Matthew 28:19, 20 - Jesus Gives The Great Commission.
Matthew 28:19, 20 - Jesus Gives The Great Commission.
Matthew 28:19, 20 (NKJV) Go therefore and make disciples of all
the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that
I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the
end of the age." Amen.
WORD STUDY
Baptizing them: As a sign of their union with and commitment to
Christ [NIV SB]
INTRODUCTION
The great charter of the Christian church. [SDA Commentary]
Compare this with the great promise that the gospel of the
kingdom would be "preached in all the world for a witness unto all
nations" (see on Matt. 24:14). This commission is sometimes referred to
as the "charter of foreign missions." Christianity was the first
religion to assume a truly international character. Pagan religions were
largely devoid of missionary zeal and activity. They were primarily
national in character and did not set out to make converts of other
national groups. The gospel commission effectively eliminates national
boundaries, and men of all nations find themselves members of one great
brotherhood in which "there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond
nor free, there is neither male nor female," for all are "one in
Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3:28; cf. Col. 3:11). Christianity effectively
destroys all barriers of race, nationality, society, economics, and
social custom. Christianity depends for success on its disentanglement
from all national peculiarities, forms of government, social
institutions, and everything of a purely local character. [SDA Commentary]
COMMENTARY APPLICATION
Evangelism is for all Christians. We are to go--whether it is
next door or to another country--and make disciples. It is not an
option, but a command to all who call Jesus "Lord." We are not all
evangelists in the formal sense, but we have all received gifts that we can
use to help fulfill the Great Commission. As we obey, we have
comfort in the knowledge that Jesus is always with us. [Life Application
SB]
Jesus commands that we go, make disciples, baptize, and teach,
so that others may do the same. It doesn't matter whether you share
your faith with your next-door neighbor or travel to the far corners
of the earth - you are to "go." This was not a suggestion; it was a
command to all who call him "Lord." How do you do this? First Peter
3:15 says, "If someone asks about your Christian hope, always be
ready to explain it." Just be willing to share your own story. Think
about why you made a decision to put your faith in Jesus. Think about
the differences in your life since you became a Christian. Never
underestimate the strength of your personal testimony. Those who listen to
what you say may be greatly affected, and you may have the joy of
welcoming a new member into the family of God! [The One Year Bible for New
Believers re Mat. 28:19, 20]
Our Master commands us to "go." We need permission to stay!
The gospel is the account of Jesus' leaving His Father's right hand
to go to Calvary. Jesus instructed those who wanted to be His
disciples to leave their homes and their comforts and follow Him. Some
insisted that they could not go yet because they still had to care for
elderly parents (Lu 9:59-60). Others wanted to make sure everything was
in order first (Lu 9:61-62). Still others expressed willingness to
follow but wanted to know the details of what they would be doing (Lu
9:57-58). Jesus never excused those who struggled to follow Him. He made
it clear that to follow Him meant He set the direction and they
were to follow.
We can convince ourselves that Jesus does not really want us
to adjust our lives, pointing to the success we are enjoying right
where we are. Yet Jesus often told His disciples to go elsewhere in
spite of the success they were experiencing. Peter had just pulled in
the greatest catch of fish of his entire career when Jesus invited
him to leave everything (Lu 5:1-11). Philip was enjoying astounding
success as an evangelist when the Holy Spirit instructed him to go to
the desert (As 8:25-40). Success where we are can be our greatest
hindrance to going where Jesus wants us to be.
If you become too comfortable where you are, you may resist
Christ's invitation to go elsewhere. Don't assume that God does not want
you to go in service to Him. He may lead you across the street to
share the gospel with your neighbor or to the other side of the world.
Wherever He leads, be prepared to go. [Experiencing God Day by Day by
Henry and Richard Blackaby re Mat. 28:19]
There are two ways to look at every situation: How it will
affect you, and how it will affect God's kingdom. The apostle Paul was
always concerned with how his circumstances might aid the spreading of
the Gospel. When he was unjustly imprisoned, he immediately looked
to see how his imprisonment might provide God's salvation to others
(Php 1:13; Ac 16:19-34). When he was assailed by an angry mob, he
used the opportunity to preach the Gospel (Ac 22:1-21). When Paul's
criminal proceedings took him before the king, his thoughts were on
sharing his faith with the king! (Acts 26:1-32). Even when Paul was
shipwrecked on an island, he used that opportunity to share the gospel
there. Regardless of his circumstance, Paul's concern was how he could
use his current situation to tell others of God's good news of
salvation.
Often when we encounter a new situation, our first thoughts
are not about God's kingdom . When we face a crisis, we can become
angry or fearful for our own wellbeing, rather than looking to see
what God intends to do through our circumstances. If we remain
self-centered we will miss so much of what God could do through our
experiences, both for us and for those around us.
Ask God to make you aware of how He could use your present
circumstances to bless others. Perhaps someone around you needs to see the
difference Christ's presence makes in your life. Are you willing for God to
use your circumstances to demonstrate His saving power to those
around you? [Experiencing God Day by Day by Henry and Richard Blackaby
re Phil. 1:12]
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a vital part of the gospel
message, for a dead Christ can save nobody (1 Cor. 15:1-19). The empty
tomb is proof that He is the Son of God (Rom. 1:4); that believers
have a future inheritance (1 Pet. 1:3ff.); that we will once again
meet Christians who have died (1 Thess. 4:14-18); that our Christian
ministry is not in vain (1 Cor. 15:50-58); and that Jesus Christ will one
day judge lost sinners (Acts 17:30-31). The early church bore
witness of the resurrection of Jesus Christ (Acts 1:22; 4:2, 33), and so
should we today. [Chapter by Chapter Bible Commentary by Warren
Wiersbe]
"Go teaching and preaching out of your living experience with
Christ." [In His Time; My Utmost For His Highest re Mat.28:18,19]
EXCELLENT SERMON RELATED TO THIS PASSAGE: The Issachar Factor 2
by Dwight Nelson
http://media.pmchurch.org/wmedia/2009-05-23_Issachar-2.wmv
www.aBible.com
