GOSPEL READING
THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW
THE RESURRECTION
Make Disciples: Mt 28,16-20
This final scene brings together many strands from the Gospel. In particular, we need to read this scene with the great scene at the end of chapter 25, 25,31-46, as I noted when we read that passage. Both scenes speak of "all the nations" (28,19; 25,32).
We also need to note that this scene takes place on "the mountain". We have seen the importance of mountain setting for a number of important events in the Gospel. We will consider in a separate section below the role of "the mountain" for Matthew.
We begin by seeing how this scene falls into two parts, the approach (verses 16-17) and the commissioning (verses 18-20).
Who approaches the disciples? Or, put another way, what title is not used in this scene, as, for example, in 25,31? What is the significance of this?
How many disciples are in verse 16? What seems to be missing from 28,16 in view of 26,56 and 26,75?
What is the significance of Galilee? See 4,15. There is a notable contrast here with Luke, Lk 24,49.
Like the women (28,9) the disciples now worship Jesus (28,17), yet some doubted. Can we draw any conclusions from this? See 14,31. For "worship" see 2,2.9
For the background to verse 18, see once again Dan 7,13-14. Look back also at 25,31-46
"Make disciples" in verse 19 is a verb in Greek. "All nations" stands in contrast with 10,6. See also 4,15 (as above) and 24,14.
The mention of baptising here is perhaps a surprise; there is no preparation for it in the Gospel. Likewise, the highlighting of the Trinity, but see Jesus' own baptism, 3,16-17.
The baptism may be translated as "into the name of ..." Consider the implications of this instead of the usual "in".
"All that I commanded you": what is the principal feature of this Gospel?
The last words of the Gospel recall the beginning, 1,23 and the middle, 18,20.
"End of the age" see Mt 24,3.
Look now at my response.
The Mountain
This climatic scene is as we saw set on "the mountain". We have seen a number of times how the mountain is the setting for important events in this Gospel: 4,8; 5,1; 14,23; 15,29; 17,1; 24,3. We had a first look at this during our overview of the whole Gospel.
Now that we have read through the Gospel, we need to review them all the mountain scenes and the events linked with each of them. Consider how all these events come to fulfillment in this final mountain event (some counting may help). Make a list of the mountains and see if a pattern emerges. Go back to our reading of chapter 4 and compare and contrast what happens on the mountain of 4,8 with events on this mountain of 28,16.
Look again at my response.
From beginning to end
Matthew has now finished his Gospel by looking to the end of the age (28,20).
This Gospel is a story which began at the beginning, the origins (genesis) of Jesus (1,1). The story now ends with the risen Jesus who will be present with his Church until the end of the age, that great scene to come which was described at the end of chapter 25, Mt 25,31-46.
We have in this Gospel therefore a magnificant sweep through history from beginning to end, from the origins to the completion of the age. It is a story centred on Jesus Christ, "who is, who was and who is to come" (Apoc 1,8).
This is also the story of the Bible itself, which begins "in the beginning" (Gen 1,1) and ends with "Come Lord, Jesus" (Apoc 22,20).