16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in1 the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Section Overview
The Gospel of Matthew reaches its climax when the disciples meet the risen Christ. To read the passage correctly, interpreters must not conflate the resurrection narratives of the four Gospels. In Matthew, this is the apostles’ sole encounter with the risen Christ. It shares certain themes with Luke: doubting, a proclamation to the nations, God’s presence, and worship (Luke 24:38, 47–49, 52). In John’s Gospel, the risen Christ also meets the disciples and sends them on a universal mission (John 20:19–23).499 Nonetheless, Matthew is distinct. Both the angels and Jesus himself have directed the disciples to return to Galilee, where they will see him. When the disciples meet Jesus, they worship him, yet some doubt or hesitate for reasons Matthew does not explain. On the mountain, Jesus gives the disciples a charge rightly called the Great Commission, since it does commission them to a great task.
The commission recapitulates pervasive themes in Matthew: teaching, authority, and discipleship. Jesus has taught in cities, synagogues, and the temple (Matt. 4:23; 9:35; 13:54; 21:23). He has taught privately and publicly (7:29; 11:1). He has also exercised authority as he has taught and healed (7:29; 9:8). And he has called and trained disciples, until they are finally ready to disciple others (5:1; 10:1, 24–25).
Section Outline
IX. Death, and Resurrection (26:1–28:20) . . .
S. The Commission Given by Jesus (28:16–20)
This passage contains two elements: a short account of Jesus’ meeting with his disciples and Jesus’ commission of the disciples. In the narrative, the disciples return to Galilee, then see the risen Lord. The narrative quickly leads to Jesus’ charge. The commission has an A-B-A' or sandwich structure. It begins with the basis for the commission: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (28:18) and closes with assurance of Jesus’ helpful presence, “I am with you always” (v. 20). So Jesus begins with the basis for the commission and ends with strength for the commission.
The commission itself has four elements. The core is the imperative to “make disciples.” This command has three parallel subordinate participles, one preceding the command and two following it. The participles take on the imperatival force of the main verb and explain how the apostles will make disciples: by going, by baptizing, and by teaching. The object is “all nations,” which includes both Israel and the Gentile world. The declaration of Jesus’ authority and the promise of his presence bracket and support the commission.
Response
The world has many concepts of Jesus, most of them containing an element of truth. Jesus is teacher, friend, comforter, role model, helper, lawgiver, judge, and savior. Matthew 28:16–20 adds that he is risen Lord, mission leader, and disciple maker.
This passage says anyone can be a disciple, even as Matthew as a whole says that it is hard to be a disciple. Blessedly, no one takes that path alone. The apostles lead the process of raising up generations of leaders who, like them, begin as people of “little faith.” Jesus perseveres with them, so that even if they have hesitations until the end, they are ready for a great commission. The process of moving from little faith to maturity continues to this day. So, alongside his other titles, one might add that Jesus is like a skilled and experienced coach who loves his students and resolves to bring them to the highest level of knowledge and skill.
If the goal seems too lofty, let us remember that Matthew, once a despised tax collector, mastered the message of Jesus well enough to deliver it to the church in his Gospel. Every believer can grow as Matthew did. If the life, teaching, and presence of Jesus transformed Matthew from tax collector to man of little faith to apostle, he can do the same for anyone. The mission is arduous, but the world needs it.
Still, a proper conclusion of Matthew ends with Jesus himself. Returning to verse 17, let us see that any disciple can bounce from hesitation to worship and back again. Disciples need what Jesus provides: assurance that he is Lord and that he is present with us. He is the Redeemer who rose from death, conquering sin and death. When Jesus commissions us, he knows we can disobey. He is the One who both teaches perfectly and perfectly obeys his own counsel. That leads us back to his death and resurrection. Jesus, knowing no one would fully obey his commands, took upon himself the consequences of human disobedience. Great teacher that he is, he came to instruct, enlighten, and coach. But he is more than a teacher. He came “to give his life as a ransom.” And after that, he regained his life by the resurrection that seals his victory over sin and death, a victory that becomes ours through faith. In short, the commands that disciples must obey are contained in a narrative of the greatest story humans have heard or told. This commentary ends with a short retelling of that story.