THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION

Matthew: Jesus As Israel's Messiah And His Kingdom

Part XL: Christ As Israel's Messiah Seen In His Great Commission

(Matthew 28:16-20)

I. Introduction

A. Matthew's Gospel was written to explain to Jews how Jesus was Israel's Old Testament Biblical Messiah even if He did not establish His Messianic Kingdom in His first advent, Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, 1978, p. 1337.

B. A part of that explanation is seen in His Matthew 28:16-20 Great Commission, and we view it for our insight:

II. Christ As Israel's Messiah Seen In His Great Commission, Matthew 28:16-20.

A. After describing the events surrounding the resurrection of Christ, Matthew reported that the disciples then returned back north to Galilee where they had first seen Jesus begin His earthly ministry (Matthew 4:12-13), ascending a mountain where Jesus had appointed them to meet with Him, Matthew 28:16.

B. In the Jewish view at the time, Galilee was no place to establish a Messianic kingdom: it was considered a spiritually destitute place (John 1:45-46), and the Jews thought no prophet would arise from there, John 7:52.

C. However, this location was very fitting in view of the Hebrew Old Testament Scriptures themselves:

1. Matthew earlier told how Christ's Galilean ministry fulfilled Isaiah 9:1-2, that in "Galilee of the Gentiles," where many Gentiles lived, "the people which sat in darkness" were to see "a Great Light," Matt. 4:12-16.

2. Also, Isaiah 49:1-5 foretold Israel's rejection of her Messiah, and God's response to make Him "a light to the Gentiles, that thou [Messiah] mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth," Isaiah 49:6.

3. Thus, it was only fitting that the "Great Light" Who had appeared in Galilee in fulfillment of Isaiah 9:1-2 would choose a mountain in Galilee to commission His disciples to spread out the Gospel of the Messiah and God that He might become "a light to the Gentiles" as God's "salvation unto the end of the earth"!

D. When the disciples then met at that Galilean mountain and they first saw Jesus, they worshipped Him, but some doubted until He walked over to where they stood and spoke to them, Matthew 28:17-18a.

E. What the Risen Lord then said in Matthew 28:18b-20 completely fitted the Hebrew Scriptures regarding Messiah's identity in Daniel 7:13-14 and His activity following His rejection by Israel in Isaiah 49:1-5:

1. First, in alignment with the Daniel 7:13-14 that Messiah would ascend to the Ancient of Days, God the Father, and be given dominion and a kingdom over all peoples and nations, Jesus said that all authority had been given to Him in heaven and on earth, Matthew 28:18b.

2. Based upon this authority that Christ would oversee toward the success of His disciples' endeavors, Jesus told them to disciple all nations, going, teaching and baptizing men in accord with the Isaiah 49:6 format where Messiah was to be the Father's salvation unto the end of the earth, Matthew 28:19a.

3. Furthermore, the disciples were to baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, implying multiple persons in the Godhead, what also fits the context of Isaiah 9:1-2, for in Isaiah 9:6, Messiah Who is to be born as a son in Israel is also the Mighty God, the Father of Eternity and Supernatural Counselor, the equal in deity with God the Father! (Matthew 28:19b)

4. The disciples were to teach men all things whatsoever He had commanded them, illuminating men with the truth of God from His "Great Light" in Jesus that had shone in Galilee unto them, Matthew 28:20a.

5. Finally, as they spread out to the ends of the earth to disciple the nations, the disciples would witness Jesus always being with them as the Omnipresent, Faithful, Eternal God, equipping them to succeed in their discipling efforts, Matthew 28:20b. This great outreach of the Messiah to the ends of the earth is implied back in Isaiah 49:1 where Messiah addresses "O isles" and "ye people, from afar," on a worldwide scale!

Lesson: Though Jesus did not establish His Messianic Kingdom for Israel in His first advent as Israel had rejected Him, His Great Commission to the Church to disciple the nations FITS the Isaiah 9:1-6 and 49:1-7 predictions that, in VIEW of Israel's REJECTION of Him in His first advent, the Father would nevertheless make Him an effective "Light" and "salvation unto the end of the earth" in world discipleship!

Application: (1) May we believe in Jesus Christ as Savior to have eternal life, John 3:16. (2) May we align with Christ's Great Commission assignment, utilizing the spiritual gift God has given us (2 Timothy 1:6-7; Ephesians 4:7-16) toward the discipling of people worldwide to become subjects of Christ for His coming Kingdom. (3) May we rely on the power and leading of Christ to accomplish the tasks He assigns us in faith that He is utterly sovereign over all powers in heaven and on earth, living by faith in Him and seeing Him help us!