March 6, 2016 – The Great Commission – A Study of Matthew – Authority and Love

Matthew 28:18-20 – New International Version (NIV) – The Great Commission

¹⁸ “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Authority and Love

Matthew 28:16-19 – New International Version (NIV)

¹⁶ “Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. ¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. ¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Where did the eleven disciples go (verse 16)?

What did they do when they saw Jesus (verse 17)?

In your opinion, why did some doubt (verse 17)?

What has been given to Jesus (verse 18)?

Who were the “disciples of all nations” to be baptized in the name of (verse 19)?

What was to be taught (verse 20)?

Where will Jesus be “to the very end of the age” (verse 20)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

John 15:9-17 - New International Version (NIV)

⁹ “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. ¹¹ I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. ¹² My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command. ¹⁵ I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. ¹⁶ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. ¹⁷ This is my command: Love each other.”

How has Jesus loved (verse 9)?

Where are we to remain (verse 9)?

What should we do to there (verse 10)?

Why has Jesus given us this instruction (verse 11)?

What does Jesus command (verse 12)?

In your opinion, why does Jesus say “greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (verse 13)?

When are we Jesus’ friends (verse 14)?

Why does Jesus not call those who do what He commands servant (verse 15)?

Why does Jesus call those who do what He commands friends (verse 15)?

Why did Jesus chose and appoint (verse 16)?

What is Jesus command (verse 17)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what does John 15:9-17 instruct that we should teach those “disciples of all nations” that are baptized “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” that Jesus commands we teach in Matthew 28:16-19?

1 John 5:1-5 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. ² This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. ³ In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, ⁴ for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. ⁵ Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”

Who is “born of God” (verse 1)?

Who loves “his child” (verse 1)?

How do we “know that we love the children of God” (verse 2)?

What is “love for God” (verse 3)?

In your opinion, why does John say “his commands are not burdensome” (verse 3)?

Who “overcomes the world” (verse 4)?

What is the “victory that has overcome the world” (verse 4)?

“Who is it that overcomes the world” (verse 5)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how does John saying in 1 John 5:1-5 “this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world” increase our understanding of what he said in John 15:9-17 that “this is my command: Love each other”?

In your opinion, how does John’s statement in 1 John 5:1-5 that “everyone born of God overcomes the world” amplify the statement of Jesus in Matthew 28:16-19 that “all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me”.

 Revelation 22:14-21 – New International Version (NIV)

¹⁴ “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. ¹⁵ Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

¹⁶ “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”

¹⁷ The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.

¹⁸ I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. ¹⁹ And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.

²⁰ He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

²¹ The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.”

Who is blessed (verse 14)?

What will the blessed “have a right to” (verse 14)?

Where will the blessed be able to go (verse 14)?

In your opinion, why are the “dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood” outside (verse 15)?

Who sent the angel with this testimony (verse 16)?

Who says “Come” (verse 17)?

Who is commanded to say “Come” (verse 17)?

Who is supposed to come (verse 17)?

Who is to “take the free gift of the water of life” (verse 17)?

What will happen to those who add anything to the “words of the prophecy of this scroll” (verse 18)?

What will happen to the one who “takes words away from this scroll of prophecy” (verse 19)?

Who says “yes, I am coming soon” (verse 20)?

What is to be with “God’s people” (verse 21)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how does the statement “this is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith” from 1 John 5:1-5 help us to understand the statement “blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city” from Revelation 22:14-21?

In your opinion, how is your understanding of Jesus’ statement “you did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last” from John 15:9-17 increased by Jesus saying in Revelation 22:14-21 “The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.”?

In your opinion, how does the statement of Jesus in Matthew 28:16-19 that “surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” complemented by the statement in Revelation 22:14-21 that “He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”?

In your opinion, what do these passages, from Matthew, John, 1 John and Revelation show us about the Great Commission?

Next, beginning Revelation 2:1 – (sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)