10.26.24 - (Matthew 28:18-20)

Introduction

Hello Dwell, this is Kenneth.

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Today is Saturday, October 26th. Thanks for joining us for today's Dwell Kids Daily!

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For the next few minutes, I invite you to join me as we look to our Great King by opening our hearts to hear from Him through the words of the Bible.

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Silence

As we begin, let us remember that God calls His people, young and old, to be still and know that He is God. Let's take a few seconds to clear our minds, so that we can hear him better.

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Opening Prayer

(Saturday)

Father in heaven, your way is pure and your words are perfect. Remind us today that you are a shield for all those who take refuge in you.

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Passage

Today our passage is from the last three verses in the Matthew’s gospel account, Matthew 28:18-20:

English Standard Version (Chapter 28)

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.”

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Exhortation

Now you might not know this, but the very first sentence of the book of Matthew will really help us understand these last few verses of Matthew’s gospel account. The first sentence tells us three things about Jesus. He’s the Messiah, he’s the Son of David, and he’s the Son of Abraham. Now, how does that help us understand our passage today? Well today’s verses are often called The Great Commission, one of my mentors calls them The Final Command. The resurrected Jesus, before he ascends to his heavenly throne, tells his disciples that he has all authority in heaven and on earth, and with that authority he is commanding them to go and gather up the nations.

Ok, now let’s look at that first verse of Matthew. Jesus is the Messiah. That’s a royal title. In the Old Testament we read that, though everything is broken and all out of place, the Messiah is coming to make things right. We’re told the Messiah is a great anointed King. So the first thing we learn about Jesus is that he is the long awaited King. Then we are told that he is the Son of David. David himself was an anointed king, and he is told by God that one of his sons will reign as king forever and ever on David’s throne. So when Matthew 1:1 tells us that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of David, this is Matthew’s way of saying that Jesus is the everlasting anointed King. But he doesn’t stop there, He then says that Jesus is the Son of Abraham. Hmm, interesting. Can you remember why Abraham was called by God back in Genesis 12? In Genesis 11 (right before the call of Abraham), we have the tower of Babel. Everyone is working together against God. So God confuses them and scatters all the families of the earth across the wide world. Now this is not what God wants. This is not what he was doing with humans in Eden. Our own sin led to us being scattered and confused, away from the presence of God. But immediately after this, God calls Abraham and tells him, that through his family God is going to gather those scattered families up for blessing. So when Matthew 1:1 says that Jesus is the son of Abraham, we know that he will be the one who brings all the scattered and confused families of the earth into God’s presence.

So, when we put it all together Matthew 1:1 is saying that Jesus is the everlasting anointed King who is gathering up the scattered families of the earth for blessing in the presence of God! Wow! What an amazing reality hidden in plain sight right there in the first sentence of Matthew (Which also happens to be the first sentence of the New Testament). So in our passage, at the very end of Matthew, we see King Jesus, the one will all authority, sending his disciples to gather up the nations, the scattered and confused families of the earth. His disciples are to make disciples of the nations, baptize them in the name of the triune God, and teach them to obey the great King’s commands. And in all of this his disciples are not alone, Jesus is with them, ruling over them from his heavenly throne.

Call to Action: Let’s take a moment to reflect on the wonder of King Jesus, and thank God that he is fixing what is broken and gathering up what was scattered.

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Closing Prayer

Let’s pray together.

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Father in heaven, here we are, thousands of miles away from Israel, and thousands of year past the giving of the Great Commission. We have been gathered up into your family, and can boldly enter your presence through prayer. You’re Spirit-filled disciples are still doing the work of gathering up the scattered families. Help us be faithful disciples. Help us obey the Final Command of King Jesus. Our King forever and ever. We pray this in his name. Amen.

Outro

"It's been great to be with you today."

Tomorrow, we'll be in the fifth Psalm. Until then, go in peace, and let the word of King Jesus dwell in you richly.

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Alternate Outro (Record Every Time)

Now, go in peace, and let the word of King Jesus dwell in you richly.