The Great Commission.
I want you to understand that what I am telling you this morning is my opinion and nothing more.
I believe that what I am about to tell you is correct. Otherwise I would be wrong in telling you.
I have read the New Testament from Matthew to Revelation an average of seven times a year since 1997. If you’re not good at math then it adds up to roughly 70 times.
I’m not saying this to boast but by way of background.
What’s the difference between study and reading?
I think studying something, whether it is a subject, a character, or series of passages tends to give me a kind of tunnel vision of the subject.
Where-as reading the NT from beginning to end eventually gives the whole picture.
I believe that we should get the whole picture and not just parts of it.
In Matthew 28:16-20 we read about what has come to be known as “The great commission”.
Let’s look at what I believe the bible is saying about the “Great Commission”.
Matt 28:16, There were eleven disciples and they went where they were told to go.
17, Jesus meets them and they (the eleven) worship him but some doubted.
18, Jesus says “All Authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.”
19. “Go therefore…” “Baptizing them…”
20. This is an important passage. Teaching them… all things that I have commanded you…” “…I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Mark 16:14-20
14:Jesus appears to the eleven.
15 Go into all the world.
Let’s just stop there a minute and look at “Go into all the world.”
Could the disciples go into all the world in their lifetime?
Look at Colossians 1:6 “…as it has also in all the world.” And also 23: “…the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven…”
Colossians was written before 70 AD.
Vs 16 read
17, 18 And these signs will follow those who believe…
19. Jesus is received up to heaven.
20. The Lord working with them AND CONFIRMING THE WORD THROUGH THE ACCOMPANYING SIGNS. Amen
Turn in your bibles to John 15:26-16:16
The setting is that Jesus is talking to his disciples and only to his disciples. If we read from chpt 13 onward it is clear that those he is addressing are the select twelve that he chose.
Note verse 15:26 The helper is not the outpouring of the Spirit. He is the Comforter. He will testify of Jesus.
And then in verse 27: And you will bear witness of me (Jesus), BECAUSE you have been with me from the beginning.
Now 16:13 However, when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come.
Now note “HE WILL LEAD YOU INTO ALL TRUTH… AND HE WILL TELL YOU THINGS TO COME”
Matthew tells me that the Disciples Jesus chose were the ones who had Authority to teach the great commission, because, the authority was given them by Jesus.
Mark tells me that there were certain things that would happen or accompany those who had been given the task of the great commission.
John tells me that those who went out were given a comforter and the Spirit of truth (not the indwelling spirit) who would tell them what to say.
Before I move on, let me just say this:
Those who think that they are responsible for telling the world about Jesus need to have the following:
1 They need to be chosen by Jesus. So, they will be Apostles.
2 They need to be sent by Jesus. So, they need to have authority
3 They need to possess at least one of the signs that would accompany them on their mission to confirm that word.
4 They need to be a recipient of the Comforter because He, the Comforter, would testify about Jesus
5 They need to have been with Jesus from the beginning And
6 They need to be the recipient of the Spirit of truth because he would lead them into all truth and tell them things to come.
So, that being said. Why can’t we go out into all the world and preach the gospel?
Don’t the people of the world need to know about Jesus?
Maybe we don’t have those gifts like picking up snakes and drinking poisons but we can still go out into all the world and preach the gospel.
So, why can’t we preach the gospel to all the world.
When I ask the question. “What is the gospel?” The answer usually comes back something along the lines of:
It’s the good news of Jesus.
Or
It’s the good news that Jesus died for us
Or
It’s the good news of reconciliation
Or…
Well, which is it?
Is it the good news of Jesus?
Is it the good news that Jesus died for us?
Is it the good news that we have now been reconciled to God?
Is it about the kingdom?
Or
Is it a combination of all?
The truth is we don’t know.
We are not privy to what Jesus taught the disciples about anything other than what he taught them about the coming vengeance upon the Jews (Luke 21:22)
In Matt 5:5-7 the disciples are sent out only to the lost sheep of Israel.
They are told not to go to the Gentiles nor the Samaritans.
What were they to preach?
The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.
And in Verse 23 in the second half of the scripture we read: “…you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the son of man comes”.
You might say that this wasn’t the great commission. You are right, it’s not the great commission.
It’s Jesus saying I came only to the Jews.
Jesus confirms this in Matt 15:24 Where he says:”…I was not sent but to the lost sheep of Israel”
Why can’t we just go out and preach the gospel?
a. Jesus gave the disciples authority to preach. Who gave you the authority?
b. The signs that accompanied them confirmed the word. What will confirm the words that you speak?
c. The disciples were given the Spirit of Truth that lead them into all truth and told them what to say. What are you going to say?
Matt 15:24 says that Jesus was sent only to the lost house of Israel.
Luke 21:22 “For these are the days of vengeance, that “all things which are written may be fulfilled.”
