It is doubtful that any specific mountain is in mind; it is important to remember that in Jewish thought hills and mountains are places of divine revelation.

The nearest grammatical antecedent to this construction is found in 26:66, where “they” in Greek is the same as some here: “They answered, ‘He deserves death.’ ” This cannot possibly be taken to mean “Some of them answered”; it must mean “They all answered.” On the basis of this grammatical pattern, one is forced to conclude: all eleven saw him, all eleven worshiped him, and yet all eleven doubted!

All authority … has been given to me may need to be reformulated as an active construction with God as the expressed agent: “God has given me all authority” (GeCL). Or, on the basis of verse 19, it may be even better to render “My Father (in heaven) has given me all authority.”

To make disciples of all nations has been translated by Brc as “make the people of all nations my disciples.”

B. “All nations” (v. 19).

“Teach” is actually “make disciples.” This is a commission to take the Gospel to all nations, and is a definite change from 10:5–6, where the commission was limited to the Jews only. Evangelism alone is not the commission; after people are won, they should be baptized, which suggests a local church fellowship. They should also be taught, which suggests the teaching and preaching of the Word of God. Please keep in mind that our commission is not simply “to win souls.” It is to “make disciples”—which includes winning them, bringing them into a Christian fellowship, and building them up in the faith. While we thank God for every Christian ministry that is true to the Lord and His Word, whatever is done should be tied to the local church.

It is also “them” (that is, the eleven) to whom the risen Lord announces his authority (verse 18), gives the commission (verses 19–20a), and grants the promise of his presence (verse 20b). It is this word that dispels doubt and evokes faith!

C. “All things” (v. 20).

A disciple is a learner, and he is to be taught “all things whatsoever I have commanded you.” This includes the whole Word of God. Man is to live by every word of God (4:4). All Scripture is profitable (2 Tim. 3:16). The church that fails to teach people the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27) is not obeying the Great Commission.

D. “Always” (v. 20).

What a tremendous assurance. “I am with you always!” In Matt. 1:23, He was called “Immanuel”—God with us, and here He reaffirms that name. He is with us through His Spirit, in His Word, by His providential care, and with His divine presence. This is the promise that carried Livingstone into the heart of darkest Africa and that encouraged and enabled messengers of Christ down through the years

Matthew ends his Gospel with a responsibility on the part of the Christian: to take the Gospel to all people. Not all will be saved, but all deserve a chance to hear the Gospel.