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SCRIPTURE: Matthew 28:16-20
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FROM THE BEGINNING, Matthew has emphasized Jesus' teaching. The Sermon on the Mount, early in Jesus' ministry (chapters 5-7) constitutes the largest body of Jesus' teaching in the New Testament. Now Matthew portrays Jesus' last act of ministry "in rabbinical terms: the disciples are to baptize, make disciples, and teach" (Johnson, 621).
VERSE 16: NOW THE ELEVEN DISCIPLES WENT TO GALILEE
16But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had sent them.
"But the eleven disciples went into Galilee" (v. 16a), "Eleven" reminds us of Judas' treachery. The original number of apostles correlates with twelve sons of Judah and twelve tribes of Israel. Where there were twelve apostles, now there are eleven.
Jesus, therefore, grew up in Galilee, far from the temple. Galilee was known as Galilee of the Gentiles (4:15) because it was home to many Gentiles. Most of Jesus' ministry took place in Galilee, and he returns there to commission his disciples.
The disciples go "to the mountain where Jesus had sent them" (v. 16b). We don't know the name of this mountain, but its significance is more theological than geographical, signaling the importance of this commissioning.
VERSE 17: BUT SOME DOUBTED
17When they saw him, they bowed down to him, but some doubted.
We can only guess at the disciples' state of mind as they proceed toward the mountain, but we know what happens when they finally see Jesus –– "they bowed down to him, but some doubted" (the Greek word also means "hesitated.")
We should not be surprised at either reaction –– worship or doubt/hesitation. It is certainly fitting that the disciples should worship Jesus. But neither should we be surprised that some doubt/hesitate. Nothing in their experience has prepared them for what they are seeing, except perhaps the resurrection of Lazarus, which is not reported in this Gospel (see John 11).
We are tempted to criticize the disciples for doubting, but we should not imagine that we would have done better. Jesus does not rebuke the disciples. He understands their doubt, but speaks to their faith. The disciples will grow into the role that Jesus gives them.
VERSE 18: ALL AUTHORITY IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH
18Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.
"Jesus came" (v. 18a). More commonly the supplicant approaches the authority. Jesus reverses the roles here, perhaps to overcome their doubt/hesitancy –– perhaps to model the kind of "reaching out" behavior that he expects of the disciples to fulfill the Great Commission.
Earlier, Jesus claimed, "All things have been delivered to me by my Father" (11:27). Now he claims, "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth" (v. 18b). Matthew speaks often of authority (7:29; 8:9; 9:6; 10:1; 21:23, 24, 27). God has given Jesus authority, and Jesus exercises authority now as well as in the final judgment.
VERSE 19: GO THEREFORE AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS
19Go, and make disciples of all nations (Greek: ethne), baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
"Go, and make disciples" (v. 19a). In the Greek, "make disciples" is the only imperative verb. Going, baptizing, and teaching are participles and are subordinate to
"make disciples." The mission is to "make disciples." To accomplish that mission, disciples must go, baptize, and teach.
A disciple is a learner –– a student –– a follower –– a person committed to learning what a teacher has to teach.
They are to "make disciples of all ethne" (v. 19a). The word ethne is most often translated nations, but Greek-speaking Jews use it to refer to Gentiles. Gentiles play a major role in this Gospel (2:1; 4:15; 8:10-11, 28; 12:41; 15:28; 24:14; 27:54).
Earlier, Jesus instructed the disciples, "Don't go among the Gentiles, and don't enter into any city of the Samaritans" (10:5). Now Jesus removes the prohibition.
Churches that fail to take the Great Commission seriously wither and die. Disciples who fail to take it seriously produce no spiritual offspring. How can we persuade our children to pay the price of discipleship if there is no urgency attached to it? As a character in a P.D. James novel says, "The official line was as that all religions were equally important. I must say that the result was to leave me with the conviction that they were equally unimportant."
"baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (v. 19b). Being baptized in the name of indicates a new relationship, a rebirth, an adoption. Being baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit indicates that the new relationship involves all three faces of the Trinity.
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VERSE 20: AND REMEMBER, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS
20teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
"teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you" (v. 20a). In this Gospel, Jesus had a significant teaching ministry (4:23; 5:2; 7:29; 9:35; 11:1; 13:34; 21:23; 26:55). Now he enlists his disciples to continue that ministry.
Our responsibility does not end with leading people to make an initial decision to follow Christ. We must continue the discipling process by teaching disciples what Jesus taught –– and by teaching obedience to those teachings.
We must not miss the importance of the word obey. Our teaching must do more than convey information. We must also persuade the ethne to obey Jesus. Here the line blurs between teaching (where the emphasis is transmitting information) and preaching (where the emphasis leans more to persuasion).
Nor should we miss the importance of the phrase, "all things that I commanded you." Jesus does not permit us to pick and choose what we will believe or obey.
"Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (v. 20b). "In Luke's Gospel the last word about Jesus speaks of separation.... In Matthew, by contrast, the last word promises Jesus' continued presence" (Hare, 335).
SCRIPTURE QUOTATIONS are from the World English Bible(WEB), a public domain (no copyright) modern English translation of the Holy Bible. The World English Bible is based on the American Standard Version (ASV) of the Bible, the Biblia Hebraica Stutgartensa Old Testament, and the Greek Majority Text New Testament. The ASV, which is also in the public domain due to expired copyrights, was a very good translation, but included many archaic words (hast, shineth, etc.), which the WEB has updated.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Barclay, William, Gospel of Matthew, Vol. 2 (Edinburgh: The Saint Andrew Press, 1957)
Bergant, Dianne with Fragomeni, Richard, Preaching the New Lectionary, Year A (Collegeville: The Liturgical Press, 2001)
Blomberg , Craig L., New American Commentary: Matthew, Vol. 22 (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1992)
Boring, M. Eugene, The New Interpreter's Bible, Vol. VIII (Nashville: Abingdon, 1995)
Brueggemann, Walter; Cousar, Charles B.; Gaventa, Beverly R.; and Newsome, James D., Texts for Preaching: A Lectionary Commentary Based on the NRSV –– Year A (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1995)
Bruner, Frederick Dale, Matthew: Volume 2, The Churchbook, Matthew 13-28 (Dallas: Word, 1990)
Craddock, Fred B.; Hayes, John H.; Holladay, Carl R.; Tucker, Gene M., Preaching Through the Christian Year, A (Valley Forge: Trinity Press International, 1992)
Gardner, Richard B., Believers Church Bible Commentary: Matthew (Scottdale, Pennsylvania: Herald Press, 1990)
Hagner, Donald A., Word Biblical Commentary: Matthew 14-28, Vol. 33b (Dallas: Word, 1995)
Hanson, K. C., Proclamation 6: Pentecost 1, Series A (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1995)
Hare, Douglas R. A., Interpretation: Matthew (Louisville: John Knox Press, 1993)
Harrington, Daniel J., S.J., Sacra Pagina: The Gospel of Matthew (Collegeville: The Liturgical Press, 1991)
Johnson, Sherman E. and Buttrick, George A., The Interpreter's Bible, Vol. 7 (Nashville: Abingdon, 1951)
Keener, Craig S. in Van Harn, Roger (ed.), The Lectionary Commentary: Theological Exegesis for Sunday's Text. The Third Readings: The Gospels (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001)
Long, Thomas G., Westminster Bible Companion: Matthew (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1997)
Morris, Leon, The Gospel According to Matthew (Grand Rapids, Eerdmans, 1992)
Niedenthal, Morris and Lacocque, Andre, Proclamation, Pentecost 1, Series A (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1975)
Pfatteicher, Philip H., Lectionary Bible Studies: The Year of Matthew, Pentecost 1, Study Book (Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1978)
Senior, Donald, Abingdon New Testament Commentaries: Matthew (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1998)
Soards, Marion; Dozeman, Thomas; McCabe, Kendall, Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary: Lent-Easter, Year A (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1993)
Tiede, David L. and Kavanagh, O.S.B., Proclamation 2: Pentecost 1, Series A (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1981)
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