Click the Banner back to Index
Click the Banner back to Index
|
GOD SEND THE TRUTH TO ALL NATIONS There are lot of action and counteraction caused by the resurrection of Jesus Christ which we noticed at the end part of the book of the Gospel of Matthew. We have a group of hard-hearted religious Jews that moving speedily to respond to lie and reject the truth and remove the truth, these are the enemies of the truth, but on the other hand, this spiritually blind religious Jews caused to move God to send the truth to all nations through Christ Disciples, a group moving quickly to respond to the truth and have a commission to spread the truth of Jesus Christ directly from Jesus Christ.
The book of Matthew is a one sad book for the nation Israel. We read that Jesus came and offered Himself as King of Israel and Jesus offered this Jews her kingdom but Israel rejected the Lord Jesus Christ. They hate and led to the crucifixion and Jesus died all sins and rose again but Israel rejected Jesus as their Jewish Messiah the Saviour and Redeemer. That is why, noticeably, the book of Matthew ends with Jesus telling His eleven disciples to bring the truth to all nations, around the world, that is world-wide evangelism. The book of Matthew contains a sad story for nation of Israel but certainly the book of Matthew contains an encouraging story for all the Gentile nations. The Gospel that has been rejected by Israel is now available to be freely received by the Gentiles.
I – THE GUILT CONSPIRACY TO SUPPRESS THE TRUTH – v.11-15
This is the conspiracy of religious leaders to keep the truth of Christ’s resurrection from reaching Jewish people.
A. Information of the reporting soldiers – v.11
Matthew 28:11 “Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.”
Mateo 28:11 “Habang patungo sila roon, ang ilan sa mga bantay ay pumunta sa lunsod at ibinalita sa mga punong pari ang lahat ng mga bagay na nangyari.” FILIPINO VERSION
We can see here in verse 11, the reporting of the soldiers to the chief priests. This verse 11 informs us that while the women were on their way to inform the disciples about the resurrection of Christ, these guards were on their way to inform the chief priests of the same reality. This Roman guard not only guarding the tomb as they were stationed to watch at the tomb being instructed by Pilate (Matthew 27:65-66 “Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. 66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.”) but also these soldiers made the sepulcher sure so they had sealed the tomb. Therefore, these guards, not only stationed to watch surely, but also closely guard and securely sealed the tomb of Christ. These soldiers not only felt the shocking great earthquake but they also witness how the angel of the Lord from heaven rolled back the stone (Matthew 28:2-4 “And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.”). Now, this guards went and reported this angel of the Lord heavenly appearance to the chief priests. These guard knew and can testify that this was from God of heaven.
B. Intrigue of the religious leaders – v.12-14
Matthew 28:12-14 “And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, 13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. 14 And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.”
Mateo 28:12-14 “Pagkatapos makipagpulong sa matatanda, nagpanukala sila na magbigay ng sapat na salapi sa mga kawal, 13 na sinasabi, “Sabihin ninyo, ‘Ang kanyang mga alagad ay dumating nang gabi at siya'y kanilang ninakaw samantalang kami'y natutulog.’ 14 Kung mabalitaan ito ng gobernador, hihikayatin namin siya, at ilalayo namin kayo sa gulo.” FILIPINO VERSION
We can see here now the plan of the religious leaders to keep people from truth.
Notice the phrase in verse 12 “they gave large money unto the soldiers”, the adjective “large” means this amount of money was a considerable sum, which signifies these guards enter into a risk situation of their lives because of the sufficient money at stakes. During their time, a Roman soldier could be executed or put to death once he lost what he was guarding (Acts 12:19 “And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode.”). That is why when another great earthquake from God occurred in Philippi, and the jail was broken and the prisoners come out, the Roman jailer was going to kill himself because he knew that he will be killed since the prisoners he is guarding had escaped (Acts 16:26-28 “And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. 27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.”). So this hush money was sufficiently enough for these guards to not only say nothing and keep silence, as they ordered by chief priests to lie and say the it were the disciples of Christ who stole the body of Jesus while they were sleeping on their time duty (Matthew 28:13 “Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.”). These religious leaders with their strategic foolish plan in paying out ministry money in order for people to keep from knowing the truth that Christ has risen from the dead. There are lots of religious teaches of today that proclaim that the death, burial and resurrection of Christ is not enough, it needs for a man to obey the law or do some good works that they might be saved.
Notice Matthew 28:14 “And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.” this shows that these deceptive religious leaders tell the guards that they will persuade Pilate of the strategic plan of lies and convince these soldiers that they do not need to worry for they are secure and protected from any trouble. Then in Matthew 28:15 “So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day” this explain that these guards took the large sum of money and spread the fake news full of lies and the Jewish people believed the lies that says Jesus did not risen from the dead but the His body was the stolen by Christ disciples.
II – THE GREAT COMMISSION OF THE SAVIOR TO HIS ELEVEN DISCIPLES – v.16-20
This is about the Great Commission of Jesus Christ to His eleven to go out to all the nations.
Notice Matthew 28:16 “Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.” Here we see the disciples of Christ went to Galilee to meet Jesus on the mountain for they were about to learn of new responsibility assigned to them to perform. There was something wonderful that would happen in the Gentile nations, in contrast to what was happening in the nation of Israel. It is so that was happening in Israel is not good since the King of the Jews should have been meeting in Jerusalem and not in Galilee. Why? The answer is because Jesus Christ has been rejected by Israelites.
We have the final communication between the God King and His eleven disciples. Some theologians say this great commission is our commission in the Church Age, some say it is not our commission given to the Church Age. There are two extreme positions about this: The one extreme claim that this is the only commission given by the Lord Jesus mandated to the Church and the other extreme teaches that this commission has nothing to do with the Church or no application to the Church,
A. Authority in heaven and earth– v.18
Matthew 28:18 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”
Mateo 28:18 “Lumapit si Jesus at sinabi sa kanila, “Ang lahat ng awtoridad sa langit at sa ibabaw ng lupa ay ibinigay na sa akin.” FILIPINO VERSION
Notice the words of Jesus that “All authority in heaven and on earth is given to Jesus Christ.”
If all authority is in Jesus Christ, do we still have an option to disobey God? The only alternative to the Great Commission is disobedience.
Every Christian needs to be involved in world-evangelism, to join in soul-winning, then praying for missionaries and families and giving to the mission program of the local church. If God is calling to surrender your life to be a missionary to a certain field, just remember Jesus Christ have all authority over you. Just obey and said "Here I am Lord, send me."
B. Assignment to go to Gentile nations – v.19a
Matthew 28:19a "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:"
Mateo 28:19a "Kaya't sa paghayo ninyo, gawin ninyong alagad ang lahat ng mga bansa, bautismuhan ninyo sila sa pangalan ng Ama at ng Anak at ng Espiritu Santo," FILIPINO VERSION
It seems that Jesus is saying “You eleven go and make disciples of people of all nations.”
This is the Great Commission given as a specific assignment to these Jewish disciples to go to Gentile nations.
C. Authentication of Trinity – v.19b
Matthew 28:19b “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”
Mateo 28:19b “Kaya't sa paghayo ninyo, gawin ninyong alagad ang lahat ng mga bansa, bautismuhan ninyo sila sa pangalan ng Ama at ng Anak at ng Espiritu Santo,” FILIPINO VERSION
As Jesus commanded His disciples and saying “you eleven are to baptize people in the name of the Trinity.”
There is enormous evidence of deity mentioned in this verse 19. The noun “name” is in singular, as mentioned “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost;” There was the three persons of deity. It was a baptism of trinity not baptism in the name of one person of God.
D. Awareness of the Word of God – v.20a
Matthew 28:20a "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen."
Mateo 28:20a "at turuan silang sundin ang lahat ng mga bagay na iniutos ko sa inyo. At narito, ako'y kasama ninyong palagi, hanggang sa katapusan ng panahon." FILIPINO VERSION
This was a part of Great Commission as Jesus commanded to His disciples by saying “You are to teach people to observe everything I have commanded you.”
At this time of meeting of the disciples with Jesus at Galilee, the eleven disciples did not know and has no idea about the Church Age truth. These eleven knew only that Jesus was the Messiah of Israel who had been rejected by the nation Israel. Besides, these eleven disciples knew what Jesus Christ did on the cross for redemption of sins and the promise that anyone who would trust in Christ by faith would have everlasting life. It is sad to know that many board missions and missionaries around the world miss the fact that we as believers of Christ as a church have an assignment to teach people of the Word of God, the very essential things that Jesus Christ had commanded us. It is not our primary objectives, neither primary job to give heathen nations a secular education. It is not right that mission agencies aim and believe they will prioritize to build a school so they can build a church and their aim is to maintain secular schools and colleges. Although, there is nothing wrong with having Christian's schools, academies, universities but this is not a propagation of the Gospel. God called us to evangelize, and make disciples and start churches not build schools. After reaching people of the gospel and got saved, they were to be baptized and then teaching them of all biblical principles and truth of the Word of God, to help them grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
E. Age of all nations – v.20b
Matthew 28:20b “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
Mateo 28:20b “at turuan silang sundin ang lahat ng mga bagay na iniutos ko sa inyo. At narito, ako'y kasama ninyong palagi, hanggang sa katapusan ng panahon.” FILIPINO VERSION
This was the last phrase in the gospel book of Matthew, Jesus said, “You are to know that I am with you to the end of the age.”
Jesus was talking about the “age.” Jesus here was referring to what age? The answer: Jesus said “unto the end of the world” it means to the end of the age which featured all nations and not Israel only.
As we know that Jesus would not remain physically with these eleven disciples, Jesus’ presence would be spiritually with these disciples until there will be one day when Jesus would be with them again physically. Jesus would reign during the millennial as the Jewish Messiah, King of Jews, and rule the whole world as King of kings and Lord of lords.
|