What Is the Great Commission? Meaning, Verses and How to Live It
The Everyday Evangelism Path · Step 1 of 15
Last words matter. Before Jesus ascended, He gathered His followers on a mountain in Galilee and gave them one assignment that has shaped the church ever since. Christians call it the Great Commission, and it was never meant to be a slogan on a wall.
The words themselves
Here is the full passage, from Matthew 28:18-20:
"Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'"
It is short enough to memorise, and it is worth doing. Almost every phrase carries weight.
Four parts of the Great Commission
1. The authority: "All authority has been given to me"
The commission starts with who Jesus is, not with what we must do. Because He has all authority, the mission does not depend on our confidence, eloquence or strategy. We go because He sends us, and He has the right to send us anywhere.
2. The command: "Make disciples"
In the original Greek, the main command is "make disciples." Going, baptising and teaching describe how it happens. That matters. Jesus did not ask for decisions or attendance; He asked for disciples: people who learn from Him, follow Him and obey Him for the rest of their lives.
3. The method: going, baptising, teaching
- Going — or "as you go." The mission happens wherever life takes you: your street, your workplace, other cities and other nations.
- Baptising — welcoming new believers publicly into the family of God.
- Teaching them to obey — not just to know, but to obey everything Jesus commanded. Discipleship is about a changed life.
4. The promise: "I am with you always"
The commission ends with presence. Nobody is sent alone. Every conversation, every outreach and every church plant carries the promise that Jesus Himself is with His people "to the very end of the age."
The Great Commission begins with Jesus' authority and ends with His presence. Everything in between is ours to obey.
Where else does Jesus give the commission?
Matthew 28 is the best-known version, but each gospel and Acts records Jesus sending His followers:
- Mark 16:15 — "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation."
- Luke 24:46-49 — repentance for the forgiveness of sins preached in His name to all nations, starting at Jerusalem.
- John 20:21 — "As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."
- Acts 1:8 — "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Together they paint one picture: a message (the gospel), a scope (all nations), a power (the Holy Spirit) and a goal (disciples who make disciples). For more passages grouped by theme, see 30 Bible verses about evangelism.
Who is the Great Commission for?
Every follower of Jesus. Jesus spoke to the eleven disciples, but His promise to be with them "to the very end of the age" shows the commission was meant to outlive them, carried by each generation that follows. Paul describes the same pattern: "the things you have heard me say... entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others" (2 Timothy 2:2).
That does not mean every believer has the same role. Some are sent across the world; most are sent across the street. But no one is excused from the mission. If you want help knowing where to start, evangelism as a lifestyle is a good next read.
The Great Commandment and the Great Commission
When asked for the greatest commandment, Jesus said: love God with all your heart, soul and mind, and love your neighbour as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39). The Great Commission does not replace that. It flows from it. Love is the motive; making disciples is the mission. Evangelism without love becomes a project, and love without the gospel withholds the very best news we have.
How to live the Great Commission today
- Start with your oikos. The people God has already placed around you are your first mission field. Map your oikos and begin praying for them by name.
- Learn to share simply. Practise your testimony and how to explain the gospel in about a minute each.
- Make disciples, not just converts. When someone says yes, walk with them. How to disciple someone gives a simple weekly rhythm.
- Go with others. Join or start an outreach team in your city.
- Think multiplication. The goal is disciples who make disciples. That is the heart behind Evangelize.World, our mission to help establish 100 multiplying outreach groups around the world.
For the whole journey in order, follow The Everyday Evangelism Path, and if you would like your church equipped to live this out together, we would love to come and train your congregation.
Jesus' last command is still our first mission. All for God's glory.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Great Commission in simple terms?
The Great Commission is Jesus' instruction, given after His resurrection, for His followers to go to all nations, make disciples, baptise them, and teach them to obey everything He commanded, with His promise to be with them always (Matthew 28:18-20).
Where is the Great Commission in the Bible?
The best-known version is Matthew 28:18-20. Jesus also commissions His followers in Mark 16:15, Luke 24:46-49, John 20:21 and Acts 1:8.
Is the Great Commission for every Christian?
Yes. Jesus gave it to His disciples and promised to be with them "to the very end of the age," which shows it was meant to continue through every generation of His followers, not only church leaders or missionaries.
What is the difference between the Great Commandment and the Great Commission?
The Great Commandment is to love God with all your heart, soul and mind, and to love your neighbour as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39). The Great Commission is the mission to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). Love is the motive; making disciples is the mission.