Go and Teach All Nations - Matthew 28:19

Matthew the apostle wrote how, “the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshiped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth”, and in chapter twenty-eight and verse nineteen of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus said, “go you therefore, and teach all nations” where we read:

Go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father,

and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

The verse reads, “Go you therefore, and teach all nations, ...” Matthew began words, “Go you therefore” which means “disciples depart then and on account of the fact that Jesus has all power given to Him”, “and teach” or “and instruct, make disciples, scholars and pupils of” “all nations” or “each, every, the whole and everyone of the multitudes of individuals of the same nature or genus”. Matthew shared how Jesus had “all power” so He instructed His “disciples” to “depart from Him” and go “instruct” every “people group” in the world.

The verse goes on to say, “... baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:” Matthew continued with the words, “baptizing them” or “dipping repeatedly, immersing and submerging the people of the world” “in the name” which means “in everything which the name covers including thought or feeling of which is aroused in the mind by mentioning, hearing and remembering” “of the Father” or “pertaining to the generator and progenitor who is God”, “and of the Son” which means “and the offspring, descendant and posterity of God who is Jesus”, “and of the Holy Ghost” which refers to “and of the third person of the triune God who is coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son”. Matthew shared how Jesus' disciples were to “submerge” in water the “people” whom they “instructed” in “God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit's” name.

When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we discover what is known as “the Great Commission” from Jesus. Jesus was given “all power in heaven and earth”, and He gave His “disciples” charge to “Go” and tell the “world” about Him. They were to “baptize” those who believe in Him in the “name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit” as an outward demonstration of their inward belief, and they were to grow in their relationship with God through Jesus and His Holy Spirit. A relationship with God is available to “all nations” or “all peoples” through Jesus Christ, and those who are wise will yield their lives to Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”.

Next time Matthew shares how Jesus says, “teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".