Jesus' Commission to Preach to All Nations and Peoples

Jesus' commission to preach to all nations and peoples is a central theme in the New Testament, particularly evident in the Great Commission given to his disciples. This directive extends the scope of the Gospel message beyond a specific group to encompass the entire world ^{[4, 5, 6]}.

The concept of a universal mission is foreshadowed in Jesus' own ministry and explicitly stated in his final instructions. Mark's Gospel records Jesus stating, "And the gospel must first be preached unto all the nations" (Mark 13:10 ASV) ^[1]. This indicates that the global proclamation of the Gospel is a necessary precursor to other eschatological events.

Following his resurrection, Jesus reiterated and expanded this command. In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus instructs his disciples, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen" ^[3]. John Gill interprets "teach all nations" as making them disciples by teaching them the doctrines and ordinances of the Gospel ^[4]. This commission is understood to encompass both the initial evangelization and the ongoing instruction of converts ^[3]. The "I" in "I am with you alway" is emphasized, signifying Christ's continuous presence and authority throughout this mission ^[3].

The scope of this commission is broad, moving beyond the initial confinement of the disciples' ministry to Judea ^[4]. John Gill notes that Jesus' power and authority now extended everywhere, thus the commission reached "all the nations of the world" ^[4]. This universal reach is also highlighted in Acts, where the apostles are commanded to preach "to the people," referring not only to Jews but also to Gentiles and "to all nations, to the whole world, and every creature" ^[5]. This aligns with the understanding that the apostles were to be witnesses "to the uttermost part of the earth" ^[9].

The preaching of the Gospel is described as a "testification of Christ," bearing witness to truths such as his ordination by God to be the "Judge of quick and dead" ^[5]. This message, referred to as "this Gospel of the kingdom," was initially preached by Christ himself and then by his apostles ^[6]. It concerns the kingdom of grace and glory, preparing believers for heaven ^[6]. This Gospel was not to remain confined to Judea but was to be "preached in all the world" ^[6].

The rapid spread of the Gospel in the early church is seen as a fulfillment of this commission. Adam Clarke describes the doctrine of the Gospel as a "traveler" that began in Judea and quickly moved through Syria, Asia Minor, and into the Roman dominion, proclaiming "glad tidings of great joy to all people" ^[7]. This swift dissemination was understood to continue until the message had been proclaimed globally ^[7]. The preaching of "this Gospel" often refers specifically to the doctrine of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection ^[8].

The call to participate in this mission is not limited to a select few. Torrey's Topical Textbook suggests that all Christians should be missionaries, following the example of Christ ^[2]. This includes women and children, as well as men ^[2]. The text emphasizes that it is an "imperative duty" for all believers, regardless of their perceived weakness, to engage in this work ^[2]. This duty stems from their calling as saints and their role as faithful stewards ^[2]. The zeal of idolaters and hypocrites is even presented as a motivation for Christians to be zealous in their mission ^[2]. This commitment is expected throughout one's life, from youth to old age ^[2].

The commission embraces two primary aspects: the missionary and the pastoral ^[3]. The missionary aspect involves the initial proclamation and conversion, while the pastoral aspect focuses on instructing and building up the converted disciples ^[3]. This comprehensive charge underscores the ongoing responsibility of the church to both evangelize the unreached and nurture those who have believed. The promise of Christ's presence "alway, even unto the end of the world" provides assurance and empowerment for this enduring task ^[3].

Sources

Mark “Mark 13:10 (ASV) — And the gospel must first be preached unto all the nations.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Missionaries, All Christians Should Be As — After the example of Christ -- Ac 10:38. Women and children as well as men -- Ps 8:2; Pr 31:26; Mt 21:15,16; Php 4:3; 1Ti 5:10; Tit 2:3-5; 1Pe 3:1. The zeal of idolaters should provoke to -- Jer 7:18. The zeal of hypocrites should provoke to -- Mt 23:15. An imperative duty -- Jdj 5:23; Lu 19:40. The principle on which -- 2Co 5:14,15. However weak they may be -- 1Co 1:27. From their calling as saints -- Ex 19:6; 1Pe 2:9. As faithful stewards -- 1Pe 4:10,11. In youth -- Ps 71:17; 148:12,13. In old age -- De 32:7; Ps 71:18. In”
Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 28:20: Teaching them--This is teaching in the more usual sense of the term; or instructing the converted and baptized disciples. to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I--The "I" here is emphatic. It is enough that I am with you alway--"all the days"; that is, till making converts, baptizing, and building them up by Christian instruction, shall be no more. even unto the end of the world. Amen--This glorious Commission embraces two primary departments, the Missionary and the Pastoral, with two sublime and comprehensive Encourag”
Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 28:19: Go ye therefore,.... Into all the world; some into one place, and some into another; since his power and authority, and so now the commission he gave them, reached every where: before it was confined to Judea, but now it is extended to all the nations of the world; see Mat 10:6, and teach all nations; Jews and Gentiles, first the one, and then the other, the doctrines of the Gospel, and the ordinances of it; whatever they had learned from Christ, or were ordered by him, or "disciple all nations": make them disciples by teaching them; or, as the Persic version, by ”
Acts (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Acts 10:42: And he commanded us, to preach unto the people,.... Not only of the Jews, but of the Gentiles; to all nations, to the whole world, and every creature; for the apostle seems to refer to the commission given to him, and the rest of the apostles, after Christ's resurrection, Mat 28:19. And to testify that it is he which was ordained of God, to be the Judge of quick and dead: the preaching of the Gospel is a testification of Christ, or a bearing a testimony for him; and among the rest to this truth, that he was from all eternity in the council and covenant of grace; appo”
Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 24:14: And this Gospel of the kingdom,.... Which Christ himself preached, and which he called and sent his apostles to preach, in all the cities of Judah; by which means men were brought into the kingdom of the Messiah, or Gospel dispensation; and which treated both of the kingdom of grace and glory, and pointed out the saints' meetness for the kingdom of heaven, and their right unto it, and gives the best account of the glories of it: shall be preached in all the world; not only in Judea, where it was now confined, and that by the express orders of Christ himself; but i”
Colossians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Colossians 1:6: Which is come unto you - The doctrine of the Gospel is represented as a traveler, whose object it is to visit the whole habitable earth; and, having commenced his journey in Judea, had proceeded through Syria and through different parts of Asia Minor, and had lately arrived at their city, every where proclaiming glad tidings of great joy to all people. As it is in all the world - So rapid is this traveler in his course, that he had already gone nearly through the whole of the countries under the Roman dominion; and will travel on till he has proclaimed his messag”
Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 26:13: Verily I say unto you,.... The following words are prefaced in this manner, to excite attention, and command belief: wheresoever this Gospel shall be preached in the whole world. The Syriac version reads it, "my Gospel"; and so the Persic version; and has respect chiefly to the doctrine of his death, burial, and resurrection, which this action of the woman had relation to; for though the incarnation of Christ, and all the actions of his life, and whatsoever he did for the good, and in the room and stead of his people, are good news and glad tidings to the sons of ”
Acts (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Acts 13:44: For so hath the Lord commanded us,.... For though Christ in his first commission restrained his disciples from going into the Gentiles, and preaching to them, yet when he enlarged their commission after his resurrection, he bid them go into all nations, and preach the Gospel to every creature; and told them, that they should be his witnesses to the uttermost part of the earth; see Mat 28:19 unless this should rather be thought to refer to what follows: saying; or "as it is written", as the Syriac version supplies; or "because so saith the Scripture", as the Ethiopic ”

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