Matthew 28
Today's Passage: Matthew 28
What can I say about Matthew 28 that has not already been said? In terms of all-time important chapters of the Bible, for most believers, this tops the list.
In this chapter, we see the message of the early Church—that Jesus was God’s Messiah, the Christ, who was crucified and rose from the grave. In fact, this is what Peter proclaimed on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2,
22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.
The women who came to the tomb saw Jesus in bodily form. The religious leaders and the soldiers who were guarding the tomb tried to dispel the story of Jesus’ resurrection. Every bit of this validates the story of Jesus’ resurrection, rather than discrediting it. (For more on the evidence regarding the resurrection, check out Lee Strobel- https://youtu.be/rDgu3jXeCTM)
Matthew 28:19–20, the Great Commission, is the marching orders of the Church. Jesus has all authority. With that authority, he commands (not suggests or even asks) his disciples, and all who would follow, “make disciples.” He qualifies this command to “make disciples” with three participles—“Going,” “Baptizing,” and “Teaching.”
First, people often incorrectly believe the first command of the Great Commission is to “Go.” While the Bible certainly contains the idea of believers taking the message of salvation around the world, that’s not the primary focus here. “Go” is a continuous participle best translated, “Going,” or “As you go along…” Going isn’t a prerequisite to making disciples—no airline tickets or rental vehicles are necessary to you fulfilling the Great Commission. Instead, the idea is that wherever you go, wherever you find yourself, make disciples there. Disciple-making should be a part of normal life.
Second, Jesus qualified making disciples with “baptizing them” them in the trinitarian formula. Baptism, as we often say, is an outward sign of an inward change. God’s covenants always have a physical sign, Baptism is the physical sign of the New Covenant. Additionally, we Baptize in the name of “the Father”—the source of all things, the One from whom all things come and to whom all things return. Also, “the Son,” the mediator between God and man. Finally, the “Holy Spirit,” the agent who illumines the Word, convicts of sin, and draws sinners to salvation in Christ. One writer summarized this well;
“Salvation is purposed by the Father, accomplished by the Son, and applied by the Holy Spirit. Without the Spirit’s agency in salvation, all that Christ has accomplished brings no value to us. As Scripture uniformly presents, the Spirit graciously, effectively, and permanently gives us Christ Jesus and every blessing he has secured. Our salvation is in Christ alone. Our salvation is by his Spirit alone.” (https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/the-holy-spirit-agent-of-salvation/)
Again, making disciples is based on and grounded in the authority of Jesus who died and rose again. His resurrection was witness and attested by many. He is what we share, and He is why we share.
As we head into the New Year, who are you committing to praying for that they might come to Christ this year? What steps can you take to increasingly fulfill Christ’s command?
Written By: Tyler Short
What can I say about Matthew 28 that has not already been said? In terms of all-time important chapters of the Bible, for most believers, this tops the list.
In this chapter, we see the message of the early Church—that Jesus was God’s Messiah, the Christ, who was crucified and rose from the grave. In fact, this is what Peter proclaimed on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2,
22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.
The women who came to the tomb saw Jesus in bodily form. The religious leaders and the soldiers who were guarding the tomb tried to dispel the story of Jesus’ resurrection. Every bit of this validates the story of Jesus’ resurrection, rather than discrediting it. (For more on the evidence regarding the resurrection, check out Lee Strobel- https://youtu.be/rDgu3jXeCTM)
Matthew 28:19–20, the Great Commission, is the marching orders of the Church. Jesus has all authority. With that authority, he commands (not suggests or even asks) his disciples, and all who would follow, “make disciples.” He qualifies this command to “make disciples” with three participles—“Going,” “Baptizing,” and “Teaching.”
First, people often incorrectly believe the first command of the Great Commission is to “Go.” While the Bible certainly contains the idea of believers taking the message of salvation around the world, that’s not the primary focus here. “Go” is a continuous participle best translated, “Going,” or “As you go along…” Going isn’t a prerequisite to making disciples—no airline tickets or rental vehicles are necessary to you fulfilling the Great Commission. Instead, the idea is that wherever you go, wherever you find yourself, make disciples there. Disciple-making should be a part of normal life.
Second, Jesus qualified making disciples with “baptizing them” them in the trinitarian formula. Baptism, as we often say, is an outward sign of an inward change. God’s covenants always have a physical sign, Baptism is the physical sign of the New Covenant. Additionally, we Baptize in the name of “the Father”—the source of all things, the One from whom all things come and to whom all things return. Also, “the Son,” the mediator between God and man. Finally, the “Holy Spirit,” the agent who illumines the Word, convicts of sin, and draws sinners to salvation in Christ. One writer summarized this well;
“Salvation is purposed by the Father, accomplished by the Son, and applied by the Holy Spirit. Without the Spirit’s agency in salvation, all that Christ has accomplished brings no value to us. As Scripture uniformly presents, the Spirit graciously, effectively, and permanently gives us Christ Jesus and every blessing he has secured. Our salvation is in Christ alone. Our salvation is by his Spirit alone.” (https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/the-holy-spirit-agent-of-salvation/)
Again, making disciples is based on and grounded in the authority of Jesus who died and rose again. His resurrection was witness and attested by many. He is what we share, and He is why we share.
As we head into the New Year, who are you committing to praying for that they might come to Christ this year? What steps can you take to increasingly fulfill Christ’s command?
Written By: Tyler Short
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