Jesus said, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you." - Matthew 28:19-20
Take this verse apart and break it down with all the words that stood out to me.
Therefore - for that reason; consequently. Since some X is true, then for that reason some Y has occurred. Or the consequence of X having taken place, now we can do Y. Therefore mean as a result of, for that reason, because of, or consequently we can now do this. Go therefore - go because of the resurrection, because He, Christ has "all power" given unto Him, in "heaven and in earth." Since He appeared risen, since He appointed them, since they had worshiped Him, and since He has all power - for that reason they can go.
Make - to form something by putting parts together, combining substances, create, prepare or draw it up. To cause something to exist or come about, bring about, or produce as a result of an effort. To make means to succeed in something. Go therefore and make, put the parts of something together in such a way that what results is a disciple. To make means to form, and also to prepare. As they go the power, witness, strength, hope, and victory of the resurrection should be parts, along with something that helps cause to come into existence disciples.
Disciples - someone who believes and helps spread the beliefs of another; typically referred to in the context of the 12 that followed Jesus, or of those who are in relationship with Jesus. A disciple is a student and learner of the life, death and resurrection of Christ; one who adheres to a way of life centered and grounded on the trust in God's will and his promises; relying on Christ to help us do the things that Christ did on earth and those that he commanded us to do until his return, and all for the glory of God. Go because of the power and witness of the resurrection and form, prepare and bring about by your actions, followers of Christ.
All nations - all nations means everyone can receive the Gospel; that Christ came for and sends us out to all people (to all races, genders, orientations, persuasions, cultures, backgrounds, and every ethnicity). All means all! To go and share the Gospel with all nations, and make disciples of all nations means just that. All means all! All means that their should be disciples who are white, black, yellow, fat, skinny, tall, short, male, female, slave, free, Jew, non-Jew, American, Russian, Arabic, Chinese, etc. and etc. All nations means that God intends for their to be a diversity in your church. Poor and rich, old and young, Eastern, Western, Northern and Southern continents included.
Name - a word or set of words by which a person is known or addressed, or referred to; title, tag or honor. A word of phrase that constitutes the distinctive designation of a person or thing, a word used in logic to designate and entity; the reputation of a person or thing, an established reputation.
In the name of - by the authority of, for the reason of. When we make disciples from all these different people of all these different nations we are to do it in the authority of the one who has the power of the divine title. In the power and by reason of the honor and designation and because of the established reputation of the one who spoke the instruction.
Teaching - to show or explain something to someone, to show how to do something, give information or instruction, give lessons, or instill, encourage someone to learn, understand, or accept something as a fact or principle. To make someone less inclined to do something.
Observe - to watch, notice, to conform one's practices to, comply with, to celebrate or solemnize in an acceptable way, to come to know or realize especially through noted facts, to watch and listen carefully.
All things means all and not just the easy and convenient. All includes the hard parts and the not so fanciful pieces. All includes laying down your own life and agenda, loving your enemies, losing your life and choosing God's will over your own.
I - the subject the one who talks and is speaking.
Commanded: and authoritative instruction to do something; to be in strong enough position to order, or secure something.
Jesus is commanding His followers to go because of his resurrection and power, into all nations, to form people who will believe, receive and then share the Gospel. They are to do this by putting all of His teachings together in their proper place to create these disciples from all types of people and in all places. The instruction, lessons, and facts stem from the authority of His holiness, and the power and distinctness of His reputation and being. Encourage, explain, give lessons and encourage them to learn who Jesus is, what He has done, and then conform to what they learn. In all things do what he commanded.
Finally, what has he commanded? Namely this: to love God and love one's neighbor; to believe in the Father and His love; trust in His only Son, and to live out your life in love for Christ through your love for one another. He commanded that we know and trust that God is God, that He is our way to life, and that He alone will grant our hearts, souls and bodies the divine salvation, oneness, wholeness and abundant life that is needed.
With love (& in triumph),
Cassius
