March 22nd, 2026 Daily Devotion

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW 

JESUS CAME TO SAVE ALL PEOPLE

Matthew 28:19-20 “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.” 

I suspect that when you read “all nations” here in today’s devotional verses you thought of countries like the United States, Canada, etc. The Greek word in verse 19 is ethnos. If you use a little imagination, you can see there is an English word that is derived from this Greek word. It is the word ethnic. The definition for this English word is: “. . . a population group or subgroup made up of people who share a common cultural background or descent.” Therefore, Jesus in the Great Commission focuses upon people and people groups not political jurisdictions. 

Jesus’ commission is concerned with the souls of these people groups. He is instructing His followers to “make disciples of them.” And, Jesus instructs how to go about carrying out His commission. He says it is done by “. . . 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.”   

Grammatically, even though Jesus’ words seem to be in the imperative (command) mood they are actually in the indicative. The indicative mood is used to make factual statements. I remember my professor at Concordia Seminary saying the proper translation of these particular Greek words is, “. . . as you are going, as you are living your daily life, make disciples of all people.” Jesus words are not an order. Instead that are a factual statement that a disciple of Jesus Christ will naturally try to make disciples of the people he or she comes in contact with.   

Jesus says regarding His followers, “ . . . you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses.” (Acts 1:8) So, it is not by your power or intellectual capacity but rather through the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit that you will give your witness. Through this witness you will point people to Jesus.   

Prayer: Lord, send Your Holy Spirit into my heart and mind to guide me in my personal witness to others about the salvation Jesus earned and won for them through His life, death, and resurrection. In His name. Amen. 

“How shall they hear,” who have not heard  
News of a Lord who loved and came;  
Nor known His reconciling word,  
Nor learned to trust a Savior’s name? 

“To all the world,” to ev’ry place,  
Neighbors and friends and far-off lands,  
Preach the good news of saving grace;  
Go while the great commission stands. 

“Whom shall I send?” Who hears the call,  
Constant in prayer, through toil and pain,  
Telling of One who died for all,  
To bring a lost world home again? 

“Lord, here am I:” Your fire impart   
To this poor cold self-centered soul;  
Touch but my lips, my hands, my heart,  
And make a world for Christ my goal. 

Spirit of love, within us move:  
Spirit of truth, in pow’r come down!  
So shall they hear and find and prove  
Christ is their life, their joy, their crown.  

"How Shall They Hear," Who Have Not Heard // LSB 831

Text: © 1984 Hope Publishing Co. Used by Permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110000198