One More Thing

Introduction

As we close this Sunday series, there is no better passage to examine than this one!

Matthew’s final words of his Master to them and a powerful one for us today.

In similar fashion to being in Galilee when choosing His disciples, He is going to Galilee to commission them.

What a powerful picture, Nathaniel asked, “can anything good come from Nazareth?” (a city in lower Galilee) - Only the Saviour of the world!

One more time, ONE MORE THING!

Context

As we approach the text, we see that chief priests paid soldiers to lie about what they have seen, the ploy is somewhat successful because people believed it and the story preserved.

Our text

Matt 28:16 “But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated.”

But, they went ahead as instructed (Mt 28:7; 10)

Matt 28:17 “When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful.”

We notice the response of the disciples:

“they worshipped”

“some wavered”[hesitant] (Mark adds Jesus rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart Mark 16:14)

The doubt is understandable [they killed you before what will they do now/uncertainty of the future/lack of clarity about the ensuing kingdom]

Matt 28:18 “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”

This exousia emphasizes Jesus’ right to not His might to. That everything is under His jurisdiction [analogy Police officers are hindered sometimes by jurisdiction]. Col 2:10 “and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;”

This exousia extends tthe heavens as well as all the earth. “He is making clear that the limitations that applied throughout the incarnation no longer apply to him”.

Morris, Leon. The Gospel according to Matthew. Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press, 1992. Print. The Pillar New Testament Commentary.

This reminiscent of what Daniel said in Dan 7:13-14 ““I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. “And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.”

Matt 28:19 ““Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,”

The imp. is “make disciples”

To learn and submit to what you learn

APPL. Sometimes we learn/hear but we never quite submit to doing it. ‘Discipleship’ is that process where you learn and then do.

That’s why Jesus said “if you continue in my word then you are truly my disciples” Jn 8:31.

It’s not just academical, it’s practical Deut 4:5 ““See, I have taught you statutes and judgments just as the Lord my God commanded me, that you should do thus in the land where you are entering to possess it.”

Discipleship demands a close association with the Master. It means to: Commit to, Depend on, Be Like

How do I do this?

This is where the participles come into play

“Go” - to go in a particular direction or take a particular course of action. Going is intentional!

“baptizing them” - if you go, you will go preaching the gospel, if you preach the gospel, you will preach Jesus, if you preach Jesus, you will get to baptism!

Matt 28:20 “teaching them” to observe all that I commanded you;

Making disciples isn’t complete at baptism!

“and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.””

This verb “lo” is in the aorist active imperative

this means that Jesus compels them to look back as they look forward