To Whom Was The Great Commission Given?

  Matthew 28:19 and Mark 16:15 applied only to the apostles and that we are no longer under obligation to take the gospel to the whole world. I would like to make a rather detailed study of this matter.

As we study the Great Commission in Matthew and Mark, the context shows that these commands were indeed directed to the apostles.

"Afterward He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. And He said to them, 'Go into all the world ...'" (Mark 16:14-15).

"Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. And when they saw Him, they worshipped Him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore ...'" (Matthew 28:16-19).

He also told them: "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

It was the purpose of Jesus to have twelve witnesses whom He called apostles. So we read: "Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection. ... And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles" (Acts 1:21,22,26).

A witness can testify to what he has seen, heard or touched. This was the basis of John's teaching: "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life - the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us - that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full" (1 John 1:1-4).

The twelve apostles were the witnesses of the resurrection. Although Paul saw Jesus on the way to Damascus, he acknowledges that the twelve were the witnesses. In his sermon at Antioch of Pisidia he says: "But God raised Him from the dead. He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people" (Acts 13:30,31). Peter explains further: "Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead" (Acts 10:40-42).

At first some of the apostles doubted (Matthew 28:17; Mark 16:14). Thomas was among them. He was not present one evening for the meeting when Jesus came to them (John 20:19,20,24). The other disciples told him of Jesus' appearance. "But he said to them, 'Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe" (John 20:25). He was asking for the evidence of sight and touch.

The apostles were assembled again a week later. This time Thomas was there. Jesus, knowing in His divine wisdom what Thomas had said, told him: "'Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.' And Thomas answered and said to Him, 'My Lord and my God!'" (John 20:27,28).

Jesus said men must believe the gospel in order to be saved (Mark 16:16). Paul said that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to the believer (Romans 1:16). Paul said that the gospel is the death, burial and resurrection of Christ attested by faithful witnesses (1 Corinthians 15:1-8). Jesus said that we are to become believers by the words of these chosen men: "I do not pray for these alone [the apostles], but also for those who will believe in Me through their word: that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one is Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me" (John 17:20,21). We are saved by faith in that gospel which was made known by the apostles.

We can have a blessing the apostles could never have. Thomas, after seeing the risen Lord, said: "My Lord and My God!" (John 20:28). How precious to each of us are the following words of Jesus: "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:29).  

Those of us who are saints have read what these Apostles said and did, then with the spirit and power of the Father through Jesus were taught the truth.

When we accept the evidence of the chosen witnesses we are blessed according to the promise of Christ. We are to be believers in the written word. "And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name" (John 20:30,31).

We have learned what the gospel is. Men are to be saved by that gospel. The gospel was to be preached by the apostles. Their witness of the resurrection is to be believed. A great blessing is ours when we accept the written word.

This gospel was never to be changed. We read: "I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:6-9).

I want to emphasize one thing in the gospel. Jesus said after He arose from the dead: "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth" (Matthew 28:18). By the power of the Holy Spirit Paul said that Christ was "declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead" (Romans 1:4). Jesus saves those who obey (Hebrews 5:9). We are not to go beyond the things that are written (1 Corinthians 4:6; 2 John 9).

Finally we want to go back to the Great Commission. We have learned that the gospel was given to the apostles. The message they proclaimed is never to be altered. It is only by their word that men become disciples of Christ being baptized into the name of the Son. These baptized believers are to receive further instruction: "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:20). What had Jesus commanded the apostles? Among other things He commanded them to preach the gospel to the whole creation! So this command of Jesus to the apostles is ongoing today through the words in scripture; remember John 17; "I do not pray for these alone [the apostles], but also for those who will believe in Me through their word:”

The Holy Spirit of the FATHER is the power that can teach the truth of the gospel to those the FATHER calls.  The Holy Spirit of the FATHER is the Elijah to come.

Matthew 17:11    

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.

John the Baptist was a type of Elijah the prophet who came in spirit and power; this Spirit was of the FATHER as was the power. No man will glory, only the FATHER will glory.

This is John the Baptist prepared the way of the first advent.

Isaiah 40:3  The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Malachi 3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

This is the Elijah to come before the second advent.

Malachi 4:5-6 

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

In each case the spirit and power of Elijah was not of a man named Elijah but was the spirit of the FATHER.

John 1:19-22

19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?

20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.

21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.

22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?

23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

Paul by the power of the Holy Spirit said to Timothy: "And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also" (2 Timothy 2:2).

After the command, Jesus also gave a promise: "and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20). The Great Commission, originally given to the apostles, is to echo through the ages until the end of time. Amen.

Now we live in what is near to the time of the end of this age. Circumstances and people have changed to be what Jesus, the prophets and Apostles warned about.  It is like the days of Noah. The people have their minds seared with a hot iron and despise the gospel message. Certain ungodly men have crept in unaware and have corrupted and perverted the message of the gospel resulting in many false gospels that hold the place of the majority in this evil world. Much truth has been lost and needs restored.  We are not to cast pearls before swine or give what is holy unto dogs. Among ourselves, that is the saints, we can share with each other the things we receive by inspiration through the spirit of the FATHER through Jesus.  This is how the sheep are fed today.  It is a John said:

1 John 2:27   

But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

Spiritual understanding of the truth of the FATHER always comes from the FATHER through Jesus to us.  Even when saints “teach” each other the understanding is made possible by divine inspiration.  What John wrote above is the same thing Jesus told us:

John 14:26-

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

 

John 15:26  

But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

 

John 16:7  

Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

 

John 16:13  

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

This comforter is the Elijah to come who will restore all things, testify of Jesus Christ and show us things to come. The comforter is the Holy Spirit of the FATHER. 

At this time the FATHER is not saving the world but only a small flock called the first fruits, the elect, and these people are personally chosen by the FATHER. Today and since the Apostle Paul’s work it is primarily gentiles being chosen and grafted into the church to replace the unbelieving Israelites. The ancient church before Jesus, of Hebrews 11, is the church that was in the wilderness and they are part of the 144000. The church today, mostly gentile, will finish out the 144000. When the last of the elect is chosen the times of the gentiles will end and all the elect saints will be sealed weather alive or dead.