Going, Going, Gone
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; Matthew 28:19-20a NASB
Go – Most of us know that this opening word, “Go,” is not an imperative. It is not a command. Yeshua is not telling us to “Go!” as if we are to leave here and travel somewhere else. I know this is a handy verse for motivating missionaries, but this is not what it means in the Greek text. The word, poreuthentes, is a form of the verb poreuomai, usually translated “to go, to send.” That would be fine if the verb in this sentence were a command, but it is an aorist passive participle. Before we can really decide what it means, we have to do a bit of grammar.
Aorist means that this verb is an action completed in the past. Passive means that it was an action done to someone. And a participle connects an action to another part of the sentence (it presents the bare idea of the verb as if it were an adjective describing a noun or pronoun). Yes, I know this is complicated, but it will be worth it.
Let’s apply these definitions to the text. The translation cannot be “go” because that would require the word to be in the present tense, like “I go.” Here the word is in the past tense so it must be something like “having gone.” But it is passive, which means that I didn’t do the “going.” Someone or something else caused me to go. So we should read, “Having been caused to go.” Since it is a participle, this passive action needs to be connected to some noun or pronoun. But there isn’t any noun or pronoun in this sentence. By implication, this action is applied to those who are listening even though they aren’t named. We have to assume that this action describes the listeners. It doesn’t tell them what to do. It describes what is already true about them.
So far we have this translation: “[You] having been caused to go, therefore . . .” Now we need to add the fact that Yeshua didn’t speak Greek. What happens to this translation when we read it in Hebrew? The Hebrew idea of “going” is not like the Greek idea. Especially in this verse, it is most likely that Yeshua used the Hebrew verb halak, “to walk, to go in a certain direction.” This Hebrew idea is an idiom used to describe a way of life, a way that is in conformity with God’s directions. While the Greek idea suggests a path that leads to God, the Hebrew idea suggests following a path that God has already given. In other words, “to walk in God’s way” is to live according to the covenant – the Torah.
Now let’s translate. “[You] having been caused to live according to God’s way, therefore . . .” This is a far cry from the usual evangelism translation. What this suggests is that those who are walking in God’s way make disciples. Those who are not walking in God’s way do not make disciples. They might make recruits or even converts, but since they don’t walk in God’s way, they cannot make disciples. Furthermore, we learn that we are not the ones who were responsible for making ourselves walk in God’s way. Someone or something else caused us to walk in God’s way. It’s fairly easy to see how that happened. In the previous verse, Yeshua says, “All authority has been given to Me.” He is the one who has caused us to walk in God’s way. We cannot do it on our own. His action in the past, an action completed in the death and resurrection, has had its effect on us. We have been brought near. We have been given the new heart that we need in order to follow in God’s way. That’s why we make disciples.
Perhaps we need to re-evaluate our perspective on evangelism. What do you think?
Topical Index: go, evangelism, Matthew 28:19, poreuomai, halak
Skip, it is indeed time to rethink our perspective on evangelism.
I am pro world missions, because I see the LORD’s heart for nations throughout scripture. I have also dedicated most of my grown-up life to evangelism and world missions.
However, lately I have been reading New Testament verses that is often used for encouraging missions in general, in the context they have been written and in the context of where they came from in the Torah and Haftarrah – and even where they are repeated in the book of Revelations. And more and more there is this haunting feeling in my head, that we (I include myself in this group) have put missionaries on the field with a false doctrine (false in this case being not the real truth, but something we believed to be the truth because of our lack of knowledge).
One example would be Matt 24:14
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”
For centuries people in missions have warned false prophets that proclaim the coming of Christ is near, that the whole world has not “been reached” yet and therefore it can not be the coming of Y’shua yet. (Those familiar with the Joshua Project – which I think is a great endeavor – will know the verse well). We believed that the whole world would first hear and then Y’shua will come.
However, if it is read in context we notice that :14 only happens / is completed after/during the tribulation (Skip, please help with the real tense in which it should be seen). We also know that the “end” does not come with Y’shua’s return, but only after the 1000 years.
Rev 14:6-7
Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having he everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth – to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people -saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgement has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.
The context of this verse is the gathering of the 144,000 after Babylon has fallen …
We also see that the context is the “hour of his judgement” and not before the return of Y’shua.
(Rev. 14:12 is a good encouragement for us for the future).
Rev 14:15 onwards describe the “reaping of the harvest” – for the winepress of the wrath of God.
I do not for one moment think that the above releases us from making disciples, but I do think that our perspective and motivation for evangelism is skew. And if you motivate something incorrectly from scripture, it is bound to somewhere go wrong. And this is where I am at presently. I want to rethink and reconstruct my foundations.
I would really appreciate it if you could continue examining our perspective on evangelism. It is something very near to my heart and, I believe, incredibly important if we do in fact care for the nations and if we do not want to duplicate our mistakes and ignorance amongst those who have not heard yet.
“Rev 14:6-7 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having he everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth”
Hi Ilze,
Rev 14:6-7 makes me think of AFTER THE GOLDRUSH by NEIL YOUNG, for some reason 🙂
Well I dreamed I saw the silver spaceship flying
In the yellow haze of the sun
There were children crying and colours flying
All around the chosen one
All in a dream, all in a dream
The loading had begun
Flying mother nature’s silver seed
To a new home in the sun
Flying mother nature’s silver seed
To a new home
Maybe because hOme is where the heart is?
hOME IS WHERE MY HEART IS – HOME WITH HIM & THEN HERE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN…♥
JAN
Now knowing the good news (Christ has been crucified, buried and resurrected)- “as you are going” make disciples..- teach, preach, proclaim the good news (the gospel of Christ) to everyone we meet, from those who are near (our neighbors) to those who have never heard (those who are far off) anything of Christ.
Can you imagine life without Christ? We would we be without Him? –
the word were written by Mylon R. Lefevre
Without Him I could do nothing,
Without Him I’d surely fail;
Without Him I would be drifting,
Like a ship without a sail
Jesus, O Jesus, Do you know Him today?
Do not turn Him away!
O Jesus, O Jesus, Without Him
How lost I would be
Without Him, I would be dying,
Without Him I’d be enslaved;
Without Him Life would be hopeless –
But with Jesus, Thank God I’m saved.
Jesus, O Jesus, Do you know Him today?
Do not turn Him away!
O Jesus, O Jesus, Without Him
How lost I would be…
I have to ask the question- Is Christ necessary? Do we really need a Savior? Does mankind need “saving?” After all, this is the year 2011. Look how far we have “progressed.” In science, technology, wisdom, understanding- we have everything we need apart from G-d..- or do we?
Solomon’s opening statement is just as valid today as it ever was. It is because the word of the LORD (through Solomon’s pen) endures forever. Just as fresh as today’s newspapers- and far more relevant. “Vanity of vanity” – all is vanity.
Those of us who know Him, -know this is true. Life before Christ. I remember. I’m not that far removed from “back in the day..” It was not a pretty picture.. I was headed downhill on greased roller skates.. (you know the drill- and know it well- don’t you?) -The wages of sin is death- (separation). You’ve got to pay to play..
“If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). I didn’t write this, this didn’t originate from me, -this is not my opinion- this is straight from G-d’s book. One thing separates us from G-d and one thing restores our relationship with Him. Provision has been made. There is power in the electrical receptacle in the wall, but it does us no good until we “plug in” to it. How is tHis blood applied to us? This “new covenant” blood? “This is the new testament (covenant) in my blood- drink ye all of it..” – Again, not my words.. His.
Until we go to Calvary, and see our Savior upon the cross. Until we bow (and bow low) before this cross, we will never enter into the kingdom of G-d. Until we behold the Lamb upon the cross, my sin upon His shoulders- and come unto G-d through Him (who is the Door) -we do not have half a Hallelujah for our hope of heaven. How are we “reconciled” to G-d? How are we brought near to Him (the holy ONE?). Only through the atoning, propitiating sacrifice of the Son of G-d, only through the blood that was shed for the sins of the world.
Seems to me that the value of the Great Commission isn’t so much the Commission but rather the Great Commissioner. He is the book ends to this verse….preceding this verse is the statement that Yeshua has been given all authority (sovereignly rules and reigns) and following this verse is the promise of His personal presence (I will be with you always)….With these book ends properly in place and with me then doing what He did while on earth (as Yeshua was going along He made disciples), could our evangelistic efforts ever not be “successful?”
I love David’s 100% satisfaction guaranteed program for “discipleship and evangelism” in Psalm 51:12-13: “Restore to me the joy of YOUR salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways and they will turn to you.”
amen David. I have found, if I am walking in the Spirit, nothing between my soul and the Savior, ready and willing to do what is pleasing in the (constant) sight of my Savior- He brings the “fish” to me! -It’s like fishing in a bucket. He said, (we do remember His words, right?)- “Follow me, and I will make you (to be) fishers of men.” We can’t do any fishing, if we are not following. But if we are following Him (do as I do)- He will (dipso fatso) make us- fishers of men.
This goes for Joe the plummer, Carl the electrician, John the painter, Kelsey the painter- etc. We will attract people (or repel people) based on our right-relationship with the ONE who now is resident within us. G-d no longer has a temple for His people, He has a people for His temple, and we, dear family, are now the temple of the living G-d. “Christ (is now) in you- the hope of glory!” (The certainty of beauty.) We (daily) are being conformed (through the heat and pressure of daily life) into the image of (the) Christ, and Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people.
Meanwhile.. (back on the planet)- life is a school. The University of Hard Knocks. We (all) have a Teacher and we (all) have a Textbook. We are the talmudim. We are the students. We are the learners. And “when the student is ready- the Teacher will show up.”
Good word Skip! How does this new info mesh with being salt and light? Do we make sure our own communities are walking in God’s ways before we go to the world? This is a very interesting and ongoing debate in my life.
Skip, as you rightly point out, “go” is not the imperative here. Maybe you’ll follow this post and teach on the imperatives that are contained here.
Thanks again for a great reminder.
” That’s why we make disciples.”
Skip, didn’t you somewhere teach that we cannot MAKE disciples. God is in charge of the MAKING of disciples, we can and must only disciple. Yeshua causes us to walk in His Way, just like he causes the disciple to follow?
Ilze, I think YHWH knows your heart and you are one of the few I know that has the testimony of what discipleship means. Working in countries where speaking God’s name, leads to the persecution, takes some special faith and skill. And I guess that is what He really wants from us, all the time, being a set apart people by doing and living His Way. Using my words to worship and minister unto Him and not to formulate excuses.
Is “to walk in God’s Way” the only kind of discipling? Or are there examples of different methods the disciples used?
Thanks for keeping me on track. That, of course, is the problem with producing a lot of content. Sometimes the words come back to you. As for walking God’s way, I think there is a general path (Torah) and a specific path (what God calls you to do). The specific path does not violate Torah but rather refines its application in the individual’s life.
For some reason, when I put “why we make disciples” together with Going, Going, Gone
It makes me think of the movie Gone Baby Gone
Where the hero ends up home alone
Great movie though
Thank you for keeping the gray matter in my head working; your words always cause me to really think, and sometimes I have to read it a couple of times to get it straight! I think I understand this, is it kind of like, you can’t give what you don’t have? In other words to disciple someone you have to invite them to walk along the path that you are on yourself and be a guide and helper. I can’t disciple someone if I’m not on the right path myself.
-is it kind of like, you can’t give what you don’t have?-
Cindy..- the answer to this is an absolute yes!! We cannot give that which we do not possess. Physically or spiritually- “both.” If my “pockets” are empty, (or my emotional ‘tank’)- how is it possible to give that which I do not possess? Before it comes through us- it must come to us,- I cannot give away that which I have not received. This is another reason why it is “more blessed to give, than to receive” because to be able to give shows possession! Hallelujah!- I have it to give!