Bible study passage: "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, 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 28:19-20
1) The command to make disciples: The main emphasis in this verse is on the command to "make disciples". To disciple a person to Christ is to bring that person to accept Christ as his or her teacher. Disciples are those who hear, understand, and obey Jesus' teaching. This injunction is given to the Eleven in their own role as disciples. Therefore they are paradigms for all disciples to make others what they themselves are-- disciples of Jesus Christ.
2) Make disciples everywhere: The words "all nations" in Matthew's gospel returns to the blessings promised to Abraham and through him to all peoples on earth which are now to be fulfilled in Jesus the Messiah. The expression is comprehensive, including Gentiles and Jews. The aim of Jesus' disciples, therefore, is to make disciples of all people everywhere, without distinction.
"Baptizing" and "teaching" are not the means of making disciples, but they characterize it. Envisaged is that proclamation of the Gospel that will result in repentance and faith, for making disciples entails both preaching and response. The response expected of new disciples is baptism and instruction.
3) Baptizing into the name of the Trinity: Those who become disciples are to be baptized "into" the name of the Trinity. The preposition "into" strongly suggests a coming-into-relationship-with or a coming-under-the-Lordship-of Jesus. Baptism is a sign both of entrance into Messiah's covenant community and of pledged submission to his Lordship. The triple formula containing Father (or God), Son (or Christ), and Holy Spirit occurs frequently in the New Testament.
"May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." 2 Corinthians 13:14
"But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." -- 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14
"John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father--to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen." -- Revelation 1:4-6
Thus it is impossible to deny the presence of Trinitarian thought in the New Testament documents, as confirmed by the frequency of the God-Christ-Spirit formulas.
4) Teaching everything Jesus commanded: Those who are made disciples must be taught. The content of this instruction is everything Jesus commanded the first disciples. The expression "everything I have commanded you" is reminiscent of the authority of the Lord. The words of Jesus, like the words of Scripture, are more enduring than heaven and earth. (Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. Matthew 24:35). Everything he has commanded must be passed on to the very end of the age.
5) God is still with us: The gospel ends with the promise of Jesus' comforting presence. He who is introduced to us in the prologue as Immanuel, "God with us" (The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel-- which means, "God with us." Matthew 1:23), is still God with us every day, to the end of history as we know it, when the kingdom will be consummated.
6) The mission continues, it is not over: Matthew's gospel ends with the expectation of continued mission and teaching. The passion and resurrection of Jesus end with a commission to his disciples to carry on making disciples. In the light of the Cross, the empty tomb, and the triumphant vindication and exaltation of the risen Lord, the gospel of Matthew is not a closed book till the consummation. The final chapter is being written in the mission and teaching of Jesus' disciples.
Our Saviour wants all men to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth. Therefore go and preach the Word boldly, our Lord is with you.
