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Matthew 28:18-20 – Authority in Making Disciples
Before reading the text understand the following:
1. A disciple is a student.
2. Students are taught.
3. Students are taught what the teacher teaches.
4. Teachers teach what they are authorized to teach.
All of that is straight forward. Students in a math class are taught math, not biology; that’s what the teacher is paid to teach. Again straight forward.
The following text is about authority. Jesus has it. What is taught is what Jesus authorizes and is in harmony with the Father and Holy Spirit.
Let’s look at two thematic chiasms within this text:
Anacrusis: “Jesus came near and said to them,
#1
A – AUTHORITY – “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.
B – ACTION – Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations,
B’ – ACTION – baptizing them
A’ – AUTHORITY – in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
The second chiasm has many interesting points.
A – A’ – It begins and ends by showing Jesus is continually with His people.
• THE PERSON OF JESUS
B – B’ – Jesus emphasizes His authority.
• THE POSITION OF JESUS
C – C’ – A disciple is a student, hence the second part emphasizes teaching.
• THE POSITION OF PEOPLE – DISCIPLE
D (or D – D’) – Many today downplay baptism and even state that this text teaches: 1) First make disciples; 2) Then baptize those already disciples. Using Western eyes I can see their reasoning. However using Eastern eyes we see Jesus using a thematic chiasm where baptism is not de-emphasized, but rather is the central point.
• THE POINT WHEN BECOMING A DISCIPLE
Let’s now look at the arrangement:
#2
A – JESUS’S PHYSICAL PROXIMITY – “Jesus came near and said to them,
B – JESUS’S AUTHORITY – “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.
C – MAKE DISCIPLES – Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations,
D – WHEN BECOME DISCIPLES BY AUTHORITY – baptizing them
D’- HOW BECOME DISICPLES BY AUTHORITY – in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
C’ – TEACH DISCIPLES – teaching them to observe everything
B’ – JESUS’S AUTHORITY – I have commanded you.
A’ – JESUS’S SPIRITUAL PROXIMITY – And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”” (CSB’17 Matthew 28:18-20)
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