What do you think of when you read or hear the words “Great Commission”? In all likelihood, it is “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” (Matthew 28:18-20).

Does the Great Commission only occur in this Gospel? No, it is also mentioned in the other three Gospels. It is a composite commission, i.e., all four types of commission wordings must be seen together to get the full picture.

We must also recognize that the most commonly used translations of the Great Commission in Matthew are not necessarily the best. In the Greek, there is only one command, namely “to make disciples”. That is the focus, not “to go”, which is better expressed through “as you go” or “going”. Jesus expects his disciples to be on the move. Making disciples involves baptism and teaching. Baptism symbolises new life in Christ and conveys that one has surrendered completely to God’s authority. And you need instruction to grow as a Christian.

The Great Commission in Mark 16:15-16 reads as follows: “He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned’”.

Whilst these verses convey content similar to Matthew, it highlights the responsibility of all believers to proclaim the Good News everywhere. The translation “preach” is unhelpful because it is often associated with and restricted to trained clergy or ministers. The truth of the matter is that proclamation of the Good News is a fundamental task of every follower of Christ.

The Great Commission according to Luke (24:46-49) tells us: “He told them, ‘This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.’”

This version is comprehensive. With regards to the proclamation of the Good News, it mentions its content (the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus, repentance and forgiveness of sins), its scope (all nations), its starting point (Jerusalem) and the empowering for it (the coming of the Holy Spirit). In Acts 1:8, two intermediate points are added to the starting and end points mentioned here: Judea and Samaria.

In John 20:21-23, the Great Commission is stated with the words: “Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’ And with that he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of anyone, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.’”

Only this Gospel details a sending analogy between the Father, Jesus and the disciples. The disciples are continuing and taking over the earthbound job of proclaiming the Good News. As in Mark, we find the necessity to be empowered by the Holy Spirit. Have you ever wondered why Jesus is breathing on the disciples? It is highly symbolic because the word for breath, spirit and wind in Hebrew is the same (ruah). We know that only God, not man, has the right to forgive sins. If we apply Hebrew thinking to this verse, we can make sense of it quickly. Hebrews often described things from a divine perspective or from a human perspective. Here, the human perspective is mentioned. As representatives of God, the disciples (including modern ones) can assure people that confessed sins are forgiven or make clear that unconfessed sins are not forgiven.

You could sum up the composite Great Commission as follows: Mission includes proclaiming the Gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit with the intention to convert people to Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord, acknowledging their faith through baptism, entering into a covenant with God to be a disciple of Christ and become part of a Christian fellowship, to be taught to lead a holy life and reach out to and serve the world.

Let’s do it!