The Great Commission is for Who?
I like to be a critical thinker. That's what we engineers do in order to solve design problems. Critical thinking is just asking a lot of question. It's not actually being negatively critical in a judgemental way.
I've heard a couple different arguments as to who the great commission was for. Some say it was only to the disciples and others say it's for every one. My take on the great commission is that Jesus said this is something He was going to do based not on the English translation but the Greek text plus the context itself. Let's read the English context from Matt 28:18-20. (kjv)
[18] And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
[19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
[20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
In Matthew 28:18-20, the way its been translated, verse 18 and verses 19 & 20 are totally two separate things. V18 is Jesus given all power and then, bang, a totally unrelated subject, the disciples are given a job to do. In a lot of passages, the first thing said is explained or answered in the following verses when asked questions like, 'what, where, when, why and how'.
Jesus said, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth."
WHY was all power given and to do WHAT? What's the point? Nothing more seems to be said and this statement seems really pointless and out of place. Jesus was given all power? So what? Just two more verses and Matthew ends.
The next verse starts out "Go ye". The Greek word for this is πορευθέντες which translated on line is the word, "headed" but the Greek Grammar of the word is Aorist Passive Deponent Participle indicates 'the action of' as in actively 'headed some directon' as in "going out" or "to go".
It can also be translated a verb-noun as they translate it as just 'Go' to where no one was specifically pointed to and assumed as '(You)' to be the one to 'go' or 'Go ye' as they have it. It appears a command given to whom Jesus was talking to at the moment. That is where they get this was a commission only for the disciples that were there with Him.
If they had translated the Greek word as 'headed' meaning 'going' or 'to go', it would explain the WHY and WHAT the purpose of Jesus power was given for and actually makes a lot more sense. Using the online translated word of 'headed' in a grammarly fitting way, it would read more like this: "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth; to head out therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."
Before going on, there is are obvious problems that arises with this. First, we are all naturally lazy. "Oh, your saying I don't have to do anything?" No, not by law or obligation or duty. Second, Jesus ascended to heaven so He is not here... well not in 'human' form, He's not.
There are 3 reasons why I lean toward the great commission as something Jesus is accomplishing. #1, we have no power to save people's souls. Only God the Father can actually 'make disciples'(v19 NIV). John 6:44 "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him:" #2, We have no power to baptize people with the Holy Ghost. Only Jesus can do this. Mark 1:8 "...he [Jesus] shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost." What we do is just symbolic and doesn't do anything. Baptize me 100 times and all I'll get is wet. #3, teach?.. Holy Spirit thing. Not only did Jesus say in John 6:45, "It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God", 1 Thes 4:9 says, "for ye yourselves are taught of God". John 14:26, "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." Understanding gotten from other places substantiates this idea that the great commission is something Jesus was given power to do and the first words of Matthew 28:19 were not translated correctly in context the of what Jesus was trying to say.
The big 'BUT' is that we know just by the numerous other letters, Acts and beyond, the apostles were out preaching the good news, the gospel. They were teaching, instructing and correcting the called out, God's elect. This gives the 'appearance' they were following the great commission like it was a command, an edict, or a law. Looks are deceiving.
Based on the message of 'love' they were preaching, the disciples and apostles were following Jesus out of love, not by rule of law. Jesus didn't die and free us from one set of laws to be a slave to another. In Galatians, we are called to stand fast in freedom wherewith Christ has set us free and not be entangled again in the yoke of bondage.
Jesus has a purpose to build His church and God a purpose to make ready a bride, God's purpose (Father, Son & Spirit) is what He is doing, His responsibility, not ours. He didn't start something for us to finish for Him. Just hear what God is saying in Isaiah 46:9-11.
[9] Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,
[10] Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
[11] Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.
Also what Jesus said in Matt 16:18, "...upon this rock I will build my church..." So what is there for us to do?
Why would God leave something so important in the hands of us mortal sinners? If the great commission is not for us to do, how does God accomplish His purpose? easy... through His Holy Spirit, in us. He gives us the desire and we do it. We follow His lead because he gives us the will to do it... Phil 2:13 "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." referring back to Isaiah 46:11 calling us to 'execute His counsel.' God speaks it. God brings it to pass. God purposes it and God does it in us and through us and we 'Go' or 'head out' willingly. If we could thwart His purpose or mess it up in any way by rebellion and disobedience, God is no God but a liar.
We become Jesus hands, feet and mouth piece because He gives us the desire to do this freely out of love and not out of obligation or by command. What happens is that the great commission is seen as a command, an edict, preached this way and people either pressure themselves or others to obey this in their own different ways when God is not working in them to do so. People end up making themselves and others a slave to something they should not be a slave to. Jesus set us free and if when we do serve, it is done freely as God gives us the will and desire and not out of some duty or by command else we are right back into the sinking O.T. legalistic boat we were saved from.
Just remember that God has a plan and a purpose that He is working out in His way in His time with the people He has chosen to accomplish His will. If we jump out on our own and do things we think is right ahead of God, we will flop on our face and end up with a lot of wasted time and effort for nothing. All that extra busyness might look good to the people around us but when God is not in it, it ends up as nothing other than religious churchianity that sucks our life and freedom away.
Jesus said, "Come to me and I will give you rest." and He does. He says, "My burden is light." and it is. He will never give us the desire to do something He has not prepared us to do. As Christians, we can kick back in real freedom and wait on God to give us desire because it's a joy to be used by Him in His purpose when done in His time and in His way. When the time comes He will have us ready for the task at hand and we will actually want to do it.
The big 'BUT' is that we know just by the numerous other letters, Acts and beyond, the apostles were out preaching the good news, the gospel. They were teaching, instructing and correcting the called out, God's elect. This gives the 'appearance' they were following the great commission like it was a command, an edict, or a law. Looks are deceiving.
Based on the message of 'love' they were preaching, the disciples and apostles were following Jesus out of love, not by rule of law. Jesus didn't die and free us from one set of laws to be a slave to another. In Galatians, we are called to stand fast in freedom wherewith Christ has set us free and not be entangled again in the yoke of bondage.
Jesus has a purpose to build His church and God a purpose to make ready a bride, God's purpose (Father, Son & Spirit) is what He is doing, His responsibility, not ours. He didn't start something for us to finish for Him. Just hear what God is saying in Isaiah 46:9-11.
[9] Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,
[10] Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
[11] Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.
Also what Jesus said in Matt 16:18, "...upon this rock I will build my church..." So what is there for us to do?
Why would God leave something so important in the hands of us mortal sinners? If the great commission is not for us to do, how does God accomplish His purpose? easy... through His Holy Spirit, in us. He gives us the desire and we do it. We follow His lead because he gives us the will to do it... Phil 2:13 "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." referring back to Isaiah 46:11 calling us to 'execute His counsel.' God speaks it. God brings it to pass. God purposes it and God does it in us and through us and we 'Go' or 'head out' willingly. If we could thwart His purpose or mess it up in any way by rebellion and disobedience, God is no God but a liar.
We become Jesus hands, feet and mouth piece because He gives us the desire to do this freely out of love and not out of obligation or by command. What happens is that the great commission is seen as a command, an edict, preached this way and people either pressure themselves or others to obey this in their own different ways when God is not working in them to do so. People end up making themselves and others a slave to something they should not be a slave to. Jesus set us free and if when we do serve, it is done freely as God gives us the will and desire and not out of some duty or by command else we are right back into the sinking O.T. legalistic boat we were saved from.
Just remember that God has a plan and a purpose that He is working out in His way in His time with the people He has chosen to accomplish His will. If we jump out on our own and do things we think is right ahead of God, we will flop on our face and end up with a lot of wasted time and effort for nothing. All that extra busyness might look good to the people around us but when God is not in it, it ends up as nothing other than religious churchianity that sucks our life and freedom away.
Jesus said, "Come to me and I will give you rest." and He does. He says, "My burden is light." and it is. He will never give us the desire to do something He has not prepared us to do. As Christians, we can kick back in real freedom and wait on God to give us desire because it's a joy to be used by Him in His purpose when done in His time and in His way. When the time comes He will have us ready for the task at hand and we will actually want to do it.
Views: 33
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Sean Steckbeck on -
Why do you have such a problem with the word "command"?
Jesus said that if we loved him, we would obey His commands.
He is King, and the King is to be obeyed.
The great news is that His kingdom is a kingdom of love, therefore the motivation of obedience is love.
We love him, because He first loved us...and this leads us to obedience.
The problem is that, as Wolfgang Simson would say, "too many people have him as Savior, very few have him as King."
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Permalink Reply by Paul Byerly on -
Ryan,
If the things in verses 19&20 are a natural result of what Jesus said in verse 18, then one must conclude that a many who claim to follow Jesus have not received that power. If they have "followed" Him for decades, and don't have that power, what does that say about them?
Be it a command or a statement of fact, those who are not doing it are not in Him
Ryan Spear said:
Paul, Your right, it does connect to two verses... therefore meaning 'consequenly' and also 'as a result' It can also be said that making disciples, baptizing and teaching are the consequence or the result of the given power to go. What did Jesus do when he went to heaven? He sent the Holy Spirit who would be sealed into every believer, Eph 1:13. So Jesus who is God has gone into all the world by way of the Holy Spirit.
I will bring out that He is using us (in a good way) to fulfill this purpose. The salvation thing is God's purpose, something He will do because He said He would. If you look at it in the way I'm seeing it, this in not a command at all. It was Jesus stating he was given all power and what this power was for.
I don't think the disciples needed a command to go. They hung around Jesus for a few years, saw Him healing the sick, raising the dead, curing blindness and lameness. They saw Him die, risen from the dead and then ascend up into the clouds and disappear. On top of all this, they received the Holy Spirit after he had gone. What need would there be for a command? I doubt they could contain themselves.
The disciples told the story of their experiences and as the bible says in Acts 2:41, "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized:..." And in Acts 2:27, "...And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." Notice who was given credit for adding to the church. Only God can save and only God can make disciples. We can give a message or tell The Story but that's about as far as we can go.
Having said this as I was scanning through Ephesians because I'm always mentally cross referencing: Ephesians 4:10-12
[10] He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
[11] And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
[12] For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
The above are gifts given to whom God has chosen for a particular purpose. We can discuss as to whether these gifts God commands to those who have them to use OR if these gifts are accompanied with desire to use them the way God leads people in their lives through the Holy Spirit.
Personally speaking, God given desire is like a hungar that needs to be satisfied. It's like having tunnel vision for doing certain things where you see nothing but that thing and just do it. You get really passionate about it too. Later you look back and say, "Wow, what got into me?"
Paul Byerly said:@ Ryan - It seems to me that the word "therefore" (or Oun in Greek, which seem to have the same idea) very clearly connects the verses. As is said, wherefore the therefore. Jesus says "Because I have given you this power, go and make disciples". Or "As you go, make disciples as I've seen some suggest is a better translation.
As to who the command is for, verse 20 covers that. If they teach the disciples they make all that Jesus commanded, then they will teach them to make disciples. And those disciples with teach the disciples they make to make disciples. I really see no way that the passage can said to not extend to all who have been made disciples of Jesus.
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Permalink Reply by Ryan Spear on -
To Sean,
I will only serve out of love. I have no problem doing anything the Holy Spirit leads me to do and that I have already proven to God. I've also served in doing things people asked of me, doing things I had zero tallent for such as serving on the church worship committee and pastor search committee. What a waste of time. Things would have gone on just the same had I never showed up to any meetings. I'm a quiet person who has very little to say and nothing for imput.
To Paul,
I would hope anyone serving anywhere can truely say that thier serving is something they felt led of God to be doing and not something some other Christian pressured them into. Serving God is a delight when you really want to do it. It's not like work at all. Joy and satisfaction come with doing that which the Holy Spirit has ya doing.
When I went back to Michigan after a 4 month temp job, they threw me on the schedule to work the sound system and computer on Sunday mornings without asking. I did it. I wasn't happy about it. There wasn't too many others who could or would. Of all things that made me litterally hate Sunday morning worship service, it was that. I had to be there early for practice and stay late to make CD's. It was stressfull. I couldn't worship. I was too busy making church work. One of the main reasons I decided to not go back to church was because I really don't worship or pray in church even as a spectator. Church was a big waste of time, something I just have no heart for right now. I may go back and I may never go back. This is one thing I'll wait on God for. At the moment its not a good idea for how poisonous my attitude is about the institution. I've chilled out a bit here in the last weeks but to go back to church now is a bad, bad idea.
Gifts such as evangelist, pastor, teacher, prophecy and exhorter are something not everyone is given. We have to trust and believe God will fullfill his purposes with the people He has chosen to give these gifts to. All Christians are in Christ and not because of what we do but because of what He has done. Whether we follow to the 't' or fall into sin for a time, we are no less God's children being sealed with the Holy Spirit.
I'm not concerned with the going into all the world thing. That's Jesus thing. If he wishes to use me in some way, that will happen. Right now I've no leading for it. When the time comes, I'll sence it. A door, so to speak, will open somewhere and I'll just do it. It will be interesting to see how God gets me from the point where I am now to doing something again, where ever or what ever that might be. Till then, I'm enjoying the rest.
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Permalink Reply by Jim London on
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Ryan, you said, "A door, so to speak, will open somewhere and I'll just do it. It will be interesting to see how God gets me from the point where I am now to doing something again, where ever or what ever that might be." It is very pleasing to hear people recognising that there is a communication to follow in our life in Christ. And it is also good to sense your quiet expectancy. You are wise, I believe, to have a period of quietness. The Spirit of God is an expert in all the things that you're anticipating -- and more!
I pray these words of Paul over you: "I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through the Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your heart through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge -- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:16-19)
Thanks for your transparency here.
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