The Great Commission (Part 3)
The greatest command(s) inside the greatest commission
===
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
Matt. 28:19-20 (ESV)
===
Our jobs as disciple-makers doesn’t end when a person becomes a Christian.
We must follow up with them, teaching them to observe all that Jesus commanded.
And what did Jesus just command them to do?
Make disciples.
There are lots of other commands that Jesus gave, but, of course, they are all rooted inside the Great Commandment (found in Matt. 20).
In short: Love God, Love People.
As a task-minded person, I tend to focus on all the great things I could be doing for God and I often forget how important it is just to be in relationship with God.
Yet, God draws me into relationship with Him.
Perfection in the garden of Eden was humanity walking with God every day — i.e., a relationship.
It’s part of why Christians — following the example set by Jesus — can call God our Dad.
And the overflow of this love-relationship with our heavenly Father pours out into our relationships with His ultimate creation: people. Loving people is logical when we’re in the right alignment with God.
All the other little commands that God uses to keep us safe and help us thrive grow out of this great commandment:
Love God, Love People.
— Ricky Ketchum
Copyright © 2025 by Ricky Ketchum. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication prohibited.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible® copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV®Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NKJV) are from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
