The Meaning of "Make Disciples" in the Broader Context of the Gospel of Matthew

Book excerpt: Students of the Bible are generally comfortable with their understanding of the command “make disciples” (Matt 28:19). Indeed, most of them would argue that the Gospel writer, Matthew, spells out very clearly the meaning of the term in the Great Commission (Matt 28:16–20) by utilizing three key words, viz., “go[ing],” “baptizing,” and “teaching.” This point of view is the result of centuries of scholarly opinion that has looked primarily, if not solely, to these three adjacent participles of “make disciples” (Matt 28:19), and not to the entire Gospel of Matthew, for the meaning of the command. This book does not suggest that “going,” “baptizing,” and “teaching” are not to be considered in determining the essence of Christian disciple-making. Rather, it contends that the three terms should not be our only source of meaning. This problem is tackled herein by demonstrating that Matthew establishes a framework within the Great Commission itself that points to a fuller meaning of “make disciples” in the broader context of his Gospel, and that the Gospel writer expects his reader to draw on his entire Gospel to grasp the full meaning of this important command.