Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJV)

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

MATTHEW 28:19-20

Making Disciples

Making Disciples

We all have 2 important goals in this life

1. To go to heaven

2. To take as many people to heaven with me as I can

What Jesus says in Matthew 28:19-20 seems to point to this very thought

Making Disciples

Jesus wanted disciples to be made of all men from all ends of the earth

So it’s only natural that we might ask a few questions:

1. What is a disciple?

2. How do we go about making disciples of others?

Making Disciples

The word for making disciples in verse 19 is the Greek word matheteuo

It means to become a pupil; to follow one’s precepts and instructions

A disciple was one who would learn from a teacher or rabbi

Making Disciples

Jesus was often referred to as a rabbi (Mk. 9:5; Jn.3:2; 11:8)

Being a disciple was about more than just learning from someone

We learn from many people but we wouldn’t be considered disciples (ex. school teachers, managers)

Making Disciples

It’s also about more than just simply following a person around

There were costs to being a disciple, especially of Jesus (Lk. 9:57-62; 14:26-33)

The costs were so great that some turned away (Jn. 6:60-67)

Making Disciples

Being a disciple meant that one would become like their teacher in every way

This included taking on his personality and characteristics; his very behavior

“It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher…” (Matt. 10:25)

Making Disciples

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matt. 16:24)

There is much involved in being a disciple of Christ

It’s certainly not someone who is just a casual follower (ex. sports)

Making Disciples

Many think and say that what we see in verses 19-20 is an order of how one converts another

They say that Jesus gives the order of:

1. Make disciples2. Baptize3. Teach

Making Disciples

Does this make sense?

Does it confuse you?

Me too!

If Jesus isn’t giving these commands in order, then what was He doing?

Notice the language…

Making Disciples

Make disciples (matheteuo) is an imperative verb

That means that it is the actual command here

Baptizing and teaching are participles, which means that they show us how we are to make disciples

Making Disciples

Now it makes more sense to us

We are to make disciples by baptizing and teaching

We baptize them to wash away their sins, to add them to the body of Christ, so they can be like Him (Rom. 6:3-6)

Making Disciples

We then teach them all the things that Christ commanded

One doesn’t have to know everything before they become a Christian; just enough to understand what they are doing

Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch teaches us that (Acts 8)

Making Disciples

In order for the apostles to make disciples, they needed to baptize and teach

We see this throughout the book of Acts in the examples provided

You’ll notice that they were still called disciples (Acts 6:1-2; 11:26)