Simple Obedience Part 4 - Why the Great Commission Sums Up The New Testament

[westkyrev]

We know that the 2 great commandments sum up the whole Old Testament simply because Jesus said so (Matthew 22:40). So no argument is necessary to establish this, we simply take Christ's word for it.

But I am also setting forth the theory that the Great Commission summarizes the New Testament, and since as far as I know, this is not directly stated in Scripture, I need to take 1 blog to make the case. Here is why I believe this. Each section of the Great Commission can be linked to some part of the New Testament....the following illustrates this.

Matthew 22: 18-20

Verse 18:And Jesus came and spoke to them saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth"
This verse summarizes the 4 Gospels because this establishes the fact that the commission is from Jesus the God/Man whose eternal existence, Deity, virgin birth, perfect life, miraculous ministry, atoning death, and glorious resurrection have just been described previous to this verse. It is because of His perfect obedience and perfect sacrifice that "All authority" was given to Him.

Verse 19: Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
This verse summarizes the book of Acts, because in Acts the early church began to literally obey the specific commands and did so in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Verse 20: Teaching them to observe (obey) all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
This verse sums up all the epistles of the New Testament because the writings of the apostles in the New Testament epistles comprise the further commands of the Lord Jesus through the Spirit of God inspiring the writings we call the New Testament. We are told to obey "all things I have commanded you" and according to Paul this includes his writings! (1 Corinthians 14:37)
"And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age".....the end of the age.....for details see the last book, the book of Revelation.

So from Matthew to Revelation......summed up in this command!