The Great Commission Explained || Matthew 28:18-20 || Manna for the Mind #104

Welcome to Day 104 of the “Manna for the Mind” devotional! This series is about taking scripture passages (typically 1-3 verses) and building our understanding of their teachings through their context and connecting scripture. I believe that doing this helps us understand how to be the type of human that God created us to be.

Today’s passage is Matthew 28:18-20, where we’ll pick up in the middle of Jesus’ command for the Great Commission.

Matthew 28:18-20

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18 Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority (all power of absolute rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.	18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.	18-20 Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.”
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,	19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit
20 teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually—regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age.”	20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

God gave Jesus authority over heaven and earth. Through that authority, Jesus told his disciples to make more disciples as they preached, baptized, and taught. This same authority commands us to share the Good News with others and make disciples for the Kingdom. We can do this through conversation and through representing how we live to others.

This command from Jesus affirms the reality of the Trinity, a foundational doctrine in Christian theology. Some people believe that theologians invented the Trinity and forced it into scripture. However, we see that the concept comes directly from Jesus. He didn’t say to baptize the people in the names but in the names of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. While the word ‘trinity’ doesn’t occur in scripture, it does describe the three-in-one nature of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Trinity is a complex but essential belief in Christianity, teaching that God is one in essence but three in persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The disciples’ call to baptize people was important. Baptism unites all believers with Jesus in their death to sin and their resurrection to new life. The acts of Baptism symbolize our submission to Jesus as Lord. This submission isn’t a negative or weak act like we learn about in our earthly culture; it’s a willingness to live God’s way and identify with God’s covenant people.

Jesus was physically with the disciples until he ascended into heaven and spiritually through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit would be that presence that Jesus’ would never leave them. This promise of the Holy Spirit should comfort and reassure us in our faith journey. Jesus continues to be with us today through the Holy Spirit. It’s why we hear so much teaching and so much stressing about keeping our hearts pure, healthy, and holy.

The Old Testament prophecies and the genealogies in the book of Matthew show Jesus’s credentials for being the king of the world – not a military or political leader as the disciples wanted, but a spiritual king who can overcome all evil and rule in the heart of every person. If we refuse to serve our spiritual king faithfully, we then are disloyal subjects. Continuing with this mindset, it fits that disloyal subjects should be banished from the Kingdom. We need to make Jesus the king of our lives and worship him as king, Savior, and Lord. This sounds weird given our worldly context today, because (at least for me in the US) we don’t deal with kings. Following someone as a king can feel archaic, but we need to remove the literalism of this. We need to figure out to what it means to follow Jesus as King and arrange lives to do that.

Luke 24:47

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47 and that repentance [necessary] for forgiveness of sins would be preached in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.	47 It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’	47 and then a total life-change through the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed in his name to all nations—starting from here, from Jerusalem!

Luke wrote this to the Greek-speaking world, often consisting of Gentiles and non-believing audiences. He wanted them to know that Jesus’ message of God’s grace and mercy was for all people of the world, not just the Jewish audience. This stress on the inclusivity of God’s grace should make us feel accepted and valued in our spiritual journey. We need to walk with that message today, too, that there’s no gatekeeping the Good News from people who don’t believe or who aren’t the proto-typical western, white evangelical. God wants everyone to hear the message of salvation, and that means we need to go into areas we aren’t familiar with, which could make us uncomfortable.

Acts 1:8

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8 But you will receive power and ability when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be My witnesses [to tell people about Me] both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.”	8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”	8 What you’ll get is the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world.”

The powers that the believers receive from the Holy Spirit include courage, boldness, confidence, insight, ability, and authority. The disciples needed all these to fulfill the mission Jesus set for them. If you’re a believer, you have these powers for your life. Ask God how you can use these gifts to fulfill the plans he has for you. Jesus had told the disciples to witness to everyone, but they had to wait for the Holy Spirit. God has important work that we need to do for him, but we need to wait for God to say when to move and act. We are effective in this way. When we often take matters into our own hands, we often have the wrong results or lead ourselves down the paths God didn’t set for us. Waiting is also a part of God’s plan. Instead of running ahead, we must wait and listen for God’s guidance in what to do next.

This verse also discusses a series of ever-widening circles. The Good News of the gospels was to spread geographically, from Jerusalem into Judea and Samaria and then into the rest of the world. This may seem like an arbitrary list of countries, but it’s important. It would begin with the devout Jews in Jerusalem and Samaria, then spread to the people of mixed races in Samaria, and then be offered to the Gentiles all over the world.

This plan is ongoing if you can think of someone who has yet to hear the Good News about Jesus. Communities all over the world are becoming increasingly diverse, with people of every nation, tongue, race, gender, and sexual orientation living in our neighborhoods. We must ensure that we contribute to God’s plan in some way, increasing our ever-widening circle of God’s loving message.

Acts 2:38-39

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38 And Peter said to them, “Repent [change your old way of thinking, turn from your sinful ways, accept and follow Jesus as the Messiah] and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ because of the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.	38 Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.	38-39 Peter said, “Change your life. Turn to God and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, so your sins are forgiven. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is targeted to you and your children, but also to all who are far away—whomever, in fact, our Master God invites.”
39 For the promise [of the Holy Spirit] is for you and your children and for all who are far away [including the Gentiles], as many as the Lord our God calls to Himself.”	39 This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God.”

To repent means to turn away from your sins and change the direction of your life from selfishness and rebellion against God’s law. Turning away from the sinful ways of your world to the ways of living a Godly and sin-free life. When you make this choice to turn, you need to depend on him for forgiveness, mercy, guidance, and purpose. We must believe that God provides this and that these gifts benefit us. These aren’t things we can provide ourselves, but salvation only comes from God. The act of baptism identifies us with Jesus and the community of believers. Baptism is a condition of authentic discipleship and a sign of our faith.

Ephesians 1:20-22

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20 which He produced in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places,	20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.	20-22 All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church.
21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion [whether angelic or human], and [far above] every name that is named [above every title that can be conferred], not only in this age and world but also in the one to come.	21 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come.
22 And He put all things [in every realm] in subjection under Christ’s feet, and  appointed Him as [supreme and authoritative] head over all things in the church,	22 God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church.

Having been resurrected, Christ is the head of the church and the ultimate authority over the world. Jesus is the Messiah (God’s anointed one), the one Israel longed for, and the one who would set the world right. As Christians, we can be confident that God won the final battle and controls everything (even when our world feels chaotic and falling apart). There’s no dictator or nation to fear. Not ever death or Satan can stop God. We can do what we need to protect ourselves in the world, but God sets the ultimate end, and we cannot change his timing. Nothing separates us from the God and his love.  

Philippians 2:9-11

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9 For this reason also [because He obeyed and so completely humbled Himself], God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,	9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names,	9-11 Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father.
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow [in submission], of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,	10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and that every tongue will confess and openly acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord (sovereign God), to the glory of God the Father.	11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

At the last Judgment, even those who are condemned will recognize Jesus’ authority and right to rule. People can voluntarily choose to commit their lives to their lives to the Lord when he returns. At the end of it all, we will see who Jesus truly is and the true response we should’ve had to them. It might be scary, but it will lead to an eternal life full of life and love.

To close this LONG devotional, I want to circle all the back to the Great Commission. It’s important to remember these verses and our mission from God. Matthew 28:18-20 says this:

18          Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.

19          Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

20          Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.