How does Isaiah 66:20 connect with the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19? A Prophecy of Global Gathering Isaiah 66:20: “They will bring all your brothers from all the nations as an offering to the LORD … to My holy mountain Jerusalem, says the LORD—just as the Israelites bring an offering in a clean vessel to the house of the LORD.” • Literal promise: God will one day gather people from every nation to Jerusalem, the center of His kingdom rule (cf. Zechariah 14:16). • The “brothers” are Gentiles who become members of God’s covenant family (Isaiah 19:24–25). • The carriers—missionary “couriers” on horses, chariots, wagons, mules, camels—represent every possible means of transport, picturing an energetic, worldwide effort. • The people themselves are called “an offering,” underscoring that redeemed lives are the sacrifice God delights in (Romans 12:1). The Mandate to Gather the Nations 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.” • Literal command: believers must go—not wait for nations to come—and disciple them. • Scope: “all nations” (Greek: panta ta ethnē) mirrors Isaiah’s “all the nations.” • Goal: baptism ushers converts into visible fellowship with Father, Son, and Spirit, just as Isaiah’s pilgrims are brought to God’s house. Shared Themes Between Isaiah 66:20 and Matthew 28:19 • Universal reach – Isaiah: “all the nations” – Matthew: “all nations” • Active going/bringing – Isaiah: people “will bring” brothers to Jerusalem – Matthew: disciples must “go” and “make” disciples • Sacred offering – Isaiah: converts are “an offering to the LORD” – Matthew: baptism marks a life consecrated to God (Romans 6:3–4) • Covenantal inclusion – Isaiah: Gentiles counted as “brothers” – Matthew: disciples share the Triune name, becoming sons and daughters (Galatians 3:26–29) • Worship focus – Isaiah: destination is God’s holy mountain, the center of worship – Matthew: end goal is observing “everything I have commanded you” (v. 20), a life of worshipful obedience The Great Commission as the Fulfillment Mechanism • Isaiah gives the end-picture; Jesus supplies the marching orders that move history toward that picture. • Acts 1:8 shows the initial rollout—Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, “to the ends of the earth.” • Acts 15:14–17 cites Amos to affirm that Gentile inclusion is happening exactly as the prophets said. • Paul sees his ministry as “a priestly duty…so that the Gentiles might become an acceptable offering” (Romans 15:16), a direct echo of Isaiah 66:20. Practical Takeaways for Today • Every evangelistic step—praying, sending, going, discipling—carries Isaiah’s prophecy closer to literal completion. • Missions is not a human initiative but God’s ancient plan; we are privileged couriers. • The people we lead to Christ are not statistics; they are “offerings” presented to the Lord—treat them with that sacred value. • Because Scripture assures the ultimate gathering, our labor cannot be in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58). The Great Commission is the present-age pathway by which Isaiah 66:20’s global pilgrimage becomes reality, culminating in a worshiping multitude from “every tribe and tongue and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9). |
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