Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” – Matthew 28:16-20

I got a prophetic word in 2002 that someone recorded. Here’s part of it: “You are a deep man. You’re a loyal man. You’re a covenantal man. And there is going to be a spirit of discipleship upon you says the Lord to mentor others and disciple others. Sometimes you get tired of just messin’ with people. But I’m going to use you.”

“Sometimes you get tired of just messin’ with people.” That’s how I’ve felt quite often with the command to go make disciples.

• Go has felt intrusive; I’d rather be invited
• Make can feel mechanical, even manipulative; I’d rather it wasn’t about me
• Disciples has felt weird, like they’re following me; I’d rather they just find God themselves

But recently there’s another part of the prophecy which I hadn’t noticed until today, 23 years later: “You’re a covenantal man.” I didn’t even know what that meant at the time. The reason I could see it now was that I started to see the Great Commission as a covenant. (Reading the New Testament through an Aramaic lens helped me see this.)

Jesus told his disciples to meet him on top of a mountain (v16). Mountains are covenant places in the Bible. Especially the Old Covenant given to Moses on Mount Sinai. I’ve already explored how that was in the format of a Suzerain Treaty, where a great king rescues a people from a lesser king and stipulates how they should live under his reign. Now let’s look at this passage in that light.

Suzerain Treaty Structure

In the ancient Near East, kings formalized relationships with their subjects through covenant treaties. These had a common structure—one that you can see in Jesus’ final words. Here are the components, how they’re reflected in the Great Commission and how that changes my perspective:

1. Preamble – Identification of the King

“When they saw him, they worshiped him” (v.17)

The suzerain treaty begins with identification of the ruling authority. The disciples recognize Jesus as the one to worship. So we make disciples of King Jesus, not of ourselves.

2. Historical Prologue – What the King Has Done

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (v.18)

Ancient treaties recounted what the king had done to establish the relationship. Jesus summarizes His victory and enthronement over the whole earth. So “go” isn’t intrusive; Jesus is already their King.

3. Stipulations – Terms of Loyalty

“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (v.19-20)

The treaty has the terms of the covenant, how people must live, and the entry condition. For us, that’s to bring nations under His reign, through baptism. So it’s not “messin’ with people” to help them behave better, it’s helping them enter into a covenant relationship with God.

4. Provision for Preservation and Teaching

“…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (v.20)

In ancient treaties, the terms were preserved and read publicly. Jesus puts the responsibility on us to train people to keep the instructions of the covenant. So teaching obedience isn’t about control, it’s about helping people live into the new covenant way of life.

5. Witnesses – Calling the Divine Realm

“And surely I am with you always.” (v.20)

Instead of invoking gods as witnesses, Jesus Himself is the covenant witness. But it also means he is always with us, working through us, so it’s not me “making” anything.

6. Blessings and Curses – Consequences for Covenant Faithfulness

“…to the very end of the age.” (v.20)

Instead of explicitly spelling out the consequences like the ancients, Jesus just implies that the judgement is coming. So “messin’ with people” is sometimes necessary, because it matters.

7. Ratification Ceremony – Blood, Sacrifice, Meal

This isn’t included by Matthew. Maybe because they already had the Last Supper and he already sacrificed his blood?

Therefore go and make disciples

The whole covenant context gives me a compelling reason to go and make disciples. God’s covenants with us are awesome. Everyone should acknowledge Jesus as King and get baptized into a new way of life.