Matthew 28:16-20, (Part 1)
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, a) “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. b) 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, c) baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, c) 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
When reading the verses above, what is commonly known as the “Great Commission”, the basic challenge for all who have a personal relationship with Christ Jesus is? How do these words of Jesus apply to me? In other words, we are asking the question, seeking to learn the understanding and the application of Jesus’ words to our lives. When we do this, we are not only pursuing the understanding of how Jesus’ words apply to our relationship with Him, but also to our daily life in our interaction and our influence with the world around us.
When teaching or preaching this particular portion of scripture, or any other portion of scripture, the task for the preacher or teacher is to be able to help the listener to understand and apply what Jesus said so that they would be challenged, motivated and instructed to be able to personally experience in their lives what Jesus told these eleven disciples on the mountain that day.
For the preacher or teacher to accomplish this requires much study or exegesis of theses verses, and not “eisegesis”, “Eisegesis is the process of interpreting text in such a way as to introduce one’s own presuppositions, agendas or biases. It is commonly referred to as reading into the text.” For a good explanation of what is exegesis and eisegesis are, please read the short article (3 minutes) and watch the video (1 minute) on the LOGOS Bible study website, “What Is Exegesis & Why Does It Matter?”. https://blog.logos.com/what-is-exegesis/
Also, most importantly when reading these verses and or any other verses of the Bible we must always prayerfully seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said in the flowing verses, John 14:26, “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 16:13, “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth.”
Ver. 16, “Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee,
to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.”
The eleven disciples being in the region of Galilee, on the mountain was not by chance, they were where Jesus wanted them to be. We can see in addition to verse sixteen in the following verses they were following Jesus’ instructions.
Matthew 26:30-32 – Last Supper
30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 31 Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”
Matthew 28:7, Resurrection Day
The Angel Speaking,
7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
Matthew 28:8-10, Jesus speaking
8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
Ver. 18, Then Jesus came to them and said,
- a) “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
These words of Jesus to His eleven disciples are the first of the four points of Jesus’ directive to the disciples or “Great Commission”. In itself this point is not a directive but is the basis for the three directives in the following verses. Everything in the next three verses that Jesus was going to tell the disciples to do stands on this first point.
It was Jesus who was sending them out into the world and telling them what to do and it was in His authority they had the privilege and calling to do what they were going to do. But if Jesus had no authority, with what authority and confidence would the eleven have to do what Jesus was sending them out to do?
Waren Wiersbe states the following concerning Jesus’ authority as it applies to present day disciples of Christ. “Because of this, we may obey Him without fear. No matter where He leads us, no matter what circumstances we face, He is in control. By His death and resurrection, Jesus defeated all enemies and won for Himself all authority.”
- b) 19a, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations”
This first directive is a missional calling which is to go to others of different cultures and languages and engage them with the gospel message. Jesus gave the eleven this directive, as a result we can see throughout the books of Acts how Jesus’ command was successfully achieved by His disciples. However, that was only achieved because of the “authority” that Jesus gave them when He told them to “go”, and by the empowering of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Acts 1:8, But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Presently in the world that we live in today, the world is coming to us. How many different opportunities do we have daily all around us to fulfill Jesus’ first directive and how intentional are we in doing it?
The next important point we need to realize is, in order to do what Jesus is telling us to do, we need to ask the question, do we have today the same understanding of what a disciple is, as what Jesus meant when He told this to the eleven that day on the mountain?
Very simply stated, “A disciple is one who repents of sin, trusts in Jesus for salvation, and obeys his teachings.” In addition, another good but short definition of what a disciple is, is the following. “A disciple is a person who has chosen to position themselves as Jesus’ student or follower.”
Wiersbe explains the meaning of what a disciple is in the context of time when Jesus used the term. “The term “disciples” was the most popular name for the early believers. Being a disciple meant more than being a convert or a church member. Apprentice might be an equivalent term. A disciple attached himself to a teacher, identified with him, learned from him, and lived with him. He learned, not simply by listening, but also by doing. Our Lord called twelve disciples and taught them so that they might be able to teach others.”
Wiersbe goes on to apply Jesus’ meaning of a disciple to today’s church context. “In many respects, we have departed from this pattern. In most churches, the congregation pays the pastor to preach, win the lost, and build up the saved – while the church members function as cheerleaders (if they are enthusiastic) or spectators. The “converts” are won, baptized, and given the right hand of fellowship, then they join the other spectators.
When our relationship with Jesus only involves salvation and little to no discipleship, we are “shortchanging” ourselves to what Jesus intended our relationship with Him should be.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17
It is the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives through discipleship how we are matured or transformed, becoming less of who we were before we received Christ into our lives. As a disciple we are progressively transformed to be the person God intended us to be in Christ Jesus, so we can do what He has called us to, where He has called us to do it.
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:2
It is the discipled believer in Christ who will “… go and make disciples of all nations”. If we are not discipled ourselves, we will not be able to disciple others as Jesus commands us to. If we are just followers or as Wiersbe says “cheerleaders (if they are enthusiastic) or spectators”, this is the kind of Christians we will produce in our churches.
“Discipleship is a normal part of what it means to be saved.” The sad reality today is in many churches when prayer meetings and mid-week Bible studies are offered to help in our formation as a disciple of Christ, there is little interest by the majority of the congregation to participate. For many believers of these congregations, discipleship only happens on Sunday.
It is always important to keep a careful balance between evangelism and discipleship. “Effective evangelism cannot be separated from true discipleship. Christ does not intend for his followers to simply make converts to Christianity; he wants them to train and mentor (i.e., train by teaching and example) other people who will faithfully follow Christ and lead others to him as well.”
1 Timothy 1:16, NLT
But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.
In the many diverse settings we live in today, it is outside of the four walls of the church when we will be in contact with those who need to hear the gospel of Christ and just as importantly, to experience a life of a submitted and committed disciple of Christ. Is one of the many possible reasons why many people are not interested and or challenged about the Christian life being part of their life is that we are just complacent followers of Christ and not transformed disciples of Christ?
Pastor John
