Four
Commissions In The New Testament
Pastor David L. Brown, Ph.D.
According to my Webster’s New World Dictionary a
commission is "an authorization to perform certain duties or
tasks, or take on certain powers." My 1828 Noah Webster’s Dictionary
put it this way, "The act of entrusting, as a charge or duty."
Therefore, a commission is a charge, order or mandate given with the
authority to carry out the task.
Let me give you an illustration. In my office
file I have my commission as a Chaplain. In that commission I was
appointed as a military chaplain and then assigned orders telling me
where I am to serve and what I am to do.
In this message we are going to look at four of
the commissions in the New Testament.
I should also note that the actual word
commission is only used once in the Bible. We find that in
Acts
26:12 where Paul writes, "Whereupon as I went to Damascus with
authority and commission from the chief priests." The context
is this: the Jewish Sanhedrim had given Saul (later Paul) the charge
and the authority to bring Christians at Damascus bound to
Jerusalem, in order to be punished. Acts 9:2 gives us further
insight into this - "And desired of him letters to Damascus to the
synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men
or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem."
While the specific word commission is only
found in this one passage, the concept of giving a order or command
with the authority of carry out that command is common in the New
Testament. The first and most well known commission in the New
Testament is…
This is a title given to the command given by
Jesus Christ to His disciples to preach the Gospel in all the world.
It is not only recorded in Matthew 28,
but also in Mark
16:15; Luke 24:44-48; John 20:21 and Acts 1:8,
though it is stated somewhat differently in these passages. The
"Great Commission" involves two major tasks: evangelism
and discipleship. First, the Gospel is to be
proclaimed to every person. The Gospel is the proclamation Christ
death for our sins, and His resurrection.
Now, turn with me to the Great Commission passage
found in Luke 24:46-47. This passage looks at the Great
Commission from a little different angle. "And said unto them, Thus
it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise
from the dead the third day: 47 And that repentance
and remission of sins should be preached in his name among
all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." As you can see, the death
and resurrection are clearly mentioned. However, the focus
here is on the preaching aspect of the Gospel.
Note the two words – repentance and
remission of sins. So what is the preaching of repentance?
A good example is found in Luke 13:3-5 "I tell you, Nay:
but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 4 Or
those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them,
think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in
Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall
all likewise perish." In order for a person to be saved he must turn
from his sin and trust Jesus Christ for Salvation. More specifically
repentance is a supernatural work of God whereby a responsive
sinner, being convicted by the Holy Spirit of his rebellion, turns
to God from his sinful ways and trusts Jesus Christ for salvation (Acts
11:18; 26:20).
Now look at the word remission. The word
means to dismiss or pass over. God dismisses and passes over the
believer's sin because of the sacrifice of Christ (Romans 3:25;
Matthew 26:28; Hebrews 9:22).
Now, after a person believes the Gospel of Christ
they are to be baptized and taught the teachings of the Bible. The
Great Commission is to be fulfilled by believers and results in the
spread of Christianity and multiplication of New Testament churches.
- The Commission To The Pharisees
Matthew 9:9-13 "And as Jesus passed forth
from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of
custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed
him. 10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the
house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him
and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw it,
they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans
and sinners? 12 But when Jesus heard that, he said
unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that
are sick. 13 But go ye and learn what that
meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am
not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
The phrase "go and learn" is a phrase used
by the Jews when they are about to explain a passage of Scripture,
and bring an argument from the connection of the text. In fact that
is exactly what happened here. The Pharisees were critical of
Christ’s association with tax collectors and sinners. Christ
overheard them telling his disciples this and responded that people
who are healthy don’t need a doctor, but people who are sick do.
Then Christ points out a Scripture these Pharisees should have
known; Hosea 6:6 "For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and
the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings." Basically Christ
reproves their ignorance of the Scriptures! He is implying, instead
of finding fault with Him, and His conduct, it would be far better
to find out the meaning of Hosea 6:6
– "I will have mercy, and not sacrifice…."
While this commission, go and learn, was
given to the Pharisees, clearly believers have been given a
commission to do this as well. We are to "desire the sincere milk of
the Word" (1 Peter 2:2). We are to "search the Scriptures
daily…" (Acts 17:11). We are to "study to…rightly dividing
the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15).
That brings up another thought – How Do We "Go
and Learn?"
Consider Proverbs 2:1-6 "My son, if thou
wilt receive (grab hold of and don’t let go) my words, and
hide (to store up) my commandments with thee; 2 So that
thou incline thine ear (listen intently) unto wisdom, and
apply thine heart to understanding; 3 Yea, if thou
criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice
for understanding; 4 If thou seekest her as silver,
and searchest for her as for hid treasures; 5
Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the
knowledge of God. 6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his
mouth cometh knowledge and understanding."
If you will learn you must…
2:1 – Value Truth –
Proverbs
23:23
2:2 – Have A Mind To Listen To Godly
Wisdom – Psalm 119:97-100
2:2-3 – Be Devoted To Learning – 2
Timothy 2:15
2:6 – Understand That Word Is The
Basis of Truth
All believers have the commission to learn the
Word of God.
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