Really Great

The GREAT Commission
Matthew 28:18-20

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, baptising 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."

The 'all' in 'all authority' is here used in the distributive sense: every form of authority is at His command. He does not just have the authority of moral persuasion among individuals and in the inter-personal realm. He also has authority in the ecclesiastical, and all other realms. (cf. Rev 1:5; Phil 2:10; Romans 14:11).

Following upon this claim of universal authority, He delivers to His few followers the obligation and plan for universal conquest. ... The command of the resurrected Christ who possesses 'all authority' is for His followers to bring all nations as nations to conversion and baptism. The word ethne is employed rather than basileia ('kingdom') to show that His concern is not for earthly political power. The word anthropos ('man') is passed by, demonstrating His concern is for the transformation of all of culture, rather than just individuals.

Not only does He command them on the basis of universal authority, but He closes with the promise that He will be with them to the completion of the task.... Here we find no inkling of failure for the Church (ultimately?) or the obscurity of the faith.

p226-227 He Shall Have Dominion by Gentry