The birth of Christianity
was a resounding phenomenon because it totally impacts the ancient world. In
connection, the gospel turned out to be more essential when it stimulates and
motivates the thinking of the readers about the teachings and commands of
Christ. The book of Matthew is universally acknowledged as the first book among
the synoptic gospels. Probably, because Matthew’s gospel has brilliantly echoed
what is acknowledged to be the heart of Christ; making disciples.
In association, this
passage (Matt 28:16-20) is purposed to proclaim the greatest command of Christ
to the believers. The commands (word) of Christ were powerfully spoken to the
disciples and to those who come with him in his journey as he walked in the flesh.
Since it is known to be written through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, it
is apparent to consider that what is spoken must have to be heard, and what is
heard must have to be performed. In this sense, each word shall become alive
and active. After all, the One who gave the command has greatly demonstrated
beyond what he has summoned.
Socio-Historical Context
The Matthean Gospel is a theological
narrative. Matthew allows the reader to deal with Jesus’ sitz im leben as well as his. He was ascribed as a tax collector
and one of Christ’s disciples who once walked with the Messiah in the flesh. He
wrote this gospel to meet the concerns and needs of the Jewish community within
the first century church era. The setting of the passage is in Galilee, which
also known as Galilee of the Gentiles, it is also a place where Jesus grew up.
Remarkably, most of Jesus’ ministry took place in Galilee and he returns there
to commission his disciples. Isn’t that a coincidence or it is truly a divine
appointed place? Since Gentiles before were not formally acknowledged as
Kingdom heirs.
Furthermore, the author mentioned a mountain on that place but
did not name it. Along in the narrative, Christ often visited many unnamed
mountains, and perhaps the author intentionally accedes to leave it that way. The
Kingdom of Heaven and the summation of love and obedience that leads to
righteousness is the resounding voice in Matthew’s account. In one end, there
were several presuppositions about the time of the writing of this narrative;
Brown claimed that the author penned this account between 50 A.D. to as late as
100 A.D.[1]
In connection to this period, there were couple of events took place in which
the author did not fail to record (e.g. 22:7; 23:37; 24:20).[2]
Literary Context
a. Inclusio “to bracket off sections of material on a
particular topic”; 28:20b and 28:18, goes naturally on Jesus’ closing words to
frame what 1:23 tends to illustrate. The promise of omnipresence.
b. Probably,
Matthew chose to leave the spotlight in Jesus’ attributes than on the
disciples’ task.
c. The immediate context is
the obedience in following Jesus’ footstep. The advancement of the Kingdom of
God by proclaiming what the disciples witnessed in Christ. The cost of
discipleship is not new in Matthew’s account.
d. The text of Matthew 28:16-20 recognized as
a springboard to talk about sharing the gospel in various ways. This may attest
that Jesus
wanted everyone to know about Him: His life, death and resurrection.
Analysis
1. The Call (vv. 16-17)
The disciples came to Galilee where Jesus
called them to meet personally after his resurrection. “The call to come to Galilee was the call to
believe the Lord and his resurrection. It was a call to trust Jesus in an
almost Abrahamic way, for it was a call to meet someone who had died and so
might not be there” (Bruner). Perhaps, it is a demand, a call for allegiance, a
call for worship, or could also be an allegory of God’s invitation to the
believers to continue what he has started as a true servant of the Father. It
is truly by faith that enables one to follow the demands of the cross. Hence,
the call of God in this verse is not for everyone, it is particularly addressed
to all believers, to those who chose
to believe in his teachings, to those who are called and aim to respond in this
purpose.
2. The Command and Commission (vv.18-20a)
o v28:18- the theme of commissioning or appointing
will enter on this part. “All the authority in heaven and on earth has been
given to me.” God has given Jesus authority, and Jesus exercises authority now
as well as in the final judgment. The culmination of the theme of kingship[3] which was introduced by
the Davidic royal genealogy (1:1-17), in which also one of the themes in
Matthew’s gospel. He was passing on to his disciples what is considered to be
essential in Christian faith.
o v28:19a- The initial command in commissioning
statement is “go”. It somehow implies an
immediate action. In this case, the
universal scope of Jesus’ mission became more apparent. Hence, to send the
disciples to ‘the Gentiles’ is merely to extend the range of their mission.
“The agents of this in gathering are not the angels (24:31) but those who are
already Jesus’ disciples, until the mission will be extended to all nations of
the earth.”
o v28:19b-20a- “Baptizing
them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…” This is
a representation of Godhead in the ministry of his people. Baptizing all nations, those who will be reached
by the gospel and believed. However, Matthew also recorded in his account the
argument of the Jews rejecting the Messiah and the gospel taken to the
Gentiles. “While in Galilee, Christ wanted his disciples to make disciples there.” (Keener)
Therefore, Christ purpose is to increase the numbers of those who hear the
gospel through baptizing and teaching.
3. The Covenant (v.20b)
And since that the ministry of Jesus is over,
the command to teach is now given. This
covenant is a direct promise of his faithfulness and having this motivation
will enable the believers to move out and obey this Great Commission. “In this
context the assurance is not focused on the personal comfort of the individual
disciple but on the successful completion of the mission entrusted to the
community as a whole.”
Exegesis
The central focus of this passion narrative is the command to individual
believers for active proclamation of the gospel in all places and faces. The
author of Matthew emphasized how Jesus diligently instructed his disciples on
that mountain, since they also recognized him as Rabbi; Matthew consistently sets the floor as a teacher who coaches
his student. But prior to this
instruction, Jesus prohibits each of them to go among the Gentiles. This can
also be an indication that once there was a limit, but after the resurrection,
this restriction in the ministry has now completely gone. It is a proclamation
that the death of Christ is efficient to surpass all limits and the symbol of
freedom on which once was shed on the cross has the power to unite all
creation, whether Judeans, Samaritans, Gentiles, and even all the races of the
earth. His resurrection destroys that
limit. Along with that power is the continuance of his grace. Thus, his death
gives birth to eternal life and this gift is the promise of forever.
Paradoxically, this synoptic account is focused on the Jewishness of
Jesus, but also attacks the Jewish leaders. How can Jesus be Jewish and yet his
story be strongly anti-Jewish? Throughout the first century, the ancient
leaders were the ones who firmly opposed the gospel. These leaders claimed to
follow and observed the Law of Moses, but their frame of actions was not typically
rooted on the solid ground of Christian faith. The author includes the kingdom
parable in chapter 13 to confront not only the leaders of the law but also
those who doubted Christ. It was advised in those parables the impending
judgment of those who rejects the Messiah. This is not the point of reference
of their disbelief; this was just a
part of the circumstances. The huge speck that covers their eyes is pride.
Jesus identity is public knowledge, so those who reject him are culpable.
Hence, the personal altercation of the disciples with the risen Jesus is more
determinative argument than the empty tomb. Apart from the final commission in
verses 16-20, it is said that this is Jesus’ only resurrection appearance to
the disciples in this gospel. This tradition is only found in Matthew.
Indeed, Jesus confrontation and act of commissioning to the disciples is
one of the highlights in passion narrative. The said command was firsthand
granted to the people of the first century who once walked with Christ,
doubted, restored, believed, and now entrusted the order to carry this
God-given cross and follow the Way. With regards to this account, Matthew is
the only gospel which has anything that can properly be called an ending. The
ending of Mark is regarded as under argument; Luke’s emerged as contradicting
to the second part of the author’s work. It is only in Matthew’s gospel that
stands on the continuing work of the Messianic Community, making explicit what
has already been hinted elsewhere about a mission to those outside the Old
Covenant community of Israel. Apparently, this synoptic account of passion
narrative is clearly a manifestation of universal application among believers.
The cost of discipleship is demanded by the Master; Jesus’ ministry including
evangelism is addressed to his own people, to those who know the truth, to
Israel of the Old covenant, initially to the disciples, and presently to us his chosen generation.
The cry from the cross must be seen in the context of victory and
completion, after his death & resurrection, the act of commissioning appears
as an extension of his grace. The hardest step in the road was already been
surpassed by the One who have taken the cross, he already took the worst of it
all. In time, there is one thing in which he longs to see in the heart of his
people and that is commitment; the commitment to proclaim and cultivate the salvation
on which he generously gave. Once was said that Jesus assurance of his presence
is relatively correlated to the commitment of his people. Indeed, the Great
Commission is given and ordered to all believers but the special “withing” is given to those who are passionately loyal to the gospel. The
consummation of that presence is about to come. Indeed, He was, is and is to
come. He is with us up to the present
time, never leave nor change, yet that greater power and presence can also
become exceptional as we continue to
abide in his ever-trusted command: to go and make disciples to all nations!
Theological Application
The call, commission, and covenant
which were given and promised at the peak of that mountain are still the same
appeal to the present time. Since the power and identity of our great Rabbi
never change, so His overflowing desire to cover the earth with his love and
grace remains. This 21th century, we can never hide the fact that the weight of
this demand for the believers increases. We are truly in the last days, living
in the already but not yet. We are becoming the highlights of Matthew 28:16-20,
for the labor of this great commission has been presently passing on to us.
Conclusively, after an intense study
of this passage, what commonly surfaced out are the Church and the Nation.
Here, we can also encounter workers who doubted and later on worshiped. Actions
like going and abiding. Today, what we must hold tightly in our hands is the
pure heart of Christ that unite all creations, as everyone is purposely
fulfilling His mission under the roof of His creation.
Comments
Post a Comment