WEEK 42 “THE GREAT COMMISSION” (Part 1) Matthew 28:19-20

Read Matthew 28:16-20

As part of the great commission, our saviour Jesus said:

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, TEACHING THEM TO OBSERVE ALL THAT I COMMANDED YOU; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

CONTEXT: Q. WHAT WAS THE RESPONSE OF THE DISCIPLES WHEN THEY SAW JESUS IN VS 17?

In vs 17, when His disciples saw Him, the bible says they firstly WORSHIPPED HIM!! Notice Jesus didn’t stop them? The word “worship“ is the word “proskyneo” which can mean “to kiss the hand of in reverence to, or to prostrate oneself and kneel in homage to”. We find that Jesus was worshipped all throughout His life (Matthew 2:11, Matthew 14:33, John 9:38, Matthew 28:9) and all these times He never stopped them!

Q. WHAT DOES THIS TELL US ABOUT WHO JESUS IS? (Consider that in Matthew 4:10 Jesus said we are to worship and serve God alone! In Revelation 19:10 and Revelation 22:9, angels were not to be worshipped, but instead said to worship God alone!) This shows us that JESUS IS GOD!!

Do we worship Jesus truly? In Matthew 4:10, Jesus linked worship with serving!! DO WE REVERE AND SERVE JESUS?

Secondly, vs 17 goes on to say that some of the disciples DOUBTED. The same word is used in Matthew 14:31 of Peter walking on water when Jesus said “Oh you of little faith, why did you DOUBT?” Even after seeing Jesus risen, some still doubted! This reminds us that we believe and are saved by FAITH and NOT BY SIGHT (2 Corinthians 5:7, Ephesians 2:8-9, John 20:29) as even after seeing, some will still doubt!! Even after being given all the evidence about Jesus, some will still doubt!! (Eg. The chief priests in Matthew 28:11-13, see also Luke 16:29-31) This reminds us that we can never convince a person into the kingdom of heaven!! We simply share the truth of the gospel with them, but it has to be the Holy Spirit who softens their heart and opens their eyes so they can truly believe in Jesus and be saved!!

THE GREAT COMMISSION: (vs 18-20)

1.CONTEXT: The great commission starts off with the word 'therefore'. This means it is based on the previous verses for context. In verse 18, Jesus said “ALL AUTHORITY in heaven and on earth has been given to me…”

Authority here is the word 'exousia' which can also mean 'power'. The power of rule! (Luke 10:17-18, Luke 9:1)

It is the same word used in Matthew 10:1 when it says Jesus called His 12 disciples and gave them AUTHORITY to drive out demons and heal the sick!! (Luke 10:17-19)

In Luke 4:6, satan had this authority after he had taken it from man, back in the garden of Eden! (Genesis 1:26, Genesis 3) When Jesus overcame satan’s temptations in Luke 4 and ultimately died on the cross and rose again (Colossians 2:15), Jesus wrestled this authority back and thus was able to give it to His disciples in Luke 9:1, 10:18-19.

It is because Jesus has ALL AUTHORITY, that He calls us to now go in that authority to make disciples of the nations!! Hence the great commission starts off with the words 'THEREFORE'.

What is also comforting to know is If Jesus has ALL AUTHORITY, how much does satan have against us? NONE!!!

2.Jesus tells us to 'GO'. Notice then, that the great commission is not necessarily inviting our unsaved friends to come to church. It is us as Christians going out into the streets, into our schools, work places and sporting teams and sharing the gospel with our unsaved friends and the lost out there in the world!! (Jonah 1:2, Mark 16:15, Acts 2:42-47, Ephesians 4:11-15 and the purpose of church)

3.MAKE DISCIPLES. Our saviour Jesus tells us to make disciples, not just believers!! A disciple (Greek word ‘Mathete) is a 'follower of Jesus'. One who does what our Saviour Jesus did!! One who follows the precepts and teachings of Jesus! (John 8:31-32, John 13:34-35, John 15:8 and Luke 14:26-33 tell us what it means to be a disciple of Jesus) Are we teaching people to give up everything to follow Jesus, or making them Luke-warm instead by giving them a bit of Jesus and a bit of the world?

To do this, we ourselves need to be discipled and equipped in order to be able to disciple others!!!

Q. WHO IS DISCIPLING YOU TO BECOME MORE LIKE JESUS?

Q. WHO ARE YOU SHARING THE GOSPEL WITH AND THEN DISCIPLING TO BECOME MORE LIKE JESUS?

(Remember This is not done in our own strength but by the Holy Spirit in us!!)

May you start fulfilling the great commission by the power of The Holy Spirit!!