Verse 18
Jesus proceeded to address the Eleven. Matthew did not record them saying anything, which focuses our attention fully on Jesus’ words. Notice the repetition of "all" in Matthew 28:18-20: all authority, all nations, all things, and all the days. Matthew stressed the authority of Jesus throughout his Gospel (Matthew 7:29; Matthew 10:1; Matthew 10:7-8; Matthew 11:27; Matthew 22:43-44; Matthew 24:35).
"Not merely power or might (dunamis), such as a great conqueror might claim, but ’authority’ (exousia), as something which is His by right, conferred upon Him by One who has the right to bestow it (Rev. ii. 27)." [Note: Plummer, p. 428.]
God restricted Jesus’ authority before His resurrection because of His role as the Suffering Servant. Following His resurrection God broadened the sphere in which Jesus exercised authority (cf. Matthew 4:8-10). He became the One through whom God now mediates all authority (cf. Daniel 7:14; Philippians 2:5-11). This was Jesus’ great claim.
"By raising Jesus from the dead and investing him with all authority, God vindicates Jesus and thus decides the conflict in his favor (Matthew 28:5-6; Matthew 28:18)." [Note: Kingsbury, Matthew as . . ., p. 8.]
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