Treasures New and Old

On Being a Disciple – Our Commission

“As a disciple, I want to master the Bible so that the Master of the Bible can become my Master.”

– Author unknown

As we start this series of study, I thought it prudent in this first article to introduce you to a major command that Christ gave to His disciple regarding making disciples. We will also discuss some definitions of commands that a disciple has been told to do for other would-be disciples. Notice that most of my quotes are direct quotes from the Master Himself!

“Make Disciples” – “Great Commission”

God called us to make disciples as one of the last things He taught His disciples. This, then, seems like a good place to start in the study of discipleship.

Matthew 28:16-20: “Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 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.“

Definitions:

Let’s dig into a few key words in this passage:

Worshipped: proskuneo: prostrate oneself in homage (Strong’s G4352)

Go: poreuthentes: [h]aving gone (Green, 1993, p. 91), as you go

Verb, nominative case [pointing to the subject – “you”], plural [all you all], masculine [talking to the eleven men disciples], particle [expresses a relationship between the verb and subject], aorist tense [a particular act without a time limit – keep on going], passive voice [the subject is being acted upon – this means in this case, you are not deliberately going to make disciples, but as you go about your normal life’s business, make disciples] (Gilbrant, The Complete Biblical Library Interlinear Bible).

Teach (1st): matheteusate (Gilbrant): to disciple, make them a disciple, become a pupil, instruct, teach (Strong’s G3100)

Verb, 2nd person [Jesus to the disciples], plural, imperative [command], aorist [no time limit] active [you are very involved] (Gilbrant). This word is not just teaching but mentoring and forming others to become a disciple themselves.

Baptizing: baptizontes (Gilbrant): to make fully wet, to wash wholly, in ceremony – immersion (Strong’s G907)

Verb, nominative [“you”], plural [all you all], masculine [the disciples], particle [build a relationship], aorist [no time limit – do as often as you need to] active [you are doing it deliberately] (Gilbrant).

Teach (2nd): didaskontes (Gilbrant): to learn, instruct, to teach (Strong’s G1321)

Verb, nominative [“you”], plural, masculine [the disciples], particle [build a relationship], present [now and as long as there is a now], active [you are doing it deliberately] (Gilbrant). This word is the actual act of imparting knowledge – teaching.

To observe: terein (Gilbrant): to guard, keep an eye on, watch, hold fast, value (Strong’s G5083) (like putting a safe and locks around your jewels)

Verb, infinitive [sort of turns “observing” into a verb-noun], present [now and as long as there is a now], active [you do the work] (Gilbrant).

Command: eneteilamen (Gilbrant): compound word of telos (end, finish, complete) G1722 and en (in, by, with, among) (Strong’s G5056) together they mean “what I have enjoined, taught, commanded to you” (Wordsearch’s Strong’s G1781))

Verb, 1st person [Jesus gave the commands], indicative [it is a statement of fact – Jesus did teach these commands], singular [Jesus gave them, not someone else], aorist [no time limit – these commands never expire], middle voice [I, Jesus, do these commands myself] (Gilbrant).

(Slightly expanded) Matthew 28:19-20: Having gone therefore, disciple all nations. Baptizing them to the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you, and lo, I am with you all the days until completion of the age.

If You Love Me

John 14:12-17 (emphasis added):

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be gloried in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Love: Agapao (Strong’s G25): selfless, sacrificing love that does not seek its own, but that of the one who is the object of that love

Commandments: Entolas (Gilbrant): the precepts, teachings, commands, law, principles, doctrines and duties

Keep: teresate: “you will keep”; to guard, obey, keep an eye on, learn and understand, watch, to observe intently, be vigilant regarding, etc. (partly taken from Strong’s G5083). It is a 2nd person plural verb that is future active indicative (Gilbrant). Indicative mood in Greek is a command expected to be obeyed or carried out. But notice, you are to obey the command to guard, observe, value, learn, understand, watch, etc. Obedience will come naturally as we do these other things.

What is the greatest commandment?

Four Basic Elements of a Kingdom:

A King: The Lord Jesus Christ
A Jurisdiction: In His future kingdom, He will rule the world. In His present kingdom, He wants to rule our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Laws: The commands of Christ
Citizens Who Follow Laws: Jesus’ disciples

The theme of Christ’s and Paul’s preaching was the Kingdom of God. Jesus told us to make it our first priority, and Paul proclaimed it to both Jews and Gentiles. Paul’s final days under house arrest were spent teaching things about the Kingdom of God (Acts 19:8; 20:25; 28:23).

Mark 12:28-31: “And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandments of all? And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.“

A Thought: Being a disciple means that we study, memorize and follow what Christ teaches. As we follow the “Great Commission” in our lives, we must also keep an eye on “The Greatest Commandment” – to do what we do out of love.

Disciples were perhaps not yet saved (Acts 19)

The disciples of John were not saved, but well taught – they, then, received the truth of Jesus and were baptized in the Holy Spirit. Note Paul then baptized them in Jesus’ name and imparted in them the Holy Spirit.
Taught unsaved Jews in the synagogue for three months.
- Disputing – debating, convincing, conversing, answering questions
- Persuading – teaching, making friends, building trust
“Divers” verse 9, old English words, certain men, some person
“Hardened” – stubborn, contentious
School of Tyrannus: A Greek school of Philosophy of rhetoric and debate; both Jews and Gentiles, and saved and unsaved attended, open forum, come and go and you please, enter in as you please. Probably had several rooms where the various philosophers could gather an audience and teach/debate. It is likely that Paul mended tents (or whatever) in the morning and taught in the afternoon since these debate halls tended to be open during the afternoon and evenings. Paul did this for two years.

What can we glean from Matthew 28:19-20?

As we go about our lives (an active action on our part) we passively add to our actions making disciples. That is, we (1 Peter 3:15) “. . . sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”
It has no time limit, we always are ready.
The Holy Spirit captured a verb that includes building a relationship with the people we talk to, as I imagine Paul did in the debate halls.
The teaches words. One (an imperative) means to make students, and the other means to impart knowledge. Two-fold goal, befriend and turn them into students of what we teach, and as you build that relationship, teach them truth. P.S. debate is OK if you don’t get over your head and you discern if this person is a swine (don’t give him/her truth they will trample over). Notice when the “divers” showed up, Paul moved on. The first teaches (making disciples) is aorist (no time limit – do as often as you need to), and the second one (import knowledge) is present which says it could be a regular activity: daily, weekly, etc., with that student.
Baptizing: says to build a relationship and then immerse them (after they believe).

It is active which means you do the baptism. It is plural which, of course, means “all you all.” It is aorist (no time limit – do as often as you need to – as in baptizing those you meet – we can infer that what Jesus was saying, “don’t stop baptizing people as you lead time to Christ”).

“To observe”: to watch, to guard, implied, memorize, study, learn about, hold in value (as in when science and the Bible conflict, the Bible has the precedence). It is active, both for you and the student. It is present – do it all the time (like King David who meditates day and night).
“Commanded” – a word full of meaning. Let’s examine it again:
- Verb – an action of some kind
- 1st person (Jesus gave the commands)
- Indicative (it is a statement of fact – Jesus did teach these commands)
- Singular (Jesus gave them, not someone else)
- Aorist (no time limit – these commands never expire)
- Middle voice (I, Jesus, do these commands myself)

Caution!

Each Testament has history, doctrine, and prophecy.
The unique section is the gospels. It is the glue that brings the two testaments together.
Jesus taught from the top two commandments, upon which the 10 commandments hang, upon which the 613 Mitzots hang. In effect, layered.
So, too, are the teachings of Christ like the apex upon which the doctrines of Paul, Peter, James, and John hang, upon which our Baptist Statement of Faith hangs. Do not neglect the top layer! After all, who is our Master, Savoir, and King? Who are we to be a disciple of?

Where to Start

Romans 12:1-2: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Recap:

If ye love me, keep my commandments.
What is the greatest commandment? Love God and love your neighbor as thyself.
You may even disciple the lost with the goal of getting them saved.
Purpose to follow the Great Commission to make disciples and teach them.
Start by having a Romans 12:1-2 experience between yourself and the Master – the Lord Jesus Christ!

Maranatha!

May God bless you all!

Bro. Joe

References

Gilbrant, T. The Complete Biblical Library Interlinear Bible. World Library Press. (2020). Wordsearch Bible. [computer software]. Nashville, TN: LifeWay Christian Resources. (Original work published 1990)

Strong, J. Strong's Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries. Meyers, R. (2005). e-Sword. [computer software] . Franklin, TN: Equipping Ministries Foundation. (Original work published 1539)

Strong, J. Strong’s Talking Greek_Hebrew Dictionary. Wordsearch. (2020). Wordsearch Bible. [computer software] . Nashville, TN: LifeWay Christian Resources. (Original work published 1890).

Unknown.

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