Matthew 28:19
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Word-by-Word Analysis
Cross References
Related verses that illuminate this passage (hover to preview):
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1
Mark 16:15
Mark 16:15
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.— Go ye into all the world
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2
Acts 1:8
Acts 1:8
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.— Witnesses unto me
Analysis
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. The Great Commission establishes the church's universal mission. "Go ye therefore" (poreuthentes oun, πορευθέντες οὖν) connects this command to Jesus' declaration of universal authority (v.18). The participle suggests "as you go" or "going," indicating that evangelism occurs through normal life activities, not just formal missions.
"Teach all nations" more literally reads "make disciples of all nations" (mathēteusate panta ta ethnē, μαθητεύσατε πάντα τὰ ἔθνη). The term ethnē refers to people groups, not just political entities. This universality breaks down Jewish-Gentile barriers and extends salvation to every cultural and ethnic group.
The Trinitarian baptismal formula "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" uses the singular "name" (onoma, ὄνομα), suggesting the unity of the three persons in one divine essence. This represents the clearest Trinitarian statement in the Gospels.
Historical Context
This commission was given to the eleven disciples on a mountain in Galilee (Matthew 28:16), fulfilling Jesus' promise to meet them there (26:32, 28:10). The mountain setting echoes other significant biblical revelations and commissions, particularly Moses receiving the law on Mount Sinai.
At this time, Jewish understanding generally limited God's full salvation to Israel, though they acknowledged righteous Gentiles could be saved. Jesus' command to make disciples of "all nations" would have been revolutionary, expanding the scope of salvation beyond ethnic and religious boundaries that had defined Jewish identity for centuries.
The early church initially struggled with this universal mandate, as seen in Peter's vision (Acts 10) and the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15). The inclusion of Gentiles without requiring circumcision and law-keeping represented a fundamental shift in understanding God's redemptive purposes.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the Great Commission challenge both religious exclusivism and cultural relativism in contemporary missions?
- What does 'making disciples' involve beyond initial evangelism, and how should this shape church ministry strategies?
- How does the Trinitarian baptismal formula inform our understanding of conversion as incorporation into the divine community?
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