The Herald and Teacher: What It Means to Fulfill the Great Commission

What does it mean to fulfill the Great Commission as described in Matthew 28 and Luke 24? Paul Washer enlightens us on this topic, explaining the significance of not only preaching the gospel but also understanding what it truly means to believe. He underscores that fulfilling the Great Commission is not just about proclaiming the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ, but also about right living in a world that is in stark contrast to God’s Word. Washer uses an illustration tweaked from John Piper. He likens the situation to a people under tyranny who hear of their freedom won in a war. The herald proclaims the victory, and they rejoice, but do not understand what their freedom entails. This is where the teacher comes in, explaining the meaning of living in this new kingdom. Therefore, the Great Commission requires both proclaimers of the gospel and teachers explaining what it means to live faithfully in God's kingdom. Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJV): “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, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”