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Discipling and Baptizing the Nations

In this last article on baptism we wish to deal with Matthew 28:19, the so-called "Great Commission."  This passage is the command of Christ authorizing baptism in the NT church.  It also establishes baptism as a universal and not just a Jewish rite.  There are two things we wish to point out about this important verse.

Matthew 28:19, rather than being proof against infant baptism, is just the opposite - very strong proof for it.  Baptists argue that Jesus commands us first to teach (disciple) the nations and then to baptize.  Infants, they say, are not old enough to be taught or discipled and therefore cannot be baptized.  This, however, misses several important points.

First, as we already showed in connection with Mark 16:16, the word "then" is not in the verse.  Jesus does not say, "Teach all nations and then baptize them."  If He had said that, there would be no question but that the Baptists are right.

Second, the passage speaks of nations, not individuals.  In the very nature of the case, therefore, these two activities must be going on simultaneously.  One cannot wait until the whole nation is taught before starting to baptize!  There would be no baptism then.

The very grammar of the text indicates this.  The text must be understood literally as saying, "Teach all nations when baptizing them," or, "Teach all nations after baptizing them."  It cannot mean, "Teach all nationsbefore baptizing them!"  The passage, in fact, says nothing about the order in which teaching and baptizing take place.

Not only that, but nations include children.  It is impossible to disciple and baptize nations without also discipling and baptizing the children who belong to that nation.

Also, it may not be forgotten that Matthew 28:19 is a fulfillment of Isaiah 52:15; "So shall he sprinkle many nations."  In Matthew we must always look for the OT prophecies that are fulfilled, for that is one of the great themes of Matthew's gospel.  Matthew always shows us Jesus as the fulfillment of the OT (cf. chapters 1 and 2 especially).  The most obvious choice for prophecy fulfilled in this case is Isaiah 52:15.

This sprinkling of the nations, Isaiah 52:13, 14 teaches, follows upon Christ's work in suffering and dying for sin.  In the way of having his visage "marred more than any man, He sprinkles many nations.  This we see happening in the NT in obedience to the command of Christ in Matthew 28:19.

So, not only does Isaiah 52:14 identify the baptizing of the nations with sprinkling, but throughout the book the prophet speaks of these nations being gathered for this sprinkling with their children.  When they come to Christ for salvation (that is what the sprinkling represents) they bring their sons and daughters and even their nursing children with them (Is. 49:22; 60:4).

That promised sprinkling of the nations, fulfilled in the saving work of our Lord Jesus Christ, is pictured and remembered in baptism.  Not in imitation of Rome or by mere tradition, but in obedience to God's Word we practice family baptism.

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Additional Info

  • Volume: 7
  • Issue: 10
Hanko, Ronald

Rev. Ronald Hanko (Wife: Nancy)

Ordained: November 1979

Pastorates: Wyckoff, NJ - 1979; Trinity, Houston, TX - 1986; Missionary to N.Ireland - 1993; Lynden, WA - 2002

Website: www.lyndenprc.org/sermons/

Contact Details

  • Address
    317 North Park St.
  • City
    Lynden
  • State or Province
    WA
  • Zip Code
    98264
  • Country
    United States
  • Telephone
    360-354-4337
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