Matthew 28:16-20

Matthew 28:16-20

[16] Then  the eleven  disciples  went away  into  Galilee,  into  a mountain  where  Jesus  had appointed  them.  [17] And  him,  they worshipped  him:  but  some doubted.  [18] And  Jesus  came  and spake  unto them,  saying,  All  power  is given  in  heaven  and  in  earth.  [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:  [20] Teaching  them  to observe  all things  whatsoever  I have commanded  and,  lo,  I  am  with  alway,  even unto  the end  of the world. 

What does Matthew 28:16-20 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Whereas the chief priests used bribe money to commission the soldiers to spread lies, the resurrected Jesus used the promise of His power and presence to commission His disciples to spread the gospel. [1] This is the final address that Matthew recorded Jesus giving. As usual, he used a narrative to lead up to the address. In this case the narrative consisted of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Therefore this address is the climax of these events in Matthew"s structure of his Gospel. It is also climactic because of its position at the very end of the Gospel and because of its content. It recapitulates many of Matthew"s themes, and it ends the story of Jesus where it began: in Galilee. [2]
". . . to demonstrate that Jesus, in enduring the humiliation of the cross, did not die as a false messiah but as the Son who did his Father"s will ( Matthew 21:37-39), God vindicates Jesus by raising him from the dead ( Matthew 28:5-6). Consequently, when Jesus appears to the disciples on the mountain in Galilee ( Matthew 28:16-17), it is as the crucified Son of God whom God has vindicated through resurrection ( Matthew 28:5-6). Although some disciples show, in doubting, that they are yet weak of faith ( Matthew 28:17; Matthew 14:32), they all see on the person of Jesus that crucifixion, or suffering sonship, was the essence of his ministry ( Matthew 21:42). Correlatively, they also grasp at last that servanthood is the essence of discipleship ( Matthew 16:24; Matthew 20:25-28). As ones, therefore, who comprehend, in line with God"s evaluative point of view ( Matthew 17:5), not only who Jesus is but also what he was about and what it means to be his followers, the disciples receive from Jesus the Great Commission and embark on a mission to all the nations ( Matthew 28:18-20; chaps24-25)." [3]