The Great Commission
"I am with you always"
Two things you can tap
- A verse number shows the Bible’s exact words.
- An underlined word shows what it means.
Story
What happened?
Tap a verse number, like , to read the Bible’s exact words.
The whole story, in shortWhat happens, start to finish. Open it if you want the ending first.
After he rose from the dead, Jesus met the eleven disciples on a mountain in Galilee, where they worshiped him, though some doubted. Jesus said all authority in heaven and on earth had been given to him and sent them to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them. His last words were a promise: "And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
Where it is in the Bible: Matthew 28:16-20
Who’s who and what came beforePeople, places, and the story so far. Open it anytime.
Scene Card
Cast
- Jesus: The one the Gospels present as the promised Messiah and the Son of God. He has risen from the dead.
- The eleven disciples: Jesus's closest followers. There had been twelve. Judas, who betrayed Jesus, is gone.
Setting
- A mountain in Galilee that Jesus had chosen. Matthew does not say which one.
When
- After Jesus rose from the dead, about 2,000 years ago.
Before the Story
Jesus rose from the dead on Easter morning. An angel told the women, "He is not here; He has risen, just as He said!" (28:6).
Jesus gave the women a message for the disciples. "Go and tell My brothers to go to Galilee. There they will see Me" (28:10). Jesus still called them his brothers, even after they ran away.
Some people spread a false story. The leaders paid the guards to say the disciples stole Jesus's body (28:11-15).
At the very beginning, Matthew gave Jesus a name. "Immanuel" (which means, "God with us") (1:23). Watch for it at the end.
Map of the Story
| Scene | Verses | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1. On the mountain | 28:16-17 | The eleven see Jesus. Some worship, some doubt |
| 2. All authority | 28:18 | Jesus says he has all authority |
| 3. Go and make disciples | 28:19-20 | Jesus sends them to all nations |
| 4. "I am with you always" | 28:20 | Jesus makes a promise |
Plain Retelling
Scene 1 of 4On the Mountain
The eleven disciples went to Galilee. They went to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.
When they saw Jesus, they worshiped him.
"But some doubted" (28:17).
Even after seeing Jesus alive, some were still unsure. Matthew tells us this honestly.
Scene 2 of 4All Authority
Jesus came to them.
He did not send the doubters away. He came closer.
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me" (28:18). Authority means the right and the power to rule.
Scene 3 of 4Go and Make Disciples
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations" (28:19). A disciple is a follower and learner. All nations means every people in the world.
Jesus told them how: by "baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" (28:19).
And by "teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you" (28:20).
Scene 4 of 4"I Am with You Always"
Then Jesus made a promise.
"And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (28:20). The end of the age means the end of this world, when Jesus comes again.
These are the last words in Matthew's Gospel.
Meaning
What does it mean?
Read It
What Does This Mean?
| The text says | It means |
|---|---|
| "They worshiped Him, but some doubted" (28:17) | Jesus's followers were not perfect. Jesus came to them anyway. |
| "Then Jesus came to them" (28:18) | Jesus came close to the worshipers and the doubters alike. |
| "All authority... has been given to Me" (28:18) | The risen Jesus rules over everything. Nothing is outside his power. |
| "Make disciples of all nations" (28:19) | The good news is for every people, not only one. |
| "Baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" (28:19) | Baptism brings people into the name of the one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. |
| "Teaching them to obey all that I have commanded" (28:20) | Being a disciple means learning from Jesus your whole life. |
| "I am with you always" (28:20) | Jesus is Immanuel, God with us, every day until the end. |
Back Then
Galilee was where it all started. Jesus grew up in Galilee and called his first disciples by the Sea of Galilee (4:18-22). Now he sends them out from there.
Earlier, Jesus sent the disciples only to Israel. He told them, "Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel" (10:6). Now he sends them to all nations.
This is often called the Great Commission. A commission is a job someone gives you to do with their authority. The name is not in the Bible. Christians have used it for a long time.
Literal Reader Alert
Some doubted, even after seeing Jesus alive? Yes. Matthew doesn't hide it. Doubt doesn't mean you're out. Jesus came close and gave the job to all of them, doubters too.
Does everyone have to travel to other countries? Jesus sent his church into the whole world. Some people go far away. Most people make disciples right where they live: in their families, with friends, and in their church.
Why "name," not "names"? Jesus said "the name" (28:19), one name, for the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Christians believe in one God in three persons.
Is Jesus really with us if we can't see him? Yes. That's his promise. He is present in his word and in Baptism and the Lord's Supper, even when we can't see him.
How People Feel
| Who | Feeling | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The disciples | Worshipful | They saw Jesus alive (28:17) |
| Some disciples | Doubtful | They weren't sure what to think (28:17) |
| Jesus | Confident | All authority had been given to him (28:18) |
| The disciples | Sent | Jesus gave them a job to do (28:19-20) |
For you
What does it mean for me?
Your Turn
Which part of Jesus's words do you need most today? Tap one.
All authority
Nothing is outside Jesus's power. Not your worries, not the world's problems.
Go and tell
You can tell one person about Jesus this week. Andrew and Philip started with a brother and a friend.
I still doubt
Some disciples did too. Jesus came close to them and kept them in the group.
I'm with you always
That's the last thing Jesus says in Matthew. It's true for you today.
You Might Have Heard
"Only pastors and missionaries have to share the good news."
What's true: God calls some people to be pastors and missionaries. That's an important job.
What the story is mainly about: Jesus gave this job to all eleven disciples, doubters included. And he gave them his promise along with it. The job belongs to the whole church, and Jesus goes with us.
Where Jesus is: On the mountain, coming close. And with his people always, to the end of the age.
Good News
Matthew's Gospel starts with a name: Immanuel, God with us (1:23). It ends with a promise.
"And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (28:20).
Jesus has all authority. He sends his people into the world. And he never sends them alone.
The risen Jesus has all authority, and he is with you always, to the end of the age.
Big Idea
The risen Jesus has all authority. He sends his people to make disciples of all nations, and he promises to be with them always.
If this story brings up big feelings, talk with someone you trust, like a parent, pastor, or counselor.
For leaders and parentsLuther, church readings, and notes for teaching.
From Luther
In the Small Catechism, Luther quotes Jesus's words from this story when he explains Baptism. He asks, "What is Baptism?" He answers that it is water used by God's command and connected with God's word: "baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19).
In Church
Many churches follow the Revised Common Lectionary. It reads Matthew 28:16-20 on Holy Trinity Sunday in Year A, because Jesus names the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
We quote Luther for what he got right about grace. He also wrote terrible things about Jewish people. Read our note on that.
Memorize
How do I keep it?
One line from this story to learn by heart. Practice a little now. It will come back later so it sticks.
And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
How did that feel?
You finished The Great Commission.
Using this at church
Read in church on
- The Holy Trinity Year AGospel, Matthew 28:16–20
For a newsletter or sermon notes
The Great Commission, explained in plain words. Some worship. Some doubt. Jesus sends them all, with a promise. About 9 minutes. https://freescripture.org/stories/the-great-commission/
Lines for the next eight Sundays, on Digital Lutheran Church