Matthew
28:16-20
- Reading the Text:
- NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
- Greek Interlinear Bible, ScrTR, ScrTR t, Strong, Parsing, CGTS, CGES id, AV.
- The Bible Gateway: NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
- The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries.
- The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary, exposition & sermons.
- Historical References, Commentary and
Comparative Texts:
- The Five Gospels Parallels, John W. Marshall, University of Toronto.
- Comparative World Scriptures from United Communities of Spirit:
- Comparative texts about Baptism: Water & Spirit from DSS, Josephus, Babylonian Talmud. At (Rutgers University Dept of Religion) Mahlon H. Smith's Into His Own: Perspective on the World of Jesus companion to the historical study of Christian texts.
- "Revealed to Disciples," The Jesus Database, an online annotated inventory of the traditions concerning the life and teachings of Jesus. Dr. Gregory C. Jenks, FaithFutures Foundation.
- Chapter IX, The Epistle of Ignatius to the Philadelphians, Ignatius of Antioch (c. 50 - 115). (Longer Version only - 4th cent interpolation)
- LV.1-2, 4, 6-7; Tatian's Diatessaron (c. 150-160).
- III.XVII.1, Adversus Haereses, Irenaeus of Lyons. (c. 180)
- Chapter V, Adversus Judaeos, Tertullian (c. 198)
- Chapter XIII, On Baptism, Tertullian (c. 198)
- Chapter VIII, Chapter XX, The Prescription of Heretics, Tertullian (c. 200)
- Chapter X, Considering Repentance, Tertullian (c. 203)
- IV.43, Against Marcion, Tertullian (c. 210)
- X.7, Commentary on the Gospel of John, Philocalia [anthology of Origen prepared by St. Basil and St. Gregory Nazianzen], Origen. (c.230)
- II.IX, V.XII, Against Celsus, Origen. (c.246)
- X.18, XII.6, XII.34, Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, Origen. (c.247)
- Epistle XXIV -- Cyprian of Carthage (c. 250)
- Epistle LXII -- Cyprian of Carthage (c. 253)
- Epistle LXXII -- Cyprian of Carthage (c. 256)
- Epistle LXXX -- Cyprian of Carthage (c. 257)
- III.5, Ecclesiastical History, Eusebius of Caesarea (c 320).
- From the Catena Aurea, Patristic Commentary by St Thomas Aquinas.
- From the
Geneva Notes.
- "Forever: and this refers to the manner of the presence of his Spirit, by means of which he makes us partakers both of himself and of all his benefits, even though he is absent from us in body."
- Section VIII, Evidences of the Christian Religion, Joseph Addison, c. 1715.
- From
Matthew
Henry's Commentary.
- "The God of Israel, the Saviour, is sometimes a God that hideth himself, but never a God at a distance."
- From
Wesley's
Notes.
- "And these were to be determined by the circumstances of things; which made it necessary in baptizing adult Jews or heathens, to teach them before they were baptized; in discipling their children, to baptize them before they were taught; as the Jewish children in all ages were first circumcised, and after taught to do all God had commanded them."
- From the
Commentary on the Whole Bible
(Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
- "...am with you alway--"all the days"; that is, till making converts, baptizing, and building them up by Christian instruction, shall be no more."
- From
The People's
New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
- "They are to make disciples, or pupils, and scholars of Christ; not great philosophers, but 'babes in Christ Jesus,' who have entered the school of Christ and are to be taught afterwards."
- Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
- Commentary, Matthew 28:16-20 (Trinity A), Craig R. Koester, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2011.
- "The concluding verses of Matthew's gospel give a vivid glimpse into what it means to be disciples of Jesus."
- "Reclaiming the Great Commission," David Lose, Dear Working Preacher, 2011.
- "...if we want our people to get excited about, rather than feel guilty because of, the Great Commission, we need to commit to reclaiming Sunday worship and preaching as the God-given time in which to rehearse and practice the skills essential to Christian living..."
- "Doing What You're Told," Alyce McKenzie, Patheos, 2011.
- "How good are you at doing what you are told? We can't afford to wait until we are perfect and conditions are optimal to make disciples."
- Holy
Textures, Understanding the Bible in its own time and in ours, Matthew 6:24-34, David Ewart, 2011.
- "These 5 short verses touch on several crucial themes: 1) The authority of Jesus. 2) The purposes of the church: go, make disciples, baptize, teach, obey, remember. 3) The presence of Jesus-now-resurrected. A congregation that is centred on these will not go far wrong. And might even get a fair bit right. "
- Exegetical Notes by Brian Stoffregen at CrossMarks Christian Resources.
- "Can we actually 'waste' a whole day for Sabbath rest and worship? Set aside a whole day for God and each other? What gods are we worshiping when we are unable to 'remember a whole Sabbath day to keep it holy'?"
- Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
- First
Thoughts on Year A Gospel Passages from the Lectionary, Trinity A.
William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
- "This is such an important text in the context of Matthew's gospel that there is a danger that its use on Trinity Sunday will lead to too much focus on its tenuous links with the Trinity, so I want to start with the passage itself. It has enormous significance as the climax of the gospel, drawing together major themes of the gospel..."
- Lectionary Commentary, Matthew 28:16-20, Valerie Kuykendall-Rogers, The African American Lectionary, 2009.
- "As I matured and grew, and as I studied the historical significance of the black Church in seminary, I learned what Missionary Sunday entailed?edifying, equipping, and empowering a community to emulate the work of Christ in order to provide a refuge from the daily onslaught of denigration and degradation."
- Commentary, Matthew 28:16-20, Richard Beaton, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2008.
-
Dylan's Lectionary Blog,
Trinity, 2005. Biblical Scholar
Sarah Dylan Breuer looks at readings for the coming Sunday in the lectionary
of the Episcopal Church.
- "We're called not just to baptize. We're not called to make churchgoers, people who include religion as one among many respectable civic activities. We're called to make disciples, people who really follow Jesus as Lord."
-
"Missionary Matthew: Matthew 28:16-20 as a Summary of the Gospel," Edgar
Krentz, Currents in Theology and Mission, 2004.
- "In perfect harmony with the presentation of Jesus in all the preceding pages, Matthew has chosen to close his gospel not with a visual or pictorial representation of Jesus' assumption of power, not with sharing bread or touching his body, but with a deceptively simple scene featuring the words of Jesus, the church's one teacher and master."
- Matthew in the Margins, by Brian McGowan, Anglican priest in Western Australia.
-
"The End in Matthew (5:48 and 28:20): How to Preach It and How Not To,"
Robert H. Smith, Word & World: Theology for Christian Ministry, Luther Northwestern
Theological School, 1999.
- "These two great texts are perfect guides for all our reading, all our preaching, all our living."
-
"The Presence and Power of God,"
Trinity B, Larry Broding's Word-Sunday.Com:
A Catholic Resource for This Sunday's Gospel. Adult Study, Children's
Story, Family Activity, Support Materials.
- "What concepts do you find easy to understand but difficult to communicate?"
- "The End of the First Gospel," F.F. Bruce, The Evangelical Quarterly, 1940.
-
"The
Call to Universal Mission (Matthew 28:16-20)," John C. Purdy.
Chapter 11 in Returning God's Call: The Challenge of Christian Living.
At Religion Online.
- "The aim or end is to "make disciples of all nations." The words that dominate the climactic scene in Matthew are cosmic rather than geographical: "All authority in heaven and on earth...all nations . . . all that I have commanded you" (emphasis added). Christ is the universal sovereign: All nations belong to him; all persons are his; all life is to be brought into subjection to him."
- "All Authority Belongs to Jesus," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed textual notes.
- Commentary, Matthew 28:16-20 (Trinity A), Craig R. Koester, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2011.
- Articles & Background:
- "Great Commission," wikipedia.
- "Decision Priority 1: Make Disciples" Kwasi Kena's Continue to Change the World Series.
- " Jesus commissioned us to do more than just make converts, we are to make disciples!"
-
"Transformed
on the Mountain: Ritual Analysis and the Gospel of Matthew," by K.C. Hanson, St
Olaf College. From Semeia 67 (1994).
- "...the transformations are not solely experiences of Jesus in his earthly ministry, but are meant to be replicable experiences within the community on the path of discipleship."
-
"Recognizing
the Risen Lord," Marianne Sawicki, Theology Today, 1988.
- "Action on behalf of the needy is not an implication of resurrection faith, but a precondition for it. Talk about resurrection is literally meaningless in the absence of such action. This raises the serious question of what it takes to speak correctly today about resurrection, to mean what the tradition has meant by the term."
-
"How
to Be a Disciple," Dallas Willard. Adapted from The Divine Conspiracy:
Rediscovering our Hidden Life in God. Reprinted in The Christian Century,
1998. At Religion OnLine.
- "...it could well prove to be a major turning point in our life if we would ... ask ourselves if we really do intend to be life students of Jesus. Do we really intend to do and be all of the high things we profess to believe in? Have we decided to do them? When did we decide it? And how did we implement that decision?"
-
"Discipleship as a Craft, Church as a Disciplined Community,"
Stanley Hauerwas. Reprinted from The Christian Century, 1991 in
Religion Online.
- "Christianity is not beliefs about God plus behavior. We are Christians not because of what we believe, but because we have been called to be disciples of Jesus. To become a disciple is not a matter of a new or changed self-understanding, but rather to become part of a different community with a different set of practices."
-
"Rethinking
the Great Commission," Mortimer Arias,
Iliff School of Theology, Theology Today, 1991.
- "It is to our churches, and to us as we are, that the Great Commission is entrusted today. It is up to us to receive it and be faithful to it. We count with the promise of the last mandate: "I am with you always, to the end of the age.""
-
"Conversion
Factors," Frederica Mathewes-Green, BeliefNet.
- "It's OK to proselytize, but there are times when it's kinder to refrain."
- Recommended articles
from ATLAS, an online collection of religion and theology journals, are
linked below.
ATLAS Access options are available for academic institutions, alumni of
selected theological schools, and clergy/church offices. Annotated list of "starting place" articles at ATLAS for this week's texts (includes direct links).
- Arias, Mortimer, "Rethinking the
Great Commission," Theology Today, 1991.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Bibb, Wade, "Preaching in Ordinary
Time: The Extraordinary Subject of Jesus' Realm," Review & Expositor,
2007. (Section on this text begins on p. 301.)
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Brooks, Oscar S., Sr., "Matthew
28:16-20 and the Design of the First Gospel," Journal for the Study
of the New Testament, 1981.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Brown, Raymond E.,
"The Resurrection in Matthew," Worship, 1990.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Campbell, Cynthia M., "Matthew 28:16-20: Expository
Essay," Interpretation, 1992.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Carter, Warren,
"Matthew and the Gentiles: Individual Conversion and/or Systemic
Transformation?" Journal for the Study of the New Testament,
2004.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Day, Dan, "A Fresh Reading of Jesus'
Last Words: Matthew 28:16-20," Review & Expositor, 2007.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Finley, Stephen C., "Homoeroticism
and the African-American Heterosexual Male: Quest for Meaning in the
Black Church," Black Theology, 2008.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Hanson, K.C., "Transformed on the
Mountain: Ritual Analysis and the Gospel of Matthew," Semeia,
1994.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Heil, John Paul, "The Narrative Structure of Matthew
27:55 - 28:20," Journal of Biblical Literature, 1991.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Herrero, Francisco Pérez, "Mission Following the
Missionary Mandate of the Risen Christ," International Review of
Mission, 2006.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Hiebert D. Edmond, "An Expository
Study of Matthew 28:16-20," Bibliotheca Sacra, 1992.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Holden, James Leslie, "Matthew's Trumpet Blast," Modern Believing, 2010.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Kingsbury, Jack Dean, "The
Composition and Christology of Matthew 28:16-20," Journal of Biblical
Literature, 1974.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Krentz, Edgar,
"'Make Disciples' -- Matthew on Evangelism," Currents in Theology and
Mission, 2006.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Krentz, Edgar,
"Missionary Matthew: Matthew 28:16-20 as Summary of the Gospel,"
Currents in Theology and Mission, 2004.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Levine, Amy-Jill, "'To All the
Gentiles': A Jewish Perspective on the Great Commission," Review &
Expositor, 2006.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Meier, John P., "Nations or Gentiles
in Matthew 28:19?" The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 1977.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Meier, John P., "Two Disputed Questions in Matthew
28:16-20," Journal of Biblical Literature, 1977.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Samra, James G., "A Biblical View of Discipleship,"
Bibliotheca Sacra, 2003.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Sawicki, Marianne, "Recognizing the
Risen Lord," Theology Today, 1988.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Schnabel, Eckhard J.,
"Israel, the People of God, and the Nations," Journal of the
Evangelical Theological Society, 2002.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Senior, Donald, C.P., "Between Two Worlds: Gentile and Jewish Christians in Matthew's Gospel,"
The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 1999.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Sharma, Arvind, "Christian
Proselytization: A Hindu Perspective," Missiology, 2005.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Sheeley, Steven, "The Exercise of
Jesus' Royal Power: Lent through Trinity Sunday," Review & Expositor,
2007.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Shore, Mary Hinkle,
"Preaching Mission: Call and Promise in Matthew 28:16-20," Word &
World, 2006. (See also entire issue of Word & World, 26.3, 2006,
issue focus
Mission in the Congregation.)
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Smith, Robert H., "The End in Matthew
(5:48 and 28:20): How to Preach It and How Not To," Word & World,
1999.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Soares-Prabhu, George M., "Two Mission Commands: An Interpretation of Matthew 28:16-20 in the Light of a Buddhist Text," Biblical Interpretation, 1994.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Sparks, Kenton L.,
"Gospel as Conquest: Mosaic Typology in Matthew 28:16-20," The
Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 2006.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Thomas, Linda E., "Anthropology, Mission and the
African Woman: A Womanist Approach," Black Theology, 2008.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Thomas, Robert L., "Historical Criticism and the
Great Commission," Master's Seminary Journal, 2000.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Ulrich, Daniel W., "The Missional
Audience of the Gospel of Matthew," Catholic Biblical Quarterly,
2007.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Willard, Dallas, "How to Be a Disciple," The
Christian Century, 1998.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Wright, David F.,
"The Baptismal Community,"
Bibliotheca Sacra, 2003.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Arias, Mortimer, "Rethinking the
Great Commission," Theology Today, 1991.
- Reviews:
- Sermons:
- "Formula For Life," Trinity Sunday, Larry M. Goodpaster, SermonStudio.
- "Turning the Great Commission on Its Ear," the Rev. Dr. Rob Nash, Day 1, 2008.
- "Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah...Love," the Rev. Dr. James B. Lemler, Day 1, 2008.
- "The Trinity," "Go, go, go, go, go," Sermons from Seattle, Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle, Washington.
- "The Great Comfort," John Jewell, 1999.
- "Farewell," John Jewell, 2003.
- "It's Not Over," the Rev. Robina Marie Winbush, Day 1, 2002.
- Father Andrew M. Greeley, "Priest, Author, Sociologist," Commentary and Homily
- With Children:
- Worshiping with Children, Trinity A, Including children in the congregation's worship, using the Revised Common Lectionary, Carolyn C. Brown, 2011
- "Children's Literature: A Resource for Ministry," June 19, 2011, Union Presbyterian Seminary. Connections: Matthew 28:16-20 and When We Were Saints by Han Nolan.
- "Joining The Team," Wesley T. Runk, SermonStudio.
- "The Great Commission," Illustrating the Story (lessons, children's sermons), coloring pages, activity sheets, crafts, children's songs. MSSS Crafts.
- "Delivering the Invitation," Charles Kirkpatrick, Sermons4kids.com.
- "Jesus Tells the Disciples What To Do," Sunday School Lessons: Family Bible Study, art projects, music, stories, etc.
- Matthew 28:20, memory verse activity, MSSS Crafts and Resources for Bible Stories.
- Drama:
- "The Three Little Missionaries," John McNeil, dramatix.
- "Mission Possible," John McNeil, dramatix.
- "Green's Call," dramatix.
- "Send Me Away," Joanne Miller, dramatix.
- "Father, Forgive Us," Sandy Erb, dramatix.
- "Mixed Up Mission," Eric Fisher, dramatix.
- "High above the Clouds," from A Certain Jesus by Jose Ignacio and Maria Lopez Vigil. Ideal for catechetical and liturgical dramatization of today's gospel. Claretian Publications.
- Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
- Matthew 28:16-20, Liturgical Drawing, Maria d.c. Zamora, Claretian Resources, Philippines. ("Download and use these for free.")
- Matthew 28:16-20, at Cerezo Barredo's weekly gospel illustration. Liberation emphasis.
- Clip Art, Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld woodcuts, World Mission Collection, Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.
- Hymns and Music:
- “Remember Me,” original hymn by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, 2001, inspired by the God’s presence in the Exodus, the Eucharist and as we share God’s love everywhere. Tune: O WALY WALY 8.8.8.8 (“Though I May Speak”)
- Contemporary/Praise Song suggestions, Together to Celebrate, David MacGregor.
- Hymns with Scripture Allusions: Matthew 28:18, 19, 20. The Cyber Hymnal.
- Hymnal Scripture References, The Lutheran Hymnal, Lutheran Worship.
- "Your Fingerprint," Brenton Prigge, NewHymn, a new, relevant hymn set to traditional tunes.
- At Digital Hymnal (midi files, guitar chords, karaoke files, projection text):
- Worship and Liturgy Resources:
- "The Great Commission in Response to the Trinity," Worship resources for Trinity Sunday based on Matthew 28:16-20, Wayne H. Keller, SermonStudio.
- Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
- Movies scenes with the following themes, listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance:
- The above links are for the study of specifically Matthew's resurrection account. See also Study Links and Resources for the general Accounts of Jesus' Resurrection
- Literary References Online:
- "Ascension," from La Corona by John Donne (1572-1631).
- Study Links and Resources for the Book of Matthew
