Daily Devotional for Monday, June 02, 2025

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Go and Make Disciples: A Devotional on Matthew 28:19

The Commission That Governs the Mission of the Church

“Go, therefore, and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit.” — Matthew 28:19

With these words, spoken just before His ascension, Jesus gave the eleven apostles the foundational charge that would define the purpose of the church from that moment until the end of the age. This was not merely a command to preach, nor was it a general instruction to promote religious ideas. It was a clear directive to make disciples—to lead people from every nation into obedient, covenantal relationship with God, marked by baptism and ongoing instruction in all that Jesus commanded.

This verse, commonly known as part of the Great Commission, stands as the central marching order for all faithful Christians. It is not a peripheral idea. It is the primary task assigned by the resurrected Christ. It was never abrogated, replaced, or redefined. It remains binding until the fulfillment of the promise stated in verse 20: “I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the age.”

To rightly understand Matthew 28:19, we must examine each phrase in its historical, grammatical, and theological context. Only then can we appreciate the full weight of what Jesus commanded—and what He expects of every true follower.

“Go, therefore…”

The command begins with a verb: “go.” The Greek word is πορευθέντες (poreuthentes), a participle often interpreted as a command in light of the main verb that follows (“make disciples”). It carries the sense of going forth with purpose. It assumes movement, intentionality, and action. This is not passive, internal, or personal only. It is outward and active.

The word “therefore” (**οὖν, oun **) links this command to what was just stated in verse 18:
“All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.”
Because Jesus possesses all authority—ruling over heaven, earth, nations, life, death, judgment—He alone has the right to commission His people. The command to go is grounded in the sovereignty of Christ. It is not optional. It is not a cultural suggestion or spiritual gift limited to a few. It is a command flowing from divine authority, and obedience is not negotiable.

The word also implies movement into the world—not retreat, withdrawal, or isolation. The church is not meant to be self-contained. It is meant to go outward—into the streets, nations, cultures, and lives of people who have not yet submitted to Christ.

“…and make disciples…”

The main verb in this verse is μαθητεύσατε (mathēteusate), meaning “make disciples.” This is the central command of the verse. The word “disciple” (**μαθητής, mathētēs **) refers to a learner, follower, or adherent. To make a disciple is not merely to inform someone about Jesus, but to lead them into a life of obedient devotion to His teaching and lordship.

This excludes superficial evangelism or mere emotional conversion. Jesus did not say, “Make converts,” “Get decisions,” or “Fill pews.” He said, “Make disciples.” This involves a process that begins with the preaching of the gospel, includes instruction in the doctrines of Christ, and results in a lifelong commitment to following His ways.

This process cannot be separated from teaching and obedience. As verse 20 makes clear, part of making disciples is “teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you.” A disciple is not someone who merely believes. A disciple is someone who learns, follows, obeys, and grows in conformity to the will of God through Christ.

Making disciples is not limited to clergy, missionaries, or public speakers. It is the task of every faithful Christian—in the home, the workplace, the congregation, and beyond.

“…of people of all the nations…”

This phrase, πάντα τὰ ἔθνη (panta ta ethnē), extends the command beyond the borders of Israel. The word ethnē is often used to describe non-Jewish peoples, i.e., the Gentiles. Jesus was expanding the mission: what began in Jerusalem would now extend to the ends of the earth.

This was not a universalist statement, as though all nations would be saved, but a universal scope of mission. The gospel was not limited by ethnicity, geography, language, or culture. It was to reach all people groups. Each nation, tribe, and tongue was to be brought under the lordship of Christ through the work of disciple-making.

This reflects the Old Testament promise that through Abraham’s offspring, all nations would be blessed (Genesis 12:3). It also anticipates the final fulfillment seen in Revelation 7:9, where a great crowd from all nations stands before the throne.

The gospel is for all, but it is only effective in those who respond with faith, repentance, obedience, and baptism.

“…baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit.”

Baptism is not optional. It is part of the disciple-making command. The Greek participle βαπτίζοντες (baptizontes) ties directly to the imperative “make disciples.” That means true disciples are baptized.

The word “baptizing” (**βαπτίζω, baptizō **) literally means to immerse—not sprinkle, pour, or symbolically touch. The mode is full immersion, as demonstrated in every biblical example (Mark 1:10; Acts 8:38). It is the outward act by which a repentant believer declares his faith, enters into covenant with God, and receives the remission of sins (Acts 2:38).

The phrase “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit” refers not to a ritualistic formula, but to the authority and identity into which the believer is immersed. “Name” (Greek: **ὄνομα, onoma **) implies character, authority, ownership. Baptism places the believer under the full authority of the triune God—the Father as source, the Son as redeemer, and the holy spirit as sanctifier.

This does not support Trinitarian confusion or modalism. The grammar unites the divine persons in one Name—indicating perfect unity, not interchangeable roles. The new disciple is not baptized into a denomination, movement, or religious tradition, but into a living relationship with the one true God.

Application: Fulfilling the Great Commission Today

Go intentionally
Every believer must view their life as a mission field. Whether across the globe or across the street, we must be people who go—not wait for others to come.
Make disciples, not decisions
The goal is transformation, not temporary excitement. Teach the Word, model obedience, walk alongside others in faithfulness.
Cross barriers
Culture, ethnicity, language, background—none are excuses to withhold the gospel. All nations are to be reached.
Call for baptism
Do not delay or dilute baptism’s necessity. It is part of becoming a disciple. Obedient faith includes immersion.
Live under divine authority
Those baptized into the Name of the Father, Son, and holy spirit must live in submission to that Name—honoring the one true God in word and conduct.

Conclusion: A Lifelong Mission with Eternal Consequences

Matthew 28:19 is not a slogan or a motto. It is a divine charge with eternal implications. It defines the purpose of the church. It gives direction to every Christian life. It reminds us that Christianity is not passive, not private, and not partial. It is active, public, and comprehensive.

We are not called to comfort, but to commission. Not to inactivity, but to obedience. Not to hide the truth, but to go and make disciples.

“Go, therefore, and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit.”
Let us be faithful to this commission—until the end.

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About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).