Jesus' Authority Over You and Me

Introduction: In many ways, Matthew’s gospel ends the very same way it begins-with the authority of Jesus.

Jesus’ genealogy proves He has authority as king.

His virgin birth proves He has authority as being sent from God.

The visit from the wise men proves He is worthy of worship

And the rest of Matthew’s gospel is dedicated to the singular idea that there is nothing and no one over which Jesus does not have authority.

Transition: As we have studied Matthew’s Gospel over the past couple of years, we have watched in amazement as Matthew has pointed his finger to every realm of creation—whether physical or spiritual—and declared that Jesus is the ultimate authority over all of it. This morning, we come to the final passage in this incredible book, where Matthew points his finger one last time at the final area over which Jesus has authority—over you and me.

Read Matthew 28:18-20

The Extent of Jesus’ Authority

Authority (ἐξουσία) - the right, power, or authority; the freedom to do as you wish without limitations

By highlighting Jesus’ statement in this moment, Matthew's claim is that Jesus has definitively proven through His life, death, burial, and resurrection that He possesses complete authority to do what He wants, when He wants, where He wants, with what He wants, to whomever He wants.

After all, that is the central purpose of Matthew’s Gospel. So, the question we must ask ourselves this morning as we close our study of Matthew’s Gospel is this: Did Matthew successfully prove his thesis? Does Jesus have ultimate authority?

In Matthew's Gospel, we saw that Jesus has authority over disease (Matthew 4:23).

In Matthew's Gospel, we saw that Jesus has authority over demons (Matthew 4:24, Matthew 8:32, and Matthew 12:22).

In Matthew's Gospel, we saw that Jesus has authority over any other religious leader (Matthew 7:29).

In Matthew's Gospel, we saw that Jesus has authority over nature (Matthew 8:23-27).

In Matthew's Gospel, we saw that Jesus has the authority to forgive sins (Matthew 9:6).

In Matthew's Gospel, we saw that Jesus has authority over life and death (Matthew 9:18-25).

In Matthew's Gospel, we saw that Jesus has authority to delegate authority over disease and demons to His apostles (Matthew 10:1).

In Matthew's Gospel, we saw that Jesus has the authority to judge (Matthew 25:31-46).

And finally, in Matthew's Gospel, we see that Jesus has the authority to send His followers to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20).

This is exactly what Paul describes in Philippians 2:5-11

Philippians 2:5–11 NKJV

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Transition: Jesus’ resurrection was the final death blow to sin and death. He arose as the ultimate authority, the name above every name, and with that authority, He commissioned His followers to make disciples of all nations.

The Commission Resulting from Jesus’ Authority

Read Matthew 28:19-20a

Therefore (because Jesus has ultimate authority) Make disciples

God is the Righteous Creator

Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

Psalm 145:17 “The Lord is righteous in all His ways, Gracious in all His works.”

Isaiah 45:18 “For thus says the Lord, Who created the heavens, Who is God, Who formed the earth and made it, Who has established it, Who did not create it in vain, Who formed it to be inhabited: “I am the Lord, and there is no other.”

Mankind is a rebellious sinner

Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

Jesus Christ is the Savior

Acts 4:12 “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Every individual must respond to the gift God offers

John 3:16–18 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

Baptizing them

Salvation from the flood

Genesis 7:17–18 “Now the flood was on the earth forty days. The waters increased and lifted up the ark, and it rose high above the earth. The waters prevailed and greatly increased on the earth, and the ark moved about on the surface of the waters.”

Salvation from Egypt

Exodus 14:21–22 “Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided. So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.”

Salvation from sin

1 Peter 3:20–21 “who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,”

Teaching them

Acts 20:27 “For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.”

Transition: That’s the task. Daunting, isn’t it? The task Jesus gave His disciples—as ridiculously improbable as it must have seemed at the time—has flourished, reaching all the way to the other side of the world, and now it has landed squarely on our shoulders. It is now our job to continue reaching as many as we can with the gospel of Jesus, and our work isn’t done until we have taught them the entire counsel of God. Who feels up to the task?

Well, let me be honest with you this morning: None of us really feel ready for it. None of us feel equipped for it. It does seem daunting, and we don’t feel worthy. And that’s really the entire point. Because in this passage, grammatically speaking, there are only two commands in the great commission: make disciples, and lo.

The Promise of Jesus’ Authoritative Presence

Read Matthew 28:20b

Jesus, who has all authority, promises to be with us to the end of the age.

Conclusion: Jesus’ final authoritative command was to go and make disciples. The only question left for us is this: Will we surrender to the authority of Jesus and make disciples?