Probably the most well-known “Great Commission” passage is found in Mathew 28:18-20:

“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”[1]

An unpopular motive: obedience

God’s Word gives us a number of motives for the fulfillment of the Great Commission. These at least include: 1) God’s glory—the desire to see God known and worshipped by all peoples and nations (Rev 5); 2) Love for God—God loves mankind and has sacrificed to save them; we want what God desires (Jn 3:16; 1 Tim 2:5-6); and 3) love for people—the reality of their need, compassion (Mt 9:36-38). These motives overlap significantly.

But there is another motivation for fulfilling the Great Commission that is unpopular, maybe even de-emphasized today, and that is the motive of obedience. Christ’s command is clear enough. It is our duty to fulfill the Great Commission. We have a command from Jesus to make disciples and to do so among all known peoples. This is something all believers are responsible to God for.

Believers in Jesus Christ have been given a commission.

When we talk about this passage, we often say that God’s people are commissioned by Christ through these and other passages. We often refer to Christ’s commands to us here as the “Great Commission” as well, since this command is emphasized as His last words to His followers.

Given a task

The word “commission” is not in these passages, so why do we use this description for Christ’s command? By definition, when someone is commissioned to do something, it means that they are “granted certain powers or authority to carry out a particular task, duty, or function.”[2] Someone with higher authority gives to someone under him a task to fulfill. He empowers the one he sends with his authority so that the sent person can then carry out his orders. The one who is sent acts on behalf of the sender. He/she fulfills his/her duty in the name of the sender.  

The risen Lord and Savior has given us a specific duty to fulfill–teach all nations. He sends us to go on His behalf, to act and speak for Him. We must obey this command and be His representatives to all people and nations. We must do this because this is God’s will, His purpose for we who already know God’s salvation through Jesus Christ.

Given authority

Today the word “commissioned” is mostly used when a military officer or government official has been promoted to a new role or given new duties to fulfill as their representative. In this way, Jesus is our Commissioner. Jesus, our Lord and Savior, gives to us His authority to carry out the task of making disciples of all peoples. Every believer in Jesus has been commissioned. This is why Gospel Fellowship Association’s blog is called Commissioned: Extending Grace to the Nations.

Before today, have you come to realize that this Great Commission is for you?

Believers in Jesus Christ have been given a mandate.

This task given to the Church by Jesus to make disciples is also referred to as our “Missions Mandate.” Why is Christ’s command described this way?

If we are given a mandate, it means we are ordered or required to do something. We have been given a mandatory[3] task to fulfill.  A mandate from a leader is a command we can’t refuse.[4] Our obedience to a mandate is not negotiable. We don’t volunteer to fulfill a mandate because we are obligated to do it.

A top-level commission

Using the words commission and mandate to describe Christ’s repeated command to make disciples among all nations reminds us of how serious this is to Him. Jesus expects us to obey and fulfill this task He has given. This is a command, not a mere suggestion. The Great Commission Mandate is a top-level commission. It is a mandate of the highest order. Our commission comes from the highest authority possible, our Lord and King, Jesus. Jesus does not ask for volunteers; He demands obedience.

Imagine yourself a soldier in former times and you were given a commission written on a scroll which was given to you by your King as you knelt before his throne. Or consider this mandate as a direct order given to you personally, as a modern soldier, by the highest ranking general in the military. Now think about how such great men of this world are nothing at all compared to the Highest One who give us our commission.

A very personal commission

Our commission from Christ is a great privilege, but it is also a mandate which we cannot disobey. We cannot take pride in fulfilling the great commission. If we do, it means we don’t understand it properly.

Jesus said these words in Luke 17:10 about a servant denying himself in order to serve His master:

“So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’”

Consider this carefully: Jesus Christ has given you a personal commission! It is your duty before God to obey this mandate to proclaim His Gospel and make disciples for Him.

Do you live your life as though the Lord Jesus Christ has given you a personal commission?

Believers in Jesus Christ have been given a Great Commission/Mandate. 

We call this command to make disciples the “great” commission. What do we mean by “great?” We could spend a long time on this point, the greatness of the commission. Let’s focus on the meaning of the word, “great.”

Something is great when it has an unusual or considerable degree of power or intensity, causes wonder, is very good, exceptionally outstanding, notable, remarkable, highly significant or consequential, important, distinguished or famous, of noble or lofty character, principal importance, has extraordinary powers, or has unusual merit, or very admirable.[5]

Is Christ’s last command great? How great is the Commission Mandate in your mind and heart? Nothing will help us see the greatness of this command more than meditating on the various ways it is expressed by Jesus Himself.

All Great Commission Mandate Passages Paraphrased

If we combine all of the words of Jesus spoken directly about this and put them together as a paraphrase, it will look somethings like the following:

Jesus said to His disciples,

“I have risen from the dead. All power (authority) has been given to Me in heaven and in earth. As the Father has sent Me into the world to provide salvation in His name, so I now send you with my authority into the world to proclaim that gospel (good news) of salvation in My name.

The awaiting spiritual harvest of souls is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray to the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into His harvest. You are the answer to that prayer.

Go now and preach the gospel to every creature (to all creation, every people). You must proclaim to them that they must repent of their sins and believe in Me for forgiveness.

Go into all the world to make these disciples. As they believe, baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them what it means to be a disciple, to obey (keep, observe) everything I have commanded you.

You are My witnesses sent in the power of the Holy Spirit Whom I have given. Be sure to remember this: I am with you always, even unto the very end of the world (end of the age).”[6]

(Matthew 9:36-38; 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-49; John 17:18; 20:21; Acts 1:8)

This is one very powerful commission/mandate.

Believers are accountable directly to Jesus for obedience.

Again, it seems out of favor these days, almost negative even, to talk about duty as a compelling reason to evangelize and make disciples. Yes, we are indeed to be motivated by love for Christ, love for the lost, and a desire to see God glorified. These motivations are not at odds or in competition with duty. We must obey the Great Commission. Jesus Himself emphasizes obedience through giving us these commands.

At times we need strong reminders about our need to obey God about making disciples. We obey the Great Commission because it comes from the Great God and our Savior, the Highest, the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the One to Whom we will give an account for our lives. We are personally accountable to Him to keep this missions mandate.

These clear commands demand that we ask ourselves, “What am I doing to obey this command?”

The judgement seat of Christ

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others (2 Corinthians 5:10-11a).”

Imagine you were the soldier returning to his king or highest general in the military to report on your commission. It would be very intimidating. You would certainly want to do all you could to be able to report that your mission was fulfilled. Part of your motivation would be the knowledge of serious consequences for disobedience.

Each of us will give an account before our King, our Commander General, of how we fulfilled this mandate given to us. Our redemption and forgiveness eternally through Jesus does not remove us from accountability about how we live our lives as Christians. This Great Commission Mandate will not be overlooked on that Day.

Consider the shame we would experience on that day if our life had been wasted. Think of the loss of reward and the disappointment of our Savior. The apostle John tells us that there will be believers in Jesus ashamed when He comes again:

“And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming” (1 John 2:28).

Consider the commission in your hand.

The commission has already been issued. It is in our hand in the Bibles we own. What are we going to do with it? Disobedience is not an option. We must discover what the Lord would have us do to honor His command.

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Mt 28:18-20).

Jesus did not issue a call for volunteers. He gave a command for His people to obey. The question is not whether we want to volunteer to help in missions in some way, but how we are going to obey Christ’s great commission mandate.

Featured image of Singaporean naval vessel commissioning courtesy of www.connectedtoindia.com.

[1] Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®).

[2] https://www.wordnik.com/words/commission; https://www.dictionary.com/browse/commission

[3] https://www.dictionary.com/browse/mandate

[4] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mandate

[5] https://www.dictionary.com/browse/great

[6] I have used past tense about the sending of the Spirit to reflect where we are after Pentecost.