My little addition to Our Daily Bread (9/10/12):
“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations,…”
(Matthew 28:19a HCSB)
Perhaps it’s just me, but sometimes I become overly familiar with a verse and I fail to see anything “noteworthy” because it is not necessarily a new insight. Having grown up in a church fellowship that focused on this “Great Commission” verse for both the why of outreach and the how of baptism, I heard it often and memorized it as a youngster. While not a “new insight,” it hit me afresh that this command to “Go” is followed by “therefore.” So I was reminded of the Bible study basic that the most important tool of interpretation is context and specifically “when you encounter the word ‘therefore,’ you must find out what it’s there for” (forgiving the dangling preposition to preserve the mnemonic). Separated only by the verse number (which sadly prevented me from remembering it well when I memorized it) is the reason: Jesus began this statement to the remaining Disciples saying “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” and ended it with the reminder “I am with you always” (v 20). It was told to them and is recorded there for us, His people, to remind us to go, not fearfully as individual sheep among wolves, but wisely as peaceful ambassadors of the Almighty (see also Matthew 10:16). Though no easy command, it’s not a burden we are given to bear alone.
- Andy Jentes
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