Matthew Henry Commentary Matthew 28:16-20

"But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, unto the mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped [him]; but some doubted. 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 28:16-20 (ASV)

This evangelist passes over other appearances of Christ, recorded by Luke and John, and hastens to the most solemn one—an appearance appointed before his death and after his resurrection. All who see the Lord Jesus with an eye of faith will worship him. Yet the faith of the sincere may be very weak and wavering.

But Christ gave such convincing proofs of his resurrection that made their faith triumph over doubts. He now solemnly commissioned the apostles and his ministers to go forth among all nations.

The salvation they were to preach is a common salvation: whoever will, let him come and take the benefit; all are welcome to Christ Jesus. Christianity is the religion of a sinner who applies for salvation from deserved wrath and from sin. This sinner applies to the mercy of the Father, through the atonement of the incarnate Son and by the sanctification of the Holy Spirit, and gives himself up to be the worshipper and servant of God—as the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, three Persons but one God—in all his ordinances and commandments.

Baptism is an outward sign of that inward washing, or sanctification of the Spirit, which seals and evidences the believer's justification. Let us examine ourselves, whether we really possess the inward and spiritual grace of a death unto sin and a new birth unto righteousness, by which those who were the children of wrath become the children of God. Believers will have the constant presence of their Lord always—all days, every day.

There is no day, no hour of the day, in which our Lord Jesus is not present with his churches and with his ministers; if there were, in that day, that hour, they would be undone. The God of Israel, the Saviour, is sometimes a God that hides himself, but never a God at a distance. To these precious words Amen is added.

Even so, Lord Jesus, be with us and all your people; cause your face to shine upon us, that your way may be known upon earth, your saving health among all nations.