Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 28:18-20

"And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." — Matthew 28:18-20 (ASV)

What a truly royal speech our King made to His loyal subjects! What a contrast was this scene in Galilee to the groans in Gethsemane and the gloom of Golgotha! Jesus claimed omnipotence and universal sovereignty: All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. This is part of the reward of His humiliation (Philippians 2:6–10). On the cross, He was proclaimed King of the Jews, but when John saw Him in his apocalyptic vision, on His head were many crowns, and on His vesture and on His thigh He had a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

By virtue of His kingly authority, He issued this last great command to His disciples: Go ye therefore, and teach, or, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. This is our commission as well as theirs.

From it we learn that our first business is to make disciples of all nations. We can only do that by teaching them the truth as it is revealed in the Scriptures, and seeking the power of the Holy Spirit to make our teaching effective in those we try to instruct in divine things.

Next, those who by faith in Christ become His disciples are to be baptized into the name of the Triune Jehovah, and after baptism they are still to be taught all that Christ commanded.

We are not to invent anything new, nor to change anything to suit the current of the age, but to teach the baptized believers to observe all things whatsoever our Divine King has commanded.

This is the perpetual commission of the Church of Christ, and the great seal of the Kingdom attached to it, giving the power to execute it and guaranteeing its success, is the King’s assurance of His continual presence with His faithful followers: Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. May all of us realize His presence with us until He calls us to be with Him, “Forever with the Lord”! Amen.

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

We say, "Amen," too. May he be most manifestly with us here even now, for his sweet love's sake! Amen.