The Great Commission and the Counter-Mission (Matthew 28:11-20).Sunday May 3, 2026
Main idea: All Christians are commissioned to have the skill of discipling others (believers and unbelievers) in a world saturated with the countermission.
The Countermission [CM].
Mat 28:11-15 Now while they were on their way, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened. 12 And when they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 and said, "You are to say, 'His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.' 14 "And if this should come to the governor's ears, we will win him over and keep you out of trouble." 15 And they took the money and did as they had been instructed; and this story was widely spread among the Jews, and is to this day.
It begins day 1.
CM will always be in the world because in every generation (new exposure, new converts) there will be CM heralds.
Why? Everyone is afraid. (bit of a blanket statement)
CM is motivated by fear:
The constant overlord of the CM is the devil (1Pe 5:8).
He will always have heralds because of their fear of losing.
Into this world Christ sends His sheep.
The sheep are not the great orators, salesmen, statesmen, impressively strong, noble, or even wise (according to this world; 1Co 1:26-29).
He sends His sheep to make disciples (the main verb in the sentence, but we need its supporting cast).
The Great Commission.
Mat 28:16-20 But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful. 18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
The actions:
The first thing to do: Go. (supporting verb).
Why go? You can’t make disciples from a distance. Christ was in the presence of every disciple He made.
Example: Rich young ruler
Mat 19:16-22 And someone came to Him and said, "Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?" 17 And He said to him, "Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments." 18 Then he said to Him, "Which ones?" And Jesus said, "YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER; YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY; YOU SHALL NOT STEAL; YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS; 19 HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER; and YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." 20 The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?" 21 Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." 22 But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.
“If you wish to be complete…” - disciple of Christ.
The Great Commission is to make disciples.
Not only to convert (baptize) and move on (tent revival that moves on).
To disciples is to invest time in teaching, modeling, serving, helping: all the Christ did for the disciples throughout the gospel.
Discipling takes skill.
First, Jesus presents an image: Eternal life is something entered.
The image of entering leads to the image of following.
Follow the commandments - an indirect approach meant to show him that he has an idol.
Remember, Christ’s goal is to have this man follow Him. That is the ultimate goal of salvation.
He forces the man to make a declaration: “I keep these.” Then He has him in a place where His teaching will have maximum impact. “If you wish to be complete…”
Discipling is a learned skill. Learn the gospel, learn the courage to speak it, learn what to teach and how to teach, and learn the courage and conviction to do that also. Learn to love God’s world so that you desire to know that person in front of you, and you care for them, for their souls: love is patient and kind and it bears all things and it never fails.
Does all of this make you doubt yourself? Does this make you odd? Alone?
The disciples doubted
The text says that some doubted, but this does not mean that some were settled in unbelief.
Mat 28:16-17 But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful.
“Doubtful” - The only other time this verb is used gives us insight into what is going on (Scripture interprets Scripture).
Mat 14:30-31 he cried out, "Lord, save me!" 31 Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"
He hesitated. He didn’t reject Christ.
They were doubtful of what it all meant for them. The future was nothing they had foreseen or planned.
We will doubt ourselves.
And if you can remember the CM runs on fear and that Christ told us “Do not fear” and that He thought this so important that He promised to be with us the whole time, then you will find yourself taking the first step.
Go (move out - doubt and all).
Closing example:
Women are the perfect example: at the cross, at the tomb, first to go.
Mat 28:10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me."
The first thing to do is to go - to be in the presence of those you will disciple.
Joshua entering the promised land:
Jos 1:6-9 "Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 "Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. 8 "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. 9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
You have to set your fears aside like laying aside the old nature (sin nature) and go. Go in obedience to the One who has all authority. He is no tyrant (the CM will tell you He is, along with a lot of other lies). His complete authority means He has the only way to life, eternal life (and its fruit).
We are going to develop this over the next three classes. As we finish Matthew we will be sure to know what it is the Lord Jesus expects of us as He ascends to heaven. |