Ryan Limbaugh

Somehow over the years Christians have turned Matthew 28:18-20 into a text about evangelism and only about evangelism. This is a mistake. Jesus’ commission to His disciples is very much a message about discipleship, as well. So let’s take a look at the passage and then take note of five key components of discipleship.

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:18-20 

  1. We see the authority of the discipleship mandate (“all authority”). The command to make disciples comes from the highest authority of the highest court in the universe – King Jesus. God the Father has given complete authority to our risen Lord to call His citizens to action. And that action is to make disciples. So discipleship is a big deal!
  2. The geography of the discipleship mandate (“Go…all the nations”). It is popular to think that real discipleship is for the ultra-committed, faithfully-attending, serious Christians in the local church here in America. And if we can just be faithful enough to preach an easier-to-believe, low-cost, low-commitment-level Gospel on the mission field, then we’re still doing a good work. But Jesus calls His disciples not to make decisions of all the nations, rather disciples of all the nations. His expectation was for Peter, James, John, and all the rest to preach and teach the Gospel in such a way that people from every province and nation would have an earnest desire for Gospel obedience in their lives, nothing less.
  3. The activity of the discipleship mandate (a “disciple” is a learner and follower). Just as the disciples learned from and followed Jesus, they were to conduct their ministry in such a way that others would also learn from and follow Jesus. Discipleship starts with divine revelation, continue with divine illumination, and is ultimately expressed through Gospel application.
  4. The result of the discipleship mandate (baptism & more teaching with application). When people come to faith in Jesus, that’s not the end of the story. It’s only the beginning. New disciples are to be publicly baptized in order to identify themselves as followers of Jesus and members of His church. And they are to be actively involved in the church so they can learn the teachings of Jesus and the way in which He is to be obeyed.
  5. The comfort of the discipleship mandate (“I am with you always”). The call to discipleship can be very intimidating. It sometimes seems like an impossible task. Jesus knew how scary it could be. That’s why He comforts us with the reality that He is with us. We don’t do discipleship in our power. We do discipleship with His power and in His presence. To be sure, discipleship is impossible when attempted on our own. But by the power and presence of our risen Savior, people from Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth will, in fact, grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.