matthew 28:19-20 (nkjv) 19 go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the...
TRANSCRIPT
Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJV)
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
MATTHEW 28:19-20
Making Disciples
Making Disciples
We all have 2 important goals in this life
1. To go to heaven
2. To take as many people to heaven with me as I can
What Jesus says in Matthew 28:19-20 seems to point to this very thought
Making Disciples
Jesus wanted disciples to be made of all men from all ends of the earth
So it’s only natural that we might ask a few questions:
1. What is a disciple?
2. How do we go about making disciples of others?
Making Disciples
The word for making disciples in verse 19 is the Greek word matheteuo
It means to become a pupil; to follow one’s precepts and instructions
A disciple was one who would learn from a teacher or rabbi
Making Disciples
Jesus was often referred to as a rabbi (Mk. 9:5; Jn.3:2; 11:8)
Being a disciple was about more than just learning from someone
We learn from many people but we wouldn’t be considered disciples (ex. school teachers, managers)
Making Disciples
It’s also about more than just simply following a person around
There were costs to being a disciple, especially of Jesus (Lk. 9:57-62; 14:26-33)
The costs were so great that some turned away (Jn. 6:60-67)
Making Disciples
Being a disciple meant that one would become like their teacher in every way
This included taking on his personality and characteristics; his very behavior
“It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher…” (Matt. 10:25)
Making Disciples
“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matt. 16:24)
There is much involved in being a disciple of Christ
It’s certainly not someone who is just a casual follower (ex. sports)
Making Disciples
Many think and say that what we see in verses 19-20 is an order of how one converts another
They say that Jesus gives the order of:
1. Make disciples2. Baptize3. Teach
Making Disciples
Does this make sense?
Does it confuse you?
Me too!
If Jesus isn’t giving these commands in order, then what was He doing?
Notice the language…
Making Disciples
Make disciples (matheteuo) is an imperative verb
That means that it is the actual command here
Baptizing and teaching are participles, which means that they show us how we are to make disciples
Making Disciples
Now it makes more sense to us
We are to make disciples by baptizing and teaching
We baptize them to wash away their sins, to add them to the body of Christ, so they can be like Him (Rom. 6:3-6)
Making Disciples
We then teach them all the things that Christ commanded
One doesn’t have to know everything before they become a Christian; just enough to understand what they are doing
Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch teaches us that (Acts 8)
Making Disciples
In order for the apostles to make disciples, they needed to baptize and teach
We see this throughout the book of Acts in the examples provided
You’ll notice that they were still called disciples (Acts 6:1-2; 11:26)