Matthew 28:18-20 - Homilies By Marcus Dods

The commission.

The angel at the sepulchre directed the women to announce the resurrection of Christ to his disciples and summon them to meet him in Galilee. Jesus himself afterwards appeared to them and repeated this instruction. The eleven accordingly repaired to the appointed place, and with them probably the five hundred brethren (see 1 Corinthians 15:6 ). "Some" of this number—some of those who had not seen him, like Thomas—"doubted" of the reality of the Resurrection, until they were convinced by the evidence of sense. In the words he addressed to them we have:

1 . The commission he received from God.

2 . The commission he gave to his disciples.

3 . The promise of his presence with them. The commission to the disciples includes three particulars:

I. CONSIDER BAPTISM AS A SIGN OF CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP .

1 . This is evinced in its history.

2 . Persons are baptized in order to being taught.

II. CONSIDER THE NATURE OF THE CHURCH OF THE BAPTIZED .

1 . It is a unity.

2 . It is catholic.

"One family we dwell in him,

One Church above, beneath,

Though now divided by the stream,

The narrow stream of death."

3 . It has visible and invisible parts.