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)
One of the most overlooked components of the Great Commission is the word commanded. The word makes some believers in Christ uncomfortable. For many, the licentious concept of freedom evokes strong emotions against any restrictions of one’s personal choices; regardless of what Scripture says.
The word “commanded” (ἐντέλλω; entello) refers to an order, instruction and a charge. It involves an order or direction to be obeyed. Jesus gave commandments. They were/are personal and propositional truths. They are as binding and harmonious to the commands contained in the Old Testament Scriptures. Remember, Jesus did not come to do away with God’s commandments, but rather to fulfill them.
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” (Matthew 5:17–18 (ESV)
34 “But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:34–40 (ESV)
“The goal of theology, the study of God, is to grow in our knowledge of God, and as we know God better, we should love Him and His people more. Otherwise, something has gone wrong. This is part of what Jesus meant when He identified the two great commandments: love God and love neighbor (Matt. 22:34–40),” explains one commentator.
“The goal of theology is ultimately worship and the building up of the church, so to be good theologians we must be people who seek the face of the Lord and adore Him in prayer and worship both individually and corporately. We must be those who love the church of Jesus Christ and who want to see it grow in faithfulness.”
Jesus stated His current disciples were to teach future and younger disciples to observe all that He commanded. There is the explicit relationship of connection with the “them” and the “you.” The “them” are new believers in Christ. The ‘you” refers to mature disciples of the Lord. What Jesus stated in principle is clarified by other biblical texts. Here are some examples.
Galatians 5:13–14 (ESV) – “13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
1 Timothy 4:8–16 (ESV) – “8 …for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 9 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 10 For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. 11 Command and teach these things. 12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.”
Titus 2:1–8 (ESV) – “But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. 2 Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. 3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. 6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.”
God’s commands are not restricted to a Top Ten List. They are many and extensive for all of life and living in Christ. Obedience to the Lord’s orders involve the believer’s mind, emotions and will. Believers in Christ are not to be blindly obedient but intelligently, emotionally and volitionally committed to obey God’s revelation and truth.
Consider the many areas of life the LORD Jesus Christ calls believers in Christ to obedience. Discover areas of obedience to Christ you may never knew existed within the Scriptures. Primarily consider the moral commandments God has given, which remain in force within the New Covenant. What commands of God are easy to obey, and which ones are difficult?
“In short, let us hold that by these words teachers are appointed over the Church, not to put forward whatever they may think proper, but that they, as well as others, may depend on the mouth of the Master alone; so as to gain disciples for Him and not for themselves,” explains John Calvin.
Soli deo Gloria!
His Word Today 