Matthew 28 The Great Commission

 

Matthew 28

The Great Commission

Matthew from beginning to end writes about Jesus’s teachings

And demonstration of the Kingdom of Heaven

In conclusion, Matthew gives us the same commission Jesus gave His disciples

It is now your turn to become a disciple

Following Jesus and learning the things Jesus taught

You will know when you have become a disciple when you know

And believe the teachings of Jesus well enough to share them with others

We must remember this is not a suggestion from Jesus

It is a command to “GO”…

 

 The Great Commission

 

I can not think of a bolder statement

than the one Jesus made in Matthew 28:18 NIV…

 

Then Jesus came to them and said,

"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

 

“All Authority” not just in heaven…

 

 But also on earth.

 

There is no doubt Jesus is claiming

the highest governmental position.

 

A position far above anything a man could ever govern.

 

Jesus is not saying he is taking “All Authority”…

 

 But that it has been given to Him.

 

Only God the Father could give this degree of authority.

 

As bold as this statement is…

 

 It should not come as a surprise.

 

Jesus from the very beginning of His ministry

preached the Kingdom of Heaven.

 

We look toward Jesus’ coming as our hope of salvation…

 

Personal deliverance.

 

Although Jesus meet the needs of people

on a personal bases…

 

 His mission was far greater.

 

Note Paul’s words to Timothy.

 

1 Timothy 6:12-16…

 

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which God will bring about in his own time — God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.

 

What was the testimony Jesus made

before Pontius Pilate?

 

Pilate then went back inside the palace,

summoned Jesus and asked him,

"Are you the king of the Jews?"

 

"Is that your own idea,"

 Jesus asked,

 "or did others talk to you about me?"

 

"Am I a Jew?" Pilate replied.

"It was your people and your chief priests

who handed you over to me.

What is it you have done?"

 

Jesus said,

 "My kingdom is not of this world.

If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews.

But now my kingdom is from another place."

 

"You are a king, then!" said Pilate.

 

Jesus answered,

 "You are right in saying I am a king.

 In fact, for this reason I was born,

and for this I came into the world,

to testify to the truth.

Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."

John 18:33-37

 

Jesus testified to Pilate that He was born

to be king and testify to the truth.

 

Paul also said to Timothy…

 

which God will bring about in his own time — God,

the blessed and only Ruler,

 the King of kings and Lord of lords

1 Timothy 6:15

 

Paul says Jesus is the King of Kings.

 

Revelation 17:12-14 tells us

of 10 kings that have not yet received a kingdom

will rise up against the Lamb of God and…

 

They will make war against the Lamb,

but the Lamb will overcome them

because he is Lord of lords and King of kings

— and with him will be his called,

chosen and faithful followers."

 

We also see in Revelation 19:15-16

of coming wrath and fury

of the King of kings and Lord of lords.

 

Until that time of the Lord’s return,

we are to make disciples in all nations.

 

We are to do more than make “believers”

because even the demons believe.

 

You believe that there is one God.

Good!

Even the demons believe that — and shudder.

James 2:19

 

Our job is to make disciples.

 

The twelve minus Judas who betrayed

Jesus, were disciples.

 

They were followers of Jesus…

 

 Disciplined learners who helped facilitate Jesus’s ministry.

   

Disciples are “all in”.

 

The disciples we make are to be baptized.

 

Baptism is one of two ordnances Jesus gave…

 

Baptism and Communion.

 

Both have this in common…

 

They portray the Lord’s death.

 

Baptism is a public announcement of a believer

that He has taken on Christ.

 

The believer takes on the mark of

the Death, Burial and Resurrection of Christ.

 

Jesus says…

 

Baptizing them in the name of the Father

and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

 Matthew 28:19

 

Don’t get caught up in arguments

over baptism in “Jesus name” or

 “the Father Son and Holy Spirit”.

 

The Scriptures are clear

both are used because they cannot be separated

 from each other or should not be.

 

Jesus said if you have seen Me,

 you have seen the Father

and His power came from the Holy Spirit.

 

What are we to teach?

 

Teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Matthew 28:20

 

Obedience to the teachings of Christ.

 

Our walk is more important than our talk.

 

The teaching of the Kingdom of Heaven

 is not for information only.

 

The Kingdom Message is to be lived

as a life style.

 

The Kingdom Life should be as obvious

as light and darkness.

 

Jesus stood out not as a freak

but as the love of God…

 

Giving hope to all.

 

We are to carry out this mission until…. 

to the very end of the age."

Matthew 28:20

 

Why?

 

Because your changed life

matters in the age to come.

 

We are training for the reigning.

 

We will reign with Christ.

 

Here is a trustworthy saying…

 

If we died with him,

we will also live with him;

12 if we endure,

we will also reign with him.

If we disown him,

he will also disown us;

13 if we are faithless,

he will remain faithful,

for he cannot disown himself.

 2 Timothy 2:11-13

 

Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection.

The second death has no power over them,

but they will be priests of God and of Christ

and will reign with him for a thousand years.

Revelation 20:6

 

Matthew from beginning to end

writes about Jesus’s teachings…

 

And demonstration of the Kingdom of Heaven.

 

In conclusion, Matthew gives us the same commission

Jesus gave His disciples.

 

It is now your turn to become a disciple...

 

Following Jesus and learning the things Jesus taught.

 

You will know when you have become a disciple

when you know and believe

the teachings of Jesus well enough

to share them with others.

 

We must remember this is not

a suggestion from Jesus…

 

It is a command to “GO”!

 

 

 

Scripture Reading

 

Matthew 28:16-20 NIV

 

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."