his kingdom.
Jesus will be with us all the days, to the end of the age. Then he will return bodily. At that time, he will defeat the last enemy, death. He will raise his people to life and glory. He will judge the world and purify his kingdom. Those who are Christ's will remain in his kingdom in glory forever.
So do not be like the ten spies who gave the bad report when Israel approached Canaan, saying, “the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. And besides, we saw the descendants of Anak there” (Num. 13:28). Rather, be like Caleb, who said, “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it” (Num. 13:30). What was Caleb's confidence? His abilities? No, he was confident because the Lord was with them. Let us go forth with the gospel of Christ. Let us do our duty as a member of the Lord's army, as we liberate the devil's captives and take the world for Christ. The nations are his inheritance. And let us do so with gratitude, as those who have themselves been delivered by the Lord Jesus.
