What is the Great Commission? Who said it? Why is the Great Commission in the Bible such a big deal to Christians? If any of those questions have ever crossed your mind, keep reading to find answers to those questions and more.
The Context of the Great Commission
Before exploring what the Great Commission is, some context is helpful. Christians believe that, about 2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was born as a man on earth. He lived a perfect, sinless life. He loved people, healed people, and proclaimed that the Kingdom of God was near. He taught His followers a new way to live, one which prioritized loving God and loving others above all other commandments.
The religious authorities of Jesus’ day wanted nothing to do with His good news. After three years of Jesus ministering to people in and around Jerusalem and Galilee, these authorities had Jesus tried, convicted, and sentenced to death in a sham trial. Jesus died on a cross, and his death—the death of a sinless person—covered the sins of every person who’s ever lived.
Jesus was raised from the grave three days later, and spent the next 40 days teaching His disciples and preparing them for the coming of the Holy Spirit. Then, Jesus ascended to heaven, where He sits at the right hand of God the Father, interceding for people on earth.
But before He ascended to heaven, Jesus left some parting instructions with His disciples, which is called the Great Commission.
The Commission’s Meaning
A version of the Great Commission is found in all four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—as well as at the beginning of the book of Acts. But when most people quote the Great Commission, they’re quoting Matthew 28:
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 NIV
Instructions From the Great Commission
In these verses, Jesus gave His early disciples (and us) four instructions:
- Go. The Great Commission isn’t something Christians do passively. It means taking action, being bold, and engaging with others.
- Make disciples of all nations. A “disciple” is a follower of Jesus. This instruction encourages Christians to share the good news of Jesus with people in communities around the world, so they can choose to follow Him.
- Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Baptism is part of becoming a disciple—when someone chooses to follow Jesus, baptism is often the next step that they take.
- Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. Following Jesus is a lifetime process of learning and becoming more like Him. When people lead others to become disciples, continuing to teach them about who Jesus is and how He lived is an important part of the discipleship process.
Truths From the Great Commission
In addition, Jesus included two truths in the Great Commission:
- All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. When Jesus spoke these words, He was about to give His disciples a very big mission. These words establish that He had the authority to give them His mission.
- And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. These words are not just a promise, but a source of strength and encouragement for Christians. As the disciples worked to bring the good news to the nations, Jesus was with them—always. The same can apply to Christians today.
So, What Is the Great Commission?
The Great Commission is a call for all followers of Jesus to share the good news of His love with others and show them how to live out that love.
That’s the Great Commission—but what does it actually look like to carry it out?
The Church in Action
After Jesus ascended to heaven and the Holy Spirit began dwelling in believers on the Day of Pentecost, the early church began putting the Great Commission into practice. This looked like:
- Investing in community. Acts 2 says that Jesus’ disciples were absolutely dedicated to one another. They met together daily, worshiped together, supported one another financially, ate meals together, and gave thanks together. The Bible says that this community enjoyed the favor of all the people, and the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. The simple act of living in faithful community was enough to draw people in and lead them to become followers of Jesus.
- Sharing the good news. The disciples were committed to sharing the gospel with others in Israel. But God had bigger plans that stretched beyond the borders of one nation. Men and women like Paul, Barnabas, Priscilla, and Aquila shared their faith with people around the Mediterranean. Even in the face of opposition, the church spread quickly across the Mediterranean.
Where Did the Term “Great Commission” Come From?
Here’s something that might surprise you: the phrase “Great Commission" doesn’t actually appear anywhere in the Bible. It’s a title that Christians gave to Jesus’ parting words over time, and it has an interesting history.
The earliest known use of the term is generally attributed to the 17th-century Lutheran missionary Justinian von Welz, though historians can’t say with complete certainty that he coined it.
Von Welz believed deeply that the church had a responsibility to carry the gospel beyond Europe, and he drew directly on Matthew 28 to make his case. He was largely ignored by the church leaders of his day, and eventually died while serving as a missionary in Dutch Guiana (modern-day Suriname) but his framing of Jesus’ words as a “commission” planted a seed that would grow for centuries.
That seed found full expression in the life of Hudson Taylor, a 19th-century British missionary who founded the China Inland Mission in 1865. Taylor had a burning conviction that the gospel should reach people in the most remote corners of the world, not just in places that were easy or safe to go to. His work, and his passionate use of the phrase “Great Commission,” helped make those two words a cornerstone of evangelical Christian vocabulary that Christians still use today.
The Call to Make Disciples
Just like the first disciples, Christians are called to take part in the mission of making disciples of all nations. For any Christians who do want to share the good news with others, here's something to keep in mind.
The Great Commission isn’t just about telling other people about Jesus. Sharing the love of Jesus requires the entire being of believers—their words and their actions. Remember how the early church took part in the Great Commission in Acts 2? People were drawn to them because of the love they showed everyone in their community