Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 28:19

"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:" — Matthew 28:19 (ASV)

Two features tie the command in this verse to Jesus’ universal authority. (1) The dawning of the new age of messianic authority impels his disciples forward to a universal ministry he himself never engaged in during the days of his flesh. His promotion to universal authority serves as an eschatological marker inaugurating the beginning of his universal mission. (2) Because of that authority, his followers may go in confidence that their Lord is in sovereign control of “everything in heaven and on earth” (cf. Romans 8:28).

The main emphasis in this verse is on the command to “make disciples” (GK 3411; the rest of the verb forms are participles, though they function like imperatives). To disciple a person to Christ is to bring that person to accept Christ as his or her teacher. Disciples are those who hear, understand, and obey Jesus’ teaching (12:46–50). This injunction is given at least to the Eleven, but to the Eleven in their own role as disciples. Therefore they are paradigms for all disciples to make others what they themselves are—disciples of Jesus Christ.

With the words “all nations,” Matthew’s gospel returns to the theme introduced in the very first verse ()—that the blessings promised to Abraham and through him to all peoples on earth (Genesis 12:3) are now to be fulfilled in Jesus the Messiah. The expression is comprehensive, including Gentiles and Jews. The aim of Jesus’ disciples, therefore, is to make disciples of all people everywhere, without distinction.

“Baptizing” and “teaching” (v.20) are not the means of making disciples, but they characterize it. Envisaged is that proclamation of the Gospel that will result in repentance and faith, for making disciples entails both preaching and response. The response expected of new disciples is baptism and instruction.

Those who become disciples are to be baptized “into” (see NIV note) the name of the Trinity. The preposition “into” strongly suggests a coming-intorelationship-with or a coming-under-the-Lordship-of Jesus (for comments about baptism, see comment on 3:6, 11, 13–17). Baptism is a sign both of entrance into Messiah’s covenant community and of pledged submission to his lordship. The triple formula containing Father (or God), Son (or Christ), and Spirit occurs frequently in the NT (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:4–6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 4:4–6; 2 Thessalonians 2:13–14; 1 Peter 1:2; Revelation 1:4–6). Thus it becomes difficult to deny the presence of Trinitarian thought in the NT documents, as confirmed by (1) the frequency of the GodChrist-Spirit formulas, (2) their context and use in the NT, and, (3) the recognition by NT writers that the attributes of the Lord of the OT may be comprehensively applied to Jesus.