Matthew 28:20
“Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
King James Version (KJV)
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The closing words of Matthew's Gospel and of the Great Commission, spoken by the risen Jesus to His disciples on a mountain in Galilee before His ascension.
What Does Matthew 28:20 Mean?
This verse closes the Great Commission, calling disciples to teach obedience to everything Jesus commanded and sealing the command with His promise to be present always. It is the final sentence of Matthew's Gospel, spoken by the risen Lord in Galilee.
Two great realities stand side by side. First is the task: "teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you." Making disciples is not finished at a moment of decision; it continues in a lifelong learning to keep all that Jesus taught. The goal is not mere information but obedience -- lives shaped by His commands. Second, and matching the size of the task, is the promise: "lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." The same Jesus who holds all authority pledges His own abiding presence. "Alway" leaves out no day; "unto the end of the world" leaves out no era. The disciples are not sent out alone to accomplish an impossible mission by themselves. The risen Christ goes with them. This is the heartbeat of Christian confidence: every command to go is wrapped in the assurance that He never leaves. The Gospel that began with "God with us" (Matthew 1:23) ends with the same promise made personal and permanent.
In the Original Language
The Greek "tērein" (to observe, keep) means to guard and obey, not merely to learn. The closing promise uses "egō meth' hymōn eimi" (I am with you) and "pasas tas hēmeras" (all the days), stressing unbroken presence.
Cross References
“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”
- Matthew 1:23
“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
- Hebrews 13:5
“I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”
- John 14:18
Application
Take up the lifelong work of learning and obeying all that Jesus taught, and do it without fear, resting in His promise to be with you every day to the very end.