The Great Commission
This article is a study of the Great Commission and what is expected of the followers of Jesus Christ. The gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John all have their versions of the instructions that Jesus gave his disciples before he ascended into Heaven, but Matthew’s version is widely called the Great Commission.
UNLIMITED POWER
The Great Commission are the instructions that Jesus gave his disciples before he ascended into Heaven. Jesus begins his instructions to his disciples by describing the extent of his power. Matthew 28:18-20 reads:
18. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying,
All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20. Teaching them to
observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you
alway, even unto the end of the world. Amenʹ.
It is important to note that in verse 18 Jesus begins the Great Commission by declaring that “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” Why was it important for Jesus to describe his power prior to issuing his instructions to his disciples? The answer to this question is found in the first three words of verse 19 where it reads, “Go ye therefore.” With these words, Jesus instructs his disciples to go forth in his authority and power.
Another important point to note in verse 18 are the words “in heaven and in earth.” Jesus could have ended verse 18 with: “All power is given unto me.” Why was it important for Jesus to describe the extent of his power with the words “in heaven and in earth”? The answer to this question can also be found in verse 19 which reads, “baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Jesus’ reference to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost in this passage of scripture describes the extent of his authority. It does not refer to a trinity because Jesus says, “I and my Father are one” (John 10:30). Jesus possesses the authority of the Father and the Son; “in heaven,” and he possesses the authority of the Holy Ghost; “in earth.” Jesus authority in the earth is in his disciples in the form of the Holy Ghost. Jesus says in John 14:16-17:
16. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another comforter, that he
may abide with you forever;
17. Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world
cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him;
for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
18. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come
to you.
19. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no
more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
20. At that day ye shall know that I am in my
Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS
Jesus gives instructions to his disciples for fulfilling the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19 which reads, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Strong’s defines the word “teach” in this verse of scripture as G3100 which is translated mathēteuō in Greek, and means disciple (Blue Letter Bible). The Bible (KJV) translates G3100 as teach, instruct, and be disciple (Blue Letter Bible). Therefore, Jesus instructs his disciples in verse 19 to make disciples of all nations.
How does the followers of Jesus Christ make disciples? They are to “go” and “baptize” as recorded in verse 19. They are also to “teach” as recorded in Matthew 28:20 which reads, “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amenʹ. Strong’s defines the word “teach” in verse 20 as G1321 and is translated didaskō; a form of a primary verb dao which means to learn (Blue Letter Bible). The Bible (KJV) translates G1321 as teach or taught (Blue Letter Bible). The followers of Christ are to teach others all of his commandments.
WHAT IS EXPECTED OF THE FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST
During Jesus’s three year ministry on earth, He preached the Kingdom of God and healed the sick. Jesus was the example that His disciples would follow. Every time Jesus sent His disciples out to minister to people, He instructed them to preach the Kingdom of God in conjunction with healing the sick. The followers of Christ are to preach the Kingdom of God and demonstrate the supernatural power of God through healings, miracles, signs, and wonders.
The following passages of scriptures are examples that Jesus left his disciples and examples of what is expected of the followers of Jesus today.
“And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in
their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of
sickness and all manner of disease among the people” (Matthew
4:23).
7. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
8.
Heal the
sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have
received, freely give (Matthew 10:7-8).
“And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen” (Mark 16:20).
“And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick” (Luke 9:2).
6. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7.
And he said
unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father
hath put in his own power.
8.
But ye shall
receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be
witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and
unto the uttermost part of the earth
(Acts 1:6-8).
What Jesus expects of his followers can be summed up with the parable of the man that left his goods with his servants while he traveled into a far country. He gave one servant five talents, one servant two talents and another servant one talent. The servant that was given five talents traded and gained an additional five talents. The servant that was given two talents gained an additional two talents. However, the servant that was given one talent buried the talent in the ground. When the man returned from his journey he said well done to the servants that gained additional talents and promised to make them rulers over many things. However, he called the servant that hid his talent in the ground “wicked, slothful and unprofitable” and commanded that he be cast into outer darkness (Matthew 25:14-30).
WHAT THE FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST CAN EXPECT
Jesus’s instructions for his disciples as described in the Great Commission is to make disciples of all nations by going, baptizing, and teaching the commandments of Jesus. The following passages of scripture describes what the followers of Christ can expect as they fulfill the Great Commission. Mark 16:15-18 reads:
15. And he said unto
them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16. He that believeth
and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
17. And these signs
shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they
shall speak with new tongues;
18. They shall take up
serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they
shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
CONCLUSION
The Great Commission applies to every follower of Jesus Christ. A follower of Christ does not need to have a formal platform in order to minister to others. Our own circles of influence are our platforms. We can pray for those that we encounter while going about our daily routines. We can speak a blessing into the life of someone that needs encouragement. We can provide comfort to the sick and incarcerated by visiting them. We can volunteer our time and give our resources to support kingdom work. All of these activities gives us the opportunity to fulfill the Great Commission.
If you would like to have a personal relationship with Jesus, you must be born-again according to Acts 2:38 which reads, "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."
Works Cited:
The Holy Bible, KJV. 1990.
BlueLetterBible.org
Image Citation:
Cuban-2535931_1920. Ahstubbs. Pixabay.com. Web. 27 Sept. 2023.
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