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The Great Commission is a command-definitive work assigned by the Lord Jesus Christ just prior to His ascension and enthronement in heaven. It is a command, and it is definitive to the mission (given purpose) of the “ekklesia” (His Called Out Ones, the Greek word from which we get “church”) here upon the earth. As we read His words contained in Matthew 28:18-20, it is important to keep the setting and context in mind and to add them to our understanding. The setting is this; He has been crucified and has risen from the dead. He has spent forty days teaching the Apostles, adding an intense seminar as a capstone to their three years in the best seminary ever! This teaching brings culmination to the Apostles’ understanding and banishes any remaining doubt as to the authority of King Jesus and the scope of His assignment. The context is this; The Lord Jesus Christ, The King, is about to ascend to enthronement. He chooses this moment to impress upon His followers one very clear operational directive. The setting and the context both emphasize the seriousness of His command and make clear His divine calling placed upon His church. We must examine this passage carefully, keeping in mind that all that we do as His church must be in accordance with His directive. Think of it this way, the King says He’s leaving this part of His kingdom for an indeterminate time, these are His instructions for us while He is gone. 

In Matthew 28:18, Christ first establishes that his authority for what He is about to command is legitimate; “All authority in heaven and on the earth has been given to me”. I have often heard Christians say that this earth is Satan’s kingdom, implying a defensive “siege mentality” for the church and individual Christians, barely holding out as Satan has the initiative.  The Lord Jesus says in John 12:31 that the “ruler of this world will be cast out”. Satan WAS the ruler of the kingdoms of the earth until the resurrection of our Lord. His resurrection changes this status completely. Jesus then said, “ALL AUTHORITY”, He said “in heaven AND ON THE EARTH”, He said, “HAS BEEN GIVEN”! His Kingship here on the earth isn’t waiting on a nebulous, future date, it has already been established. The sentence is clearly past tense. We look at The Lord Jesus as our personal savior, and well we should, but we get a little fuzzy at times when it comes to His identity as Messiah, inheritor of all rule and authority. This is clearly established in Psalms 2, Psalms 110, Isaiah 9, and Isaiah 42. Isaiah 9:6-7 is not just a Christmas passage proclaiming His birth, it also proclaims His rule, “and the government shall be upon His shoulders…and the increase (growth) of His government shall know no end”! Christ makes it clear to His disciples that what follows is given from legitimate authority and, hence should be given proper understanding and observance by His followers then and now. 

Matthew 28:19- “Therefore…”, this means “because of what I just told you, GO”! Well, go and do what, exactly? We are ordered to “make disciples”! Not simply church attenders. Notice this is an imperative, an order, and in no way a suggestion. We must define a disciple properly. This is not a word that changes due to the passage of time, the particulars of culture, or fads within the greater church. The best term for a disciple is “pupil”. It is more than a mere follower or learner. A pupil is one who is involved in serious instruction, doing diligent work in order to master a subject. The pupil is in no way a casual, flippant student. Imagine, if you will, someone bent over a desk late into the night, diligently working by lamp light to fully master an assigned work. This is what we are called to make, effective, dedicated pupils. So then, according to our Master and King, who are we required to disciple? Well, he has a pretty big, bold vision, for he clearly says, “of the nations”. The Greek word “ethnos’ used here for “nations”, is used by Jews repeatedly in this time period to refer to every gentile nation outside of the polity of Israel. It is not referring to only “ethnicity”, for the context of the word used here is used to describe all that encompasses a distinctive nation, its culture, customs, and every aspect that makes any particular people a nation. Charles Spurgeon’s comment on the Great Commission and its progress is illustrative; “All the nations are to glorify the Lord…this they have not yet done”. This reflects his vision and determination to press on regarding the work of the church. How often do we hear this verse partially quoted with “the nations” amputated? The Lord Jesus Christ did not say “Make disciples…full stop”! We must teach them and baptize them according to His command. We must be careful not to allow cliché or tradition to abrogate Scripture in any way, but especially concerning the great task given to us by our King.  

What are we to teach them? The Gospel? The Romans Road? The New Testament? Are we to focus on particular portions of Scripture that offer an easier-grasped, modular package for simple evangelism? The Lord Jesus said to teach them “ALL that I have commanded you”! My friends, it would defy all credulity to assert that in three years plus of teaching, Jesus did not instruct His disciples in the entirety of the Scriptures, at this time, the Old Testament. We are told He taught daily in different venues. He IS the Living Word, every single word of it! This clearly aligns with numerous passages of the Old and New Testaments that command us to know and love His Word. We are not to leave off any portion of his divine revelation in disciple-making. The Book of Acts is a wonderful picture of the Great Commission in action. Repeatedly we see great pains being taken in the Scriptural education of believers by Peter, Barnabas, and Paul. It isn’t a side project. It is THE goal they ardently pursue! Years are spent in this instruction. We tend to read over words and condense things, missing the huge emphasis on patient, slow instruction in Acts. These are not irrelevant things! The Apostles seek out men who become elders. These elders receive particular attention from Paul and Barnabas so that they are able to teach also. All these men are synonymously teaching the flock. They are teaching doctrine. In Paul’s Epistles, he constantly reinforces that Timothy and Titus first know “sound doctrine” expertly and that they then insure to teach it to the flock! “Doctrine” is mentioned approximately 57 times in the New Testament, appearing 27 times in Acts, I & II Timothy and Titus. The focus is clear here. These men took the words of the Great Commission seriously, focusing great amounts of time to proper and thorough instruction of the entire flock. 

Finally, what were these discipled individuals and nations to do with His Word once they had been taught? Verse 20 provides that simple answer; they were to observe/obey it! The goal of a disciple is to be mature. Paul, in his epistles, sets forth the mature, “fully equipped” Christian as the norm to be developed, not the exception. While perfection is not to be found this side of eternity, that is not what standard is put forth here, we are to be in the business of expending much energy and focus on growing our obedience to Christ’s Word systemically and purposefully. If we have command of our faculties, we are expected to be very familiar with the deep doctrines of our God. In these are revealed His heart, His face, and His vision for us. Paul said he counted everything else dung compared to fully knowing Him. That can only happen as we seek His face in His Word and strive to obey what we read in devotion to Him. The Great Commission at Vertical Church Gallipolis, like all of Christ’s church, sees what our King commands and endeavors to put it into obedient practice. There is no part of our individual or collective lives that is not to be brought into submission to His Word, His ways, and His Will! Oh, and how did our Lord end this mission statement? “I am with you always, even to the end of the age”. He is with us, He cannot fail! Vertical, let’s push forward in our obedience to His command! You are loved!!