Our "Great Commission" (some written here is exerted from "One Lord")

Our commission,  is it found in Matthew and/or Mark?

Many people contend that our Great Commission for today is found in Matthew 28.

Matthew 28:19-20- 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 always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.


Let’s outline quickly and simply what all is packed into this "Great Commission" that is supposedly that of the church, the Body of Christ, today.

Teach All Nations- these men in attendance of Jesus’ command was instructed to go to ALL nations. Did this happen? Nope. See Galatians 2:7-9 for more study, but in short, Paul was the one to go to the Gentiles, while Peter and the other Apostles confined themselves to the Jew ONLY. It is noted in Acts 10 that Peter went to a Gentile, but it was clearly against his own will and conscience. It actually took a vision from Christ before he would even talk to Cornelius the Italian.

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you- To say that this is our commission today would make us responsible to do exactly this. Teach and preach ALL that Jesus commanded. Would the average preacher today preach all that Jesus commanded? Let’s see:

Matthew 23:1-3-  Then spake Jesus to the multitudes, and to his disciples, Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do…


When is the last time you heard a protestant preacher commanding that his congregation follow the law of Moses? Paul make clear in Galatians 2:19 that we are “dead to the law.” Big difference… Not a contradiction, just a change in instructions.


Luke 12:33- Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.


This one actually does happen, but not often. How many would preach the necessity of selling all things? Notice what Paul tells Timothy to instruct in


1 Timothy 5:8-But if any providenot for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.


And in Thessalonica


2 Thessalonians 3:10- For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.


This is MUCH different than





 Matthew 6:25- I say unto you,Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?


And


Matthew 6:31-33- Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Is it any wonder why many sold all they had and met everyday in the temple, instead of working, in the early Acts period?

While many would neglect these as important passages of distinction, there truly is no denying the difference between what Jesus said in the four gospels as compared to what HE instructed Paul to write.

OUR COMMISSION IS NOT JEWISH (ISRAEL) WATER IMMERSING & MOSAIC COMMANDMENT INSTRUCTING!

Our commission today is found in an epistle of Paul...

2 Corinthians 5:17-21 
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;  To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.  Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

We are not preparing men and women for a promised kingdom to come. We are ambassadors of Christ and a heavenly place. 

Fulfil your commission,  Christian.