Matthew 28:16-20

Conclusion. Jesus Appears in Galilee.The mountain (Matthew 28:16) reminds us of Matthew 5:1 or Matthew 17:1. The statement that some (rather, they) doubted brings the narrative into line with Luke 24:37; John 20:25, and in any case points to the gradual nature of the growth of the Resurrection belief.

Matthew 28:18 reminds us of Matthew 11:27, but is not like Jesus, and is best taken as a ré sumé of the Christian faith and the Church's mission.

Matthew 28:19 reflects the change in that mission brought about by the Jews-' rejection of Jesus, who had regarded His work as confined to Israel. The Church of the first days did not observe this world-wide command, even if they knew it. The command to baptize into the threefold name is a late doctrinal expansion. In place of the words baptizing. Spirit we should probably read simply into my name, i.e. (turn the nations) to Christianity, or in my name, i.e. (teach the nations) in my spirit.

Matthew 28:20. Jesus as the new lawgiver (cf. Matthew 16:17, Matthew 18:16, and the Sermon on the Mount). Note that instead of the promise of a second Advent (Acts 1:11 and Paul) we have the more satisfactory assurance of the constant and immediate presence of Jesus with His followers (cf. John 14-16). The promise recalls Matthew 18:20 and the Jewish idea of the Shekinah. It forms a worthy ending to the Gospel* the most worthy of all the four.