Matt 28:18 - 20 NIV
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
We see the word GO on sanctuary posters depicting missions themes. A Christian band used this word to title their latest CD. Entire sermon series are preached from this word. But what does this word in Matthews Gospel really mean?
I was recently studying this passage (again) for a hermeneutics II (interpreting the Bible) class and was excited to find that the imperative verb is modified in these verses and is not "Go" but the verb form of the noun, "make disciples," or simply, "disciple". So where does that leave the word go in our understanding?
According to Dr. Leroy Bartel, in my opinion one of the greatest Bible scholars in our fellowship, the word go takes on a more relational meaning. Therefore the mandate or commission takes a more personal approach to winning souls for Christ and discipling the new believers. It speaks of "as we go about our life" we should be reaching, discipling and teaching people all the things that Christ teaches us through his Word.
It is no secret that the church has a discipleship crisis. Perhaps that is because we have been lulled into believing that if we are not called to be a missionary or pastor and we are able to say a quick prayer and write a check of support, we are excused from the great commission.
All of those things are great and necessary, but none of those things gets any of us off the hook. OOPS- I think we've been missing it.
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