Jesus’ Great Commission to His Disciples
The Great Commission, as recorded in Matthew 28:18-20, stands as the climactic directive of Jesus to his disciples following his resurrection and immediately preceding his ascension. This passage has profoundly shaped Christian identity, theology, and practice, serving as the foundational charter for the church’s global mission. To understand the Great Commission is to grasp the heart of the gospel’s movement from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. This article will explore the biblical context, theological significance, and practical implications of the Great Commission, drawing from both Old and New Testament scriptures, and will address the related questions of its meaning, the commissioning of the twelve apostles, and the four commands embedded within Jesus’ final instructions.
Biblical Context and Background
The roots of the Great Commission are deeply embedded in the narrative of scripture. From the beginning, God’s intention was that his glory and salvation would extend to all peoples. In Genesis 12:3, God promises Abraham, “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” This covenantal promise establishes a trajectory that finds its fulfillment in the universal scope of the Great Commission.
Throughout the Old Testament, the nations are repeatedly envisioned as recipients of God’s redemptive work. The psalmist declares, “let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth” (Psalm 67:4). Isaiah prophesies of the Servant of the Lord, “I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6). These texts anticipate a time when God’s salvation would transcend ethnic and geographic boundaries.
In the New Testament, Jesus’ ministry is initially focused on “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24), yet he consistently hints at a broader mission. Encounters with Gentiles, such as the centurion (Matthew 8:5-13) and the Samaritan woman (John 4:1-42), foreshadow the coming expansion of the gospel. The resurrection marks the turning point, inaugurating a new era in which the disciples are commissioned to carry the message of salvation to all nations.
The Commissioning of the Twelve Disciples
Before the Great Commission, Jesus had already sent out the twelve disciples on a mission within Israel. In Matthew 10:5-8, he instructs them, “go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, ’the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons.” This earlier commissioning was preparatory, limited in scope, and focused on demonstrating the arrival of God’s kingdom through word and deed.
The commissioning of the twelve was significant in several ways. It established the pattern of sending, underscored the authority of Jesus, and involved the disciples in the work of proclamation and healing. However, it was not yet the global mission that would later be articulated in the Great Commission. The earlier sending was a foretaste, a training ground for the universal mission that would follow Jesus’ resurrection.
The Great Commission of Jesus
The Great Commission, as recorded in Matthew 28:18-20, represents the culmination of Jesus’ earthly ministry and the inauguration of the church’s mission to the world. The text reads: “and Jesus came and said to them, ‘all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age’” (Matthew 28:18-20).
This commission is grounded in the authority of the risen Christ. The declaration that “all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” echoes the vision of the Son of Man in Daniel 7:14: “and to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him.” The universal authority of Jesus is the foundation for the universal mission of the church.
The Four Commands of the Great Commission
Within the Great Commission, four imperative verbs structure the mission: go, make disciples, baptize, and teach. Each command is essential to the church’s task.
Go: The command to “go” signifies intentional movement and engagement with the world. The disciples are not to remain in the safety of their own community but are sent out to cross cultural, linguistic, and geographic boundaries. This reflects the missionary heart of God, who seeks and saves the lost (Luke 19:10).
Make Disciples: The central command in the Greek text is “make disciples.” The goal is not merely to make converts but to form followers of Jesus who are committed to learning from him and obeying his teachings. Discipleship is a lifelong process of transformation into the likeness of Christ (Romans 8:29).
Baptize: Baptism is the rite of initiation into the community of faith. To baptize “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” is to identify new believers with the triune God and to mark their entry into the covenant people. Baptism symbolizes union with Christ in his death and resurrection (Romans 6:3-4).
Teach: The command to teach “all that I have commanded you” emphasizes the importance of doctrinal instruction and ethical obedience. The church’s mission is not complete with conversion and baptism; it must also involve nurturing believers in the faith and equipping them to live out the teachings of Jesus (Colossians 1:28).
The Scope and Promise of the Great Commission
The scope of the Great Commission is universal: “make disciples of all nations.” The Greek word for “nations” (ethne) refers to all people groups, not merely political entities. This fulfills the Old Testament vision of God’s salvation reaching the ends of the earth (Isaiah 49:6; Psalm 22:27).
The commission is also accompanied by a promise: “I am with you always, to the end of the age.” This assurance of Jesus’ abiding presence is fulfilled through the gift of the Holy Spirit, who empowers the church for witness (Acts 1:8). The mission is not undertaken in human strength alone but in the power and presence of the risen Lord.
The Great Commission in the Broader New Testament Witness
While Matthew 28:18-20 is the most explicit articulation of the Great Commission, the mandate is echoed throughout the New Testament. In Mark 16:15, Jesus says, “go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” In Luke 24:47, Jesus declares that “repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.” In Acts 1:8, Jesus promises, “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” These passages reinforce the global, Spirit-empowered nature of the church’s mission.
The Great Commission: Jesus’ Mandate and Mission for the Church
The Great Commission is not merely a historical event but an ongoing mandate for the church. It defines the church’s identity as a sent people, called to participate in God’s redemptive mission. The four commands–go, make disciples, baptize, and teach–provide a comprehensive framework for evangelism, discipleship, and community formation.
Theologically, the Great Commission affirms the lordship of Jesus, the unity of the triune God, and the universality of the gospel. Practically, it calls the church to cross barriers, engage cultures, and proclaim the good news in word and deed. The promise of Jesus’ presence assures believers that they do not labor alone but are empowered by the Holy Spirit until the mission is complete.
Conclusion
The Great Commission of Jesus Christ is the final and authoritative mandate to Christ’s disciples, extending to all nations. It builds upon the earlier commissioning of the twelve but expands the mission to encompass the entire world. The four commands–go, make disciples, baptize, and teach–define the church’s ongoing task. Grounded in scripture and sustained by the presence of Jesus, the Great Commission remains the heartbeat of the church’s mission until the end of the age, fulfilling god’s ancient promise to bless all the families of the earth through his chosen people.