Did Jesus Say Make Disciples of All Nations?

Introduction

The Great Commission, as it is commonly known, is one of the most well-known passages in the Bible. It is found in Matthew 28:19-20, where Jesus commands his disciples to “go and make disciples of all nations.”

However, there has been some debate over whether or not Jesus actually said these words. In this article, we will explore the evidence for and against this claim.

Evidence for

The primary evidence for Jesus saying “make disciples of all nations” comes from the Gospel of Matthew itself. Matthew was one of Jesus’ twelve apostles and was present during many of the events he recorded in his Gospel.

In addition, Matthew was writing to a Jewish audience who would have been familiar with the idea of spreading their faith to other nations. It would make sense for Matthew to include this command from Jesus in his Gospel as a way to emphasize the importance of evangelism.

Furthermore, there are no credible alternative explanations for how this passage could have come about if it wasn’t spoken by Jesus. It is unlikely that Matthew would have made up such a significant command from scratch, especially given how important it has become to Christianity as a whole.

Evidence against

Despite the strong case for Jesus saying “make disciples of all nations,” there are some who argue that these words were added later by early Christian leaders looking to promote their missionary efforts. This theory suggests that the Gospel of Matthew was written sometime after Jesus’ death and resurrection and that the Great Commission was added by church leaders who wanted to justify their evangelistic efforts.

However, there is little actual evidence to support this theory beyond speculation. The earliest manuscripts we have of the Gospel of Matthew contain this passage, indicating that it was present from an early stage. In addition, none of the other Gospels include a similar command from Jesus, which makes it unlikely that it was added later to promote a specific agenda.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while there is some debate over whether or not Jesus actually said “make disciples of all nations,” the evidence overwhelmingly supports the idea that he did. The Gospel of Matthew, written by one of Jesus’ closest disciples, contains this passage and there are no credible alternative explanations for how it could have come about. Regardless of its origins, however, the Great Commission has become a central part of Christianity and continues to inspire believers around the world to spread their faith to others.