Post by toml on Feb 17, 2013 16:04:23 GMT -5
Matthew 24.18-20 is one of my favorite passages. It is a theological treasure trove. It tell me that Jesus has all authority in heaven and earth. Note, he says ALL AUTHORITY. That means, in Christ means we are all under His authority. In fact, all the world is under His authority. That does not mean that every thing in the world is authorized by Him. We would live in a sinless world if that would be case.
Since Jesus was speaking to the eleven, which is debated, but here in Matthew, there is no indication that Jesus is talking to anyone but the eleven remaining disciples. Therefore, we must understand this passage in the context of who Jesus was speaking to.
The first thing Jesus told them is, Go, make disciples of all nations. In theological circles, this is called "the great commission." The question is, did the disciples carry out this instruction? If they did, then they preached the gospel as a witness to every nation, which is what Jesus said, in Matthew 24.14, would happen just before the end would come. In fact, Paul stated in Colossians 1.23 that the gospel was preached to every creature under heaven. So, here in this passage we have Jesus telling the disciples to do the very thing that Jesus said earlier would signal the end, and His return.
Next, Jesus tells the disciples to teach all things that He commanded. So, if you believe this, and I do, then what the apostles taught is what Jesus commanded them to teach. So, they did not speak on their own authority, but His.
Finally, Jesus tells them that He would be with them to the end of the age. This indicates that at least some of them would be around till the end of the age.
So, then, what was the purpose of the great commission? His message was geared to getting all nations prepared for the end of the age. Why would Jesus do that if the end of the age would not be in their generation?
Since Jesus was speaking to the eleven, which is debated, but here in Matthew, there is no indication that Jesus is talking to anyone but the eleven remaining disciples. Therefore, we must understand this passage in the context of who Jesus was speaking to.
The first thing Jesus told them is, Go, make disciples of all nations. In theological circles, this is called "the great commission." The question is, did the disciples carry out this instruction? If they did, then they preached the gospel as a witness to every nation, which is what Jesus said, in Matthew 24.14, would happen just before the end would come. In fact, Paul stated in Colossians 1.23 that the gospel was preached to every creature under heaven. So, here in this passage we have Jesus telling the disciples to do the very thing that Jesus said earlier would signal the end, and His return.
Next, Jesus tells the disciples to teach all things that He commanded. So, if you believe this, and I do, then what the apostles taught is what Jesus commanded them to teach. So, they did not speak on their own authority, but His.
Finally, Jesus tells them that He would be with them to the end of the age. This indicates that at least some of them would be around till the end of the age.
So, then, what was the purpose of the great commission? His message was geared to getting all nations prepared for the end of the age. Why would Jesus do that if the end of the age would not be in their generation?