The word for “saw” is the Greek word: eidom. It means to know, to be acquainted with. Its use here tells us that they recognized Jesus, even after His resurrection.
When they saw Him, they worshiped Him.
These men, because of their background, would never have considered worshiping anyone except God. The fact that they worshiped Jesus and He allowed them to do so, confirms His words, “I and the Father are one. If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.” (John 14:9)
“…but some doubted” (verse 17).
Have you ever used the expression, “I can’t believe my eyes?” Suppose Publisher’s Clearing House appeared at your door and presented you with a check for $10 million. You’d say, “You’re kidding, right?” That’s what happened here.
The word for “doubted” is the Greek: edistasan, whose root is distazo. The idea here is a sort of doubtful amazement.
Jesus then asserts His authority. He does not say “I've been given lots of influence,” nor does He say, “I am in a very authoritative position, here.” He says “ALL authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”
He uses the Greek word, pas, which means “every.” It leaves no room for discussion. It means “all and all of all.”
Jesus is the ultimate authority over everything: the universe; the earth; the seas; the air…whatever you can think of (and much you can’t imagine). That’s a lot of authority.
Because He has this authority, He can tell you what to do…that’s the “therefore.”
The imperative, “go” is a command from the One who is the Commander.
Jesus tells his disciples to go and “…make disciples.” In the King James version, the word is translated “teach,” which is correct if you still speak 1611 English, but it is wrong is you speak 21st century English.
The emphasis here is NOT bringing them to salvation. It is what you do with them AFTER they are saved. However, It can indicate a sort of training toward becoming a Christian.
The Greek root is math, and it is used here as mathetes, which means “to train.”
It is so sad that preachers, theologians, Sunday School teachers and others believe that disciples can be made from the pulpit or the teaching lectern. That is impossible.
Training is what one does with a dog. It requires repeating an activity until it is ingrained in the brain.
The same is true with people. Teaching them is one thing, discipling them is quite another.
Discipleship training is showing the pupil how to put into action what he has learned and then helping him practice it until it becomes second nature to him. It should be done with every new believer and should continue throughout the rest of his life.
Disciples are to be baptized as the first step in their training and the baptism is done “in the name of,” which is significant beyond explanation. It means to use God’s complete name: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. That’s the unfathomable Trinity.
In verse 20 Jesus uses the phrase: “…teaching them to obey (KJV: observe – which means the same thing) everything I have commanded you.”
The word Jesus uses here is the Greek: didasko. This word means, “to teach.” Unlike mathetes, didasko CAN be done from the pulpit or the teaching lectern. It can even be done person-to-person.
The subject of what we are to teach is everything Jesus has commanded; that is: Love God with all your heart, mind soul and strength and your neighbor as yourself. He said everything in the Ten Commandments is wrapped up in those two. Everything He did in the presence of His disciples reflected those two commands.
With His closing words, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age,” Jesus gives us His ultimate assurance that He will neither leave us nor forsake us.
Mathew 28:16-20, “The Great Commission,” is chock-full of deep meaning and is a call to action like no other.
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