Holy Bible - Obsidian Study Guide

Great Commission

3 min read

Great Commission

Overview

  • Testament: New
  • Primary Text: Matthew 28:16-20
  • Parallel Mission Texts: Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:46-49; John 20:21-23; Acts 1:8
  • Summary: The risen Jesus Christ appears to his disciples, declares that all authority in heaven and earth has been given to him, commands them to make disciples of all nations, and promises his presence to the end of the age.

Details

The Great Commission comes after the Resurrection and stands as the climactic charge of Matthew’s Gospel. Jesus meets his disciples in Galilee, where some worship and some doubt. Into that mixed company of worship and weakness, the risen Lord speaks with universal authority: all power has been given to him in heaven and in earth.

The command flows from Christ’s authority. The disciples are to go and make disciples of all nations. The mission is not merely travel, preaching, or moral influence; it is the formation of disciples who publicly belong to the triune name through baptism and learn to obey everything Jesus commanded.

The scope is global. Matthew has already shown Gentile hints: the Magi, the centurion, the Canaanite woman, and Jesus’ promise that the gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world. At the end, the mission is made explicit: all nations are included in the reign of the risen Christ.

The commission also includes comfort. Jesus does not merely send; he promises presence. “I am with you alway” echoes biblical promises of divine presence given to Moses, Joshua, prophets, and Israel. The church’s mission is therefore not self-generated activism but obedient witness under Christ’s authority and companionship.

Acts narrates the unfolding of this commission: Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and toward the ends of the earth. Pentecost and the Birth of the Church supplies the promised power of the Holy Spirit for this mission.

Key People Involved

  • Jesus Christ - Risen Lord who commands and accompanies the mission
  • The Twelve - Apostolic witnesses who receive the commission
  • Peter - Early preacher in Jerusalem and witness to Gentile inclusion
  • Paul (Apostle) - Major missionary to the nations in Acts

Key Places

  • Galilee - Setting of Matthew’s commission scene
  • Jerusalem - Beginning point of apostolic witness in Luke-Acts
  • Nations - The full scope of disciple-making mission

Important Verses

  • Matthew 28:18 - All authority belongs to Christ
  • Matthew 28:19 - Make disciples of all nations
  • Matthew 28:20 - Teach obedience and receive Christ’s abiding presence
  • Luke 24:47 - Repentance and remission of sins preached among all nations
  • Acts 1:8 - Witness empowered by the Holy Spirit

Cross-References

Notes

  • The Great Commission is grounded in Christ’s authority before it becomes the church’s responsibility.
  • Disciple-making includes baptism, teaching, obedience, and public allegiance to the triune name.
  • The mission is global but not abstract; Acts shows it moving through real cities, conflicts, conversions, and communities.
  • The promise of Christ’s presence keeps mission from becoming either triumphalism or despair.

Graph View

Backlinks