The Call to Make Disciples

The Five Great Commissions: Message One

Matthew 28:16-20

ETS: Jesus commissioned the disciples to make disciples of the nations.

ESS: We should be obedient followers by making disciples of the nations.

OSS: [MO: Consecrative] {SO: I want the hearers to commit to making disciples.}

PQ: What observations can we make about this passage?

UW: Observations

Intro.: Jeff Lewis wrote, “The link between the promise of Abraham to be a blessing to the nations and the future fulfillment expressed in Revelation is a faithful God accomplishing his purpose through his people.” (Discovering God’s Mission, 102)

PQ: Let us examine together three observations from this passage:

The first observation is the authority behind the commission. (v. 18)

Notice that Jesus set out to who He was and to reassure where doubts existed. V. 17 records that some doubted (not in a sense of final decision doubt or failure to believe, but in a sense of hesitation)

Jesus was and is the One in authority.

APPLICATION: We should submit to His authority. He has commissioned us.

The second observation is the commission. (v. 19b)

R. T. France wrote, “Jesus’ universal Lordship now demands a universal mission.” (Tyndale NT Commentaries, Vol. 1, Notes under v. 19)

A disciple is simply a student, a learner, or a follower. Often times today, and in past tradition, students of the Bible have tended to view this commission as only relevant to the eleven disciples present. However, since the Word of God is relevant to us, since Jesus is our Lord and authority, and since we are His followers through faith, this commission is also relevant to us.

The heart of this commission comes in one verb: make disciples μαθητεύσατε- this is an imperative (the only imperative in this passage).

The extent of this commission is encompassed in the next few words: of all the nations. This literally means of all the peoples of the world.

APPLICATION: Under the authority and Lordship of Jesus, we as His students or disciples receive the commission to make disciples of all the nations.

The third observation is the means to accomplish the commission. (vv. 19-20)

Three participles explain the means by which the commission is accomplished: go, baptizing, and teaching.

Go: πορευθέντες- aorist tense, adverbial-instrumental (means) participle. This, though, does carry direct imperatival force from the imperative confirmed by the aorist tense. The first means of accomplishing this commission is by going!

Baptizing: βαπτίζοντες- present tense, adverbial-instrumental (means) participle. This directly describes the second means by which the commission is fulfilled: through baptism. Of course, this does have physical significance and refers to the ordinance of baptism in this sense, but also, in terms of making disciples- in the truest sense of the word, it also has spiritual significance: to plunge or immerse the individual into the Word of God. Leading to the third mean...

Teaching: διδάσκοντες, present, adverbial-instrumental (means). Again, describing the means to accomplish the commission: by immersing the individual into the teaching of the Word. Regarding this, Jeff Lewis wrote, “The disciples are instructed to observe the ethics of the kingdom (5-7), the mission of the kingdom (10), the commitment of the kingdom (13), the community of the kingdom (18), and the stewardship of the kingdom (24-25). The ethics of the kingdom demand more than knowledge of Christ’s teachings; it requires obedience. As kingdom citizens we nurture each other to be Christ-followers in more than name. We learn to obey all he commanded, even this commission to disciple all nations.” (Lewis in Discovering the Mission of God, 105)

APPLICATION: Thus, we must understand that there are specific means by which we fulfill this commission: we must go; we must immerse people; we must teach people.

The fourth observation is the promise of the commission. (v. 20b)

“and behold, I myself am with you all the days until the end (close) of the age.”

Jesus does not commission us without promising us to be with us. He promises to be with us as we are faithful to His commission.

CONCLUSION:

A key theme throughout this passage is the Greek root word πᾶς meaning “all.” It appears four times: Jesus said “all authority” has been given to me. Jesus commissioned the disciples to make disciples of “all the nations.” Jesus elaborated that the disciples needed to teach them to observe “all things.” Jesus promise to be with them “all the days.” Since the word “all” appears to be key in this text, what hinders you from giving all of you to fulfill this commission? Jesus is the authority. He has commissioned us to all people. He instructed us to teach all things. He promised to be with us all our days. What more do we need?