Go Teach!

"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, 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." (Matthew 28:19-20).

The real emphasis of the commission is on teaching! The first directive is to “Go.” That is where many park when proclaiming the commission of Christ. Go to the mission field. Go to lands far away. Go seek out a stranger. While the directive to action is important, that is not the end of the story.

The continuation of the commission answers the questions of “how” and “why’ and to whom.” According to the KJV Jesus said, “Teach all nations.” Literally, it is “make disciples in all nations.” One cannot make a disciple without teaching the principles of the doctrine. We are to make disciples … in all nations. That cannot be done unless we do “go” to all nations. Therefore, we have the missions emphasis of the church.

Jesus also said we are to “baptize.” Again, it is only by teaching that those converted to Christianity may be made aware of the directive and the formula for obedience to Christ’s instruction. There was no confusion on the part of the original disciples when they baptized all of their converts in the name of Jesus! They were obeying the directive of Christ for they knew the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

The final directive of the commission and the Gospel of Matthew is to teach. Jesus said, “Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.” We will never run out of teaching materials! The gospels are the body of teaching and instruction left by Jesus. The Acts and epistles are the writings of the early disciples teaching and instructing believers in the message of Christ.

The first act of a believer is to learn and then he is commissioned to “Go and teach!” Are you ready to teach?