Genesis 10:3 link to Matthew 28:19?
How does Genesis 10:3 connect to the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19?

Setting the Scene: Two Passages, One Story

Genesis 10:3—“The sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah.”

Matthew 28:19—“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.”


What Genesis 10:3 Tells Us

• Records three grandsons of Noah through Gomer, anchoring them in real history and geography.

• Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah became foundational tribal names for later peoples scattered across Europe and Asia.

• By listing them, Scripture underscores that every ethnic group traces back to one human family (Acts 17:26).


From Table of Nations to Global Commission

1. A Unified Human Origin

• The genealogy shows that “all nations” already existed in seed form.

• When Jesus commands His followers to reach “all nations,” He summons us to engage every branch of that ancient family tree.

2. God’s Unchanging Mission

Genesis 10 prepares the way for Genesis 12:3—“in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

• The blessing promised to Abraham finds its fulfillment in Christ and His commission (Galatians 3:8).

3. Scope Defined, Scope Expanded

Genesis 10 maps the early spread of humanity; Matthew 28 maps the spread of the gospel.

• The same concrete ethnic lines that began with Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah are included in Jesus’ mandate.


Key Connections in Bullet Form

Genesis 10 catalogs the nations; Matthew 28 targets the nations.

• The genealogical detail affirms that no tribe is anonymous to God.

• Jesus’ words echo the breadth of Genesis—every name, every lineage matters.


Practical Takeaways

• The Commission reaches modern descendants of Ashkenaz (often linked to Germanic peoples), Togarmah (associated with regions of Asia Minor), and every other lineage.

• Missions is not optional—it is rooted in the earliest chapters of Scripture.

• Sharing the gospel honors the historical reality that we are one family in Adam and renewed family in Christ (Romans 5:18–19).


Supporting Passages

Isaiah 49:6—“I will make You a light for the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth.”

Revelation 7:9—“A great multitude…from every nation, tribe, people, and tongue.”

Acts 1:8—“You will be My witnesses…to the ends of the earth.”


Closing Reflection

From the sons of Gomer in Genesis 10 to the resurrected Savior’s words in Matthew 28, Scripture traces a seamless line: God knows every nation by name and sends His people to each one with the redeeming message of Christ.

How can understanding Genesis 10:3 deepen our grasp of God's plan for nations?
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