Go Ye Therefore and Teach

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Matthew 28:19-20  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  (20)  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.

“teach” – Greek matheteuo (math-ayt-yoo-o); to instruct as a student; to make into a disciple.

Though the word “disciple” is used almost 30 times in the New Testament and the word “teach” is used more than 30 times, this particular form is only used four times. It is found in the following scriptures:

1. Matthew 13:52  …Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven…
2. Matthew 27:57  …a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple:
3. Matthew 28:19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations…
4. Acts 14:21  And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many…

So, we see the way Jesus uses this word “teach” is meant to convey a very specific meaning and intention from the Lord. The Lord Himself commands every minister He calls, not to just make church service attendees or program participants, but to go and make disciples out of everyone from every place that they can.

A disciple is someone who learns to discipline themselves to both learn and apply the teachings of another person. We take notice that this command to go and make disciples does not carry with it a guarantee that all who hear the teachings of Christ will allow themselves to be developed into a disciple of Christ. The command is simply to go and start the process through teaching.

If the minister will do their part, then Jesus tells us in verse 20 of the Bible reading that He will do His part, when He says …and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. It is then incumbent upon the hearer of God’s word to do their part which is to be …instructed unto the kingdom of heaven…(Matthew 13:52)

Insight and Foresight

In order to properly make someone into a disciple of Christ, as instructed by Jesus, there must be insight and foresight, and both of these come from God. The insight has to do with knowing what to teach from God’s word, how to teach it, and when to teach it.

The foresight is the ability to be able to see, from the beginning, not just the next step, but where it is that God would like the minister to ultimately guide the one they are teaching. It means to have a forward-looking vision on behalf of the one who is being taught.

In other words, having a pathway forward for the one being taught that reaches beyond simply attending services just for the sake of attending services.

Remember, the Lord doesn’t teach us to simply create church service attendees or program participants, but to teach people how to meaningfully apply the word of God to their personal lives so that they grow and develop spiritually.

Developing Spiritual Fruit

Remember in Mark 4 where Jesus is teaching about the parable of the sower? He says in Mark 4:8  And other (seeds) fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.

He then clarifies that the sower is the teacher of God’s word and the seed is God’s word in Mark 4:14  The sower soweth the word.

Then He completes the thought in Mark 4:20  And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

The fruit spoken of by Jesus is spiritual fruit that develops in people’s lives. This spiritual fruit is itemized for us by the Apostle Paul in Galatians 5:22-23  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  (23)  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Have you ever wondered how to apply the fruit of the Spirit to your life? Jesus told us in Mark 4:20  …such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit…

Through the verses we’ve discussed, we are given a step-by-step process of what making a disciple looks like.

1. The minister obeys the Lord. Go and start the process by teaching God’s word.
2. Seek insight and foresight from the Lord on behalf of the disciples being taught.
3. Ensure the disciple understands their responsibilities for hearing and receiving the word for themselves.
4. Watch for the fruit of the Spirit to be produced.

It has been my experience that when someone truly hungers and thirsts for the word of God and His righteousness,…they shall be filled. (Matthew 5:6)!

Going and teaching all nations is a joint effort between the minister and the disciple and when both are doing their parts, great spiritual fruit is produced in both of their lives!

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