16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:16–20 (ESV)
14 Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. 15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16:14–18 (ESV)
44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:44–49 (ESV)
All four Gospels parallel each other concerning the events on Resurrection Sunday. The Holy Spirit specifically inspired the writers to provide particular information not found in the other Gospels. While each writer provides selective, insightful information, they do not contradict each other in telling the wonderful news that Jesus Christ is alive. Such is the case with today’s text from the Synoptic Gospels: Matthew, Mark and Luke concerning what is referred to as The Great Commission.
It will take several days to unpack everything in these biblical texts. No problem! Better to approach these verses slow and sure instead of rushing to complete the series and miss important truths.
What is a commission? It is directive, a command, an instruction or an assignment. Jesus was poised to issue a commission to His disciples; then and now. The location of Jesus’ commission to His disciples immediately following His resurrection was in the region of Galilee on a mountain (Matt. 28:16). Mark records this gathering occurred during dinner (Mark 16:14). It was at this occasion, the disciples worshiped the Lord and He accepted their worship.
However, even in the presence of the Lord some of the disciples doubted (Matt. 28:17). “The fact that some doubted strongly suggests that more than the eleven were present. It is likely that Christ arranged this meeting in Galilee because that was where most of His followers were. This seems the most likely location for the massive gathering of disciples Paul describes in I Cor. 15:6,” explains Dr. John MacArthur.
Mark records that during dinner Jesus, “rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen,” (Mark 16:14). To rebuke (ὀνειδίζω; oneifizo) means to reprimand and reproach individuals who should be blamed for a wrongdoing. Jesus rebuked the eleven, and presumably others, for their unbelief and hardness of heart. This was because the apostles did not believe the women’s report concerning His resurrection (Luke 24:10-11).
Luke further records Jesus saying, “44These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,” (Luke 24:44-45).
Jesus affirmed the entire Old Testament (OT) canon prophesied His personhood and ministry. The Law, the historical, the poetical and the prophetical portions of the OT spoke of the fulfillment of the person and work of Jesus Christ.
What did Luke mean when he wrote Jesus opened the disciples’ minds to understand the Scriptures? “He (Jesus) undoubtedly taught them from the Old Testament (OT), as He had on the Road to Emmaus. But the gist of the expression also seems to convey a supernatural opening of their minds to receive the truths He unfolded. Whereas their understanding was once dull (Luke 9:45), they finally saw clearly (Psalms 119:18; Isaiah 29:18-19; 23 Cor. 3:14-16),” comments Dr. MacArthur.
More to come. May the Lord’s truth and grace be yours this day, and always.
Soli deo Gloria!
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