What is the Great Commission?

If you’ve spent any time around church or missions, you’ve probably heard the phrase “The Great Commission.”

It gets mentioned in sermons, mission conferences, and outreach talks. But sometimes we assume everyone knows exactly what it means. So before we explain it, let’s try a quick quiz.

Which of the following verses is the Great Commission?

If that quiz was trickier than expected, you’re not alone. A 2018 Barna study found that over half of churchgoers (51%) had never heard of the Great Commission. And when they were given this quiz, 37% of church goers picked the correct verse.¹

What Is the Great Commission?

When Christians talk about the Great Commission, they are referring to Jesus’ final instructions to His followers, most often referencing Matthew 28:18-20.

This moment happens right after the resurrection. Jesus gathers His disciples and sends them out with a clear mission for the future. In simple terms, the Great Commission is Jesus sending His followers to help people from every nation become His disciples.

But that raises some important questions.

Why Did Jesus Give Us This Commission?

When Jesus first spoke these words, He was talking directly to His disciples. They were the ones standing in front of Him on that mountain. But the mission didn’t end with them.

The disciples carried the message of Jesus into new cities and cultures, and new believers joined the movement. Generation after generation, followers of Jesus continued the same task: helping others come to know Him and follow Him.

In other words, the Great Commission wasn’t just for the first disciples. It became the ongoing mission of the church.

Jesus’ heart has always been for the world. Throughout the Bible we see God pursuing people from every nation, language, and culture. The Great Commission is simply the moment when Jesus clearly invited (and continues to invite) His followers to participate in that mission.

It’s not just an assignment. It’s an invitation to join what God is already doing. 

What Does the Great Commission Look Like Today?

Sometimes people hear the phrase “Great Commission” and immediately picture missionaries moving overseas. While cross-cultural missions is definitely part of the story, the Great Commission is bigger than that.

Today, followers of Jesus participate in this mission in many different ways.

• Some people go to places where the gospel is not yet known, serving long-term among people who have little or no access to the message of Jesus. 

• Others share their faith where they already live: in their schools, workplaces, neighborhoods, and communities.

• Many believers pray for the nations, asking God to open doors for the gospel around the world.

• Others give financially or support missionaries, helping send people to places they cannot go themselves.

The Great Commission has always been a global team effort. Different roles, different locations, but the same mission: helping people encounter Jesus and learn to follow Him.

When Is the Task Complete?

This is an important question. Jesus gave the command to make disciples of all nations, but when will that actually happen? The Bible gives us a glimpse of the finish line in Revelation 7:9, where John describes a future moment:

“A great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.”

In other words, the story ends with people from every part of the world worshiping Jesus. The Great Commission is moving toward that moment. Until then, the mission continues.

Is the Great Commission Only in Matthew?

Most people point to Matthew 28:18-20 when they talk about the Great Commission. But something interesting happens when you read the rest of the New Testament. Versions of the same mission appear in all four Gospels and in the book of Acts. Each one highlights a slightly different part of Jesus’ instructions to His followers.

If you want to explore that more, check out our post: The Great Commission in Every Gospel

Seeing the full picture makes the mission of Jesus even clearer.

References:

¹ Barna. (Mar. 27, 2018). 51% of Churchgoers Don’t Know of the Great Commission. Retrieved from https://www.barna.com/research/half-churchgoers-not-heard-great-commission/