“I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS”
Key verse: 20
NIV
The Great Commission
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.(A) 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.(B) 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,(C) baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,(D) 20 and teaching(E) them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you(F) always, to the very end of the age.”(G)
Cross references
- Matthew 28:16 : ver 7, 10; Mt 26:32
- Matthew 28:18 : Da 7:13, 14; Lk 10:22; Jn 3:35; S 13:13; 17:2; 1Co 15:27; Eph 1:20-22; Php 2:9, 10
- Matthew 28:19 : Isa 49:6; Mk 16:15, 16; Lk 24:47; Ac 1:8; 14:21
- Matthew 28:19 : Ac 1:8; 2:38; 8:16; Ro 6:3, 4; Gal 3:27; Col 2:12
- Matthew 28:20 : Jn 14:26; Ac 2:42
- Matthew 28:20 : Dt 31:6; 1Ki 8:57; Hag 1:13; Mt 18:20; Ac 18:10
- Matthew 28:20 : Mt 13:39; 24:3
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
The Great Commission
16 Now the eleven disciples (A)went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they (B)worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, (C)“All authority (D)in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 (E)Go therefore and (F)make disciples of (G)all nations, (H)baptizing them (I)in[a] (J)the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them (K)to observe all that (L)I have commanded you. And behold, (M)I am with you always, to (N)the end of the age.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Matthew 28:19 Or into
Cross references
- Matthew 28:16 : ver. 7
- Matthew 28:17 : ver. 9
- Matthew 28:18 : ch. 11:27; Dan. 7:13, 14; John 3:35; 13:3; 17:2; Acts 2:36; Rom. 14:9; 1 Cor. 15:27; Eph. 1:10, 20-22; Phil. 2:9, 10; Col. 2:10; Heb. 1:2; 2:8; 1 Pet. 3:22; [ch. 9:6; John 5:27]
- Matthew 28:18 : [ch. 6:10; Luke 2:14]
- Matthew 28:19 : Mark 16:15, 16
- Matthew 28:19 : ch. 13:52
- Matthew 28:19 : Luke 24:47; [ch. 24:14; Mark 11:17; Rom. 1:5]
- Matthew 28:19 : Mark 16:15, 16
- Matthew 28:19 : See Acts 8:16
- Matthew 28:19 : [2 Cor. 13:14]
- Matthew 28:20 : John 14:15
- Matthew 28:20 : [Acts 1:2]
- Matthew 28:20 : [ch. 1:23; 18:20; John 12:26; 14:3; 17:24; Acts 18:10]
- Matthew 28:20 : See ch. 13:39
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
Jesus had told the disciples to go to Galilee, and he would meet them there. The two Mary’s had seen the Risen Jesus as they were running to tell the disciples that the angels had told them Jesus had risen. Jesus told the Mary’s to tell the disciples that he would meet them in Galilee. The eleven disciples obeyed and went to Galilee. There they saw Jesus. When they saw him, “…they worshipped him; but some doubted” (17). Even though they saw Risen Jesus right in front of them, and even in the very act of worshipping him, some of them doubted. Maybe some believed they were seeing a ghost!
What did Jesus do with these worshipping yet partially doubting disciples? He gave them the Great Commission. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (19,2
a). How could Jesus expect these disciples to preach the gospel all over the world? Jesus promised his disciples, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (2
). We are disciples, and we come to Jesus and worship him. But we also are full of doubt. But we can obey Jesus’ Great Commission only because he is with us to the end.
Prayer: Father, help me obey Jesus’ command to make disciples. Thank you that you are with me to the end of the age.
One Word: “I am with you”
