Matthew 28: the Great Commission

The last scene is Matthew's Gospel (28:16-20) is known as the "Great Commission", when Jesus sends His disciples to begin the global movement of disciples which became the church. It's interesting to note before anything else regarding this passage, that everything that has previously transpired between Jesus and the disciples was leading up to this moment. This is the end goal of the disciples: to be equipped to make more disciples! This is something the church cannot lose sight of: all our services, programs and the like should have a focus on growing disciples who are capable of discipling others.

This scene itself might remind us of several Old Testament commissioning passages, with the most similar one being the commissioning of Joshua by God to take Moses' place (Deut. 31:14-23). Jesus has done the work of redeeming God's people making a way for them out of "Egypt", and now the disciples are now in Joshua's shoes guiding them until they arrive in the "Promise Land" (the "end of the age").

28:17
One of the interesting details in this scene is that Matthew says some of Jesus' disciples "doubted" as they came to Him on the mountain. Many people assume that this must refer to a disbelief in Jesus' resurrection. However, this is the same word that is used in Matthew 14:31 when Peter walks on water and then begins to sink and Jesus asks him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" This sort of doubt isn't a general disbelief, but is more like the uncertainty or fear that is generated by being in a situation in which you are at a loss to know what to do. Some disciples therefore "get it" and realize that the correct response to the resurrected Jesus is worship, while others are simply at a loss and just trying to wrap their minds around what is happening.

28:18
Jesus makes a big claim that all authority "in heaven and on earth" has been given to Him. This affirms that He is the one like a "Son of Man" from Daniel 7 and will be the one to usher in the final Kingdom. Also note that in Matthew 4 Satan offers Jesus "all the kingdoms of the earth", which Jesus denies and now receives a far greater authority.

28:19-20
Jesus puts the onus on the disciples to "go" to the people and nations. They are not to just set up shop and have their own private worship services or to sit back and see if they can get the people to come to them. Not only are they to go to the nations, but they are to make disciples. A critical question faces us here: what does it mean to "make disciples"? What's the difference between a disciple and a "believer" or convert? In the context of Matthew it is clear that disciples are obedient (see v. 20) and that disciples are those who are active participants in Jesus' mission . . . they are the ones who preach, teach, heal, share, sacrifice and keep the movement going. This command raises hard questions for the church in the West, which has generally put its focus on creating "believers" and filling churches instead of making disciples.

How are these disciples made? First, by repentance and joining the community (baptism), and then by teaching (understanding and participatory learning as the Twelve received). Again, the key here is that they will do what Jesus had said- this is what faith hinges on in Matthew!

Finally, Jesus empowers His disciples by reassuring them of His presence, which takes us all the way back to the beginning of the story (1:23) when the angel tells Joseph that the baby will be called Emmanuel, "God with us". This presence will empower the movement Jesus began until its destination is reached and the Kingdom is established in power, which is the "end of the age". That Jesus ends His preaching on the hope of the Kingdom is not to be missed: the disciples are commissioned to live as a sign of the Kingdom (and bring along the nations) until the Kingdom itself is upon them.