The Great Commission - Bible Story

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The Great Commission - Bible Story

The Great Commission of Jesus Christ

The Great Commission of Christ occurs in the Gospel books, when Jesus appeared to His disciples after His Resurrection and commanded them to "make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Furthermore, Christ says to His disciples, "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

"Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 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." Amen. (Matthew 28:16-20)

The Great Commission of Christ also appears in Mark 16:14-18 and Luke 24:44-49. 

Meaning of the Great Commission

"And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." (Matthew 28:18) - All authority has been given to Me: Christ declares that the authority that was His by nature in His divinity is now also possessed by His glorified human nature. this human nature has now trampled the final enemy, death. (1 Corinthians 15:20-28)

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19) - The Great Commission, our Lord's final commandment given on earth, is to be lived out in the Church until He returns again. Making disciples cannot be done in the strength of man, but only in the power of God. The power of the Resurrection is not only for Jesus Himself but is given to all believers for Christian life and mission.

"Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. (Matthew 28:20) - Christ Himself is present in each believer and in the Church always, both personally and in the Holy Spirit, for neither can be separated from the other. "To the end of the age" does not imply that we will be separated from Him at the end of the world. He is with us now, and forever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Read the full Bible text of the Great Commission from the different gospel books below and find articles about its significance for us today!

Matthew 28

1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.
3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.
4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.
6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.
7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.
9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.
10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
11 While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened.
12 When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money,
13 telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’
14 If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.”
15 So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.
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.”

Matthew 28 Commentaries

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