Matthew 28:16. Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
Away from the haunts of men, where he had been wont to be, in a country familiar to them, and with which he was familiar, in a despised country, «Galilee of the Gentiles.»
Matthew 28:17. And when they saw him, they worshipped him:
Probably this was the occasion referred to by Paul, when the risen Saviour «was seen of above five hundred brethren at once.»
Matthew 28:17. But some doubted.
There were some honest doubters then. The breed has been kept up ever since, only there are more dishonest doubters by a great deal than there are of honest ones now. We can never expect to be quite free from doubters in the church, since even in the presence of the newly-risen Christ «some doubted.»
Matthew 28:18. And Jesus came and spake unto them,
These words seem to imply that he came nearer to them than he was at first; unveiling himself still more, and revealing himself more clearly.
Matthew 28:18-19. Saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,
«Teach», that is, disciple, make disciples of «all nations.»
Matthew 28:19-20. 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:
There is teaching again. It is as much the duty of the Christian to teach after baptism as to teach before baptism; he must be ever teaching. Hence believers are always to be learners, since Christ would have his servants always to be teachers: «Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.» We are not to invent a gospel; we are not to change, and shift, and cut, and shape it to meet the advancement of the age; Christ's command is plain: «Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.»
Matthew 28:20. And, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
They have their commission, here is the seal to it; here is the source of their power; here is the society in which they are to work: «Lo, I am with you alway.» God grant that you and I, going forth to teach for Christ. may always have the sound of our Master's feet with us, even to the end of the world! Amen.
This exposition consisted of readings from Luke 4:16-30; Luke 9:57-62; and Matthew 28:16-20.