4. READ: MATTHEW 28:16-20
b. What did Jesus instruct His followers to do?
Answer: Jesus instructed His followers to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in (or "into") the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you," (verses 19 and 20).
The words "make disciples" is literally to "make learners." As one commentator said, "This is evangelism in the fullest sense and not merely revival meetings."
There are two different verbs for the action of teaching as stated by Jesus here in verses 19 and 20. The verb in verse 19, translated "make disciples" and translated "teach" in the KJV is NOT the Greek verb didasko, which means "to teach." The verb used, and translated correctly in the NIV and the NASB Versions of the Bible, is matheteuo. It means "make disciples."
The meaning of matheteuo, "make disciples," is not just to teach someone. Coming from the Greek noun mathetes, meaning "disciple," the verb carries with it the meaning that we, who are disciples, are to MAKE disciples of other people from, or in, every nation.
There are NO limits to this command of our Savior. It is our purpose to serve our Master as bearers of the Good News, in our teaching, in our conduct, in our good deeds that glorify the Father.
To "make disciples" presupposes that we, who are already disciples, are "apt to teach"--constantly in the process of being learners ourselves, and endeavoring to "make disciples" of others. That means that we are constantly studying and growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18).
We, as disciples, are learners (from manthano, meaning "to learn"). This is NOT just the act of being taught some piece of knowledge that will be shuttled to the back of our mind and soon forgotten. This is THOUGHT ACCOMPANIED BY ENDEAVOR! A disciple is one who LISTENS TO, HAS FAITH IN (BELIEVES), FOLLOWS--who OBEYS--the teachings of the One we "disciple" ourselves to!! A disciple is not only a pupil, but is an adherent.
To adhere to a teaching (and the Teacher) is to "stick fast, to stay attached, to give allegiance or support to, to remain in, to hold to, to cling to, and thus to obey the teacher and the teaching one adheres to."
To be an adherent is "to support or follow," as in supporting or following a cause. We then cast aside our own beliefs or preferences, denying self, and we become imitators of our Teacher.
And our Teacher adhered to the FATHER'S commands in all things, even unto death, and remained in the Father's love. He left us His example to follow--He left us His teachings and example to "disciple ourselves to:"
John 8:31: "To the Jews who had believed Him, Jesus said, 'IF you hold to My teaching, you are REALLY My disciples. Then you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.'"
John 15:5-10: [Jesus said,] "I am the Vine; you are the branches. IF a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. IF you remain in Me and My Words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to My Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, SHOWING yourselves to be my disciples. As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Now remain in My love. IF you obey My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have obeyed My Father's commands and remain in His love."
Something EVERY disciple should keep in mind is expressed in the words of Paul. Paul (Saul of Tarsus) was "made a disciple," and he himself "made disciples" throughout his life as a disciple of Christ. Paul lived and died by the Words (teachings/doctrine/instruction) and example of His Master: [Jesus said,] "Whoever serves Me must follow Me; and where I am, My servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves Me," (John 12:26).
And then Paul told others, "Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God--even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved. Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ," (1 Corinthians 10:32-33 through 1 Corinthians 11:1).
THIS is the kind of disciples we are to be, and the kind of disciples we are to make in every nation!
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations...":
Isaiah 49:6: [God said,] "I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring My salvation to the ends of the earth."
Daniel 12:3: [God said,] "Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever."
Mark 16:15-16: "He [Jesus] said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the Good News to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.'"
Luke 24:46-47: "He [Jesus] told them, 'This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in His Name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.'"
Acts 1:8: [Jesus said,] "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Acts 2:5-12: [Of those hearing the first Gospel sermon on the day of Pentecost following the resurrection and ascension of Jesus:] "Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: 'Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs--we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!' Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, 'What does this mean?'"
Acts 14:21-22: "They [Paul and Barnabas] preached the Good News in that city [Derbe] and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. 'We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,' they said."
Revelation 7:9-10: "After this I [John] looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: 'Salvation belongs to our God, Who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.'"
"baptizing them in [into] the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit...":
John 20:30-31: "Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His Name."
Acts 2:38: "Peter replied, 'Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the Name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'"
Acts 10:43, 48: "All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His Name...So he ordered that they be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ."
Romans 6:3-4: "Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life."
1 Corinthians 6:9-11: "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."
Galatians 3:26-28: "You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
Colossians 2:9-12: "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, Who is the head over every power and authority. In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him through your faith in the power of God, Who raised Him from the dead."
1 John 3:21-24: "Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from Him anything we ask, because we obey His commands and do what pleases Him. And this is His command: to believe in the Name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as He commanded us. Those who obey His commands live in Him, and He in them. And this is how we know that He lives in us: We know it by the Spirit He gave us."
"and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you:"
In verse 20, the Greek verb for "teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you," IS didasko, and it DOES mean to literally "teach." Thus, the command of Jesus given to all of His disciples is inclusive of all of the following: first, "GO"; second, "MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS" (teaching the Good News to bring the lost to obedience); third, "BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT" (the LORD adds these disciples to HIS church); and then fourth, "TEACHING THEM (the newly converted disciples) TO OBEY EVERYTHING I (Jesus) HAVE COMMANDED YOU."
This is what makes strong Christians. This "teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you" is NOT just for "someone else" accomplish to and for newly converted disciples. This "teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you" is ALSO for EACH disciple to undertake to do for himself/herself on a daily basis! We MUST be steeped in the Word of our Savior so that we, ourselves, obey everything Jesus has commanded us AND so that we can teach those disciples made from all nations. We cannot make disciples nor teach continuing obedience to Christ's commands if we, ourselves, are weak and struggling infants in the Lord's church. God wants His children to be brought to maturity!
An example of the wrong kind of teaching among the Jews, who knew the law of God (the Old Law of Moses), but who dishonored God by breaking His laws, and who caused God's Name to be blasphemed among the Gentiles because of their lack of discipleship and their hypocrisy:
Romans 2:17-14: "Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and brag about your relationship to God; if you know His Will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and Truth--you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? As it is written: 'God's Name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.'"
An example of failure on the part of disciples of Christ to mature in the knowledge of God, so much so that they could not be addressed as spiritual, but were still worldly--mere infants--unable to "make disciples" and then to teach them what Christ commanded, because they, themselves, were not adhering to the commands of Christ:
1 Corinthians 3:1-9: "Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly--mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? For when one says, 'I follow Paul,' and another, 'I follow Apollos,' are you not mere men? What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe--as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, Who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building."
How to be able to be teachers of all that Christ has commanded:
Ephesians 4:9-24: "(What does 'He ascended' mean except that He also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He Who descended is the Very One Who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) It was He Who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
"Then WE WILL NO LONGER BE INFANTS, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE, we will in all things GROW UP INTO HIM WHO IS THE HEAD, THAT IS, CHRIST. FROM HIM the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, GROWS AND BUILDS ITSELF UP in love, as each part does its work.
"So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
"You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of Him AND were taught in Him in accordance with the Truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."
In addition to the teachings of Christ are the teachings of the apostles, which came directly from God. Therefore, these teachings are included in "all Scripture is God-breathed," (2 Timothy 3:16-17):
John 14:23-26: "Jesus replied, 'If anyone loves Me, he will obey My teaching. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me will not obey My teaching. These Words you hear are not My Own; they belong to the Father Who sent Me. All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My Name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.'"
The following is an actual example of the process of making disciples, baptizing them, and then teaching them to obey all things commanded by Christ, from Acts 2:40-42:
1) The "making of disciples" with the teaching of the Good News that brought about adherents to the Gospel:
"With many other words he [Peter] warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.'"
2) The fulfillment of Christ's command to baptize those who were being made disciples, but had not yet made a response performance--had not yet obeyed that Good News of Jesus Christ:
"Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day." (Acts 2:47: "And the LORD added to their number daily those who were being saved.")
3) And HERE is the teaching that comes AFTER baptism (and continues until death) to obey all things Christ commanded:
"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."