The Bible teaches that one day, every tongue, tribe, and nation will come to faith in Jesus Christ. This is known as the Great Commission, found in Matthew 28:19-20, which states, "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." This is a call for all believers to go out into the world and share the message of Jesus with people from every language, tribe, and nation.
One of the key elements of the Great Commission is the inclusion of every nation. This means that the message of Jesus is not just for a specific people or culture, but for all people, regardless of their ethnicity or national origin. In Revelation 7:9, it says "After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb." This verse shows that in heaven, people from every nation, tribe, and language will be present, and this is a representation of the goal of the Great Commission, to bring people from every nation to faith in Jesus.
Another key element of the Great Commission is the inclusion of every tongue. This means that the message of Jesus is not just for people who speak a specific language, but for all people, regardless of the language they speak. In Acts 2:8-11, it says "And how is it that we hear, each of us in our own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" This verse shows that on the day of Pentecost, the message of Jesus was proclaimed in multiple languages, and this highlights that the message of Jesus is for all people, regardless of the language they speak.
The last key element of the Great Commission is the inclusion of every tribe. This means that the message of Jesus is not just for people who belong to a specific ethnic group, but for all people, regardless of their tribe or ethnicity. In Revelation 5:9, it says "And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation." This verse shows that in heaven, people from every tribe will be present, and this is a representation of the goal of the Great Commission, to bring people from every tribe to faith in Jesus.
The Great Commission is not just a command for the early followers of Jesus, but also for all believers today. It is a call to share the message of Jesus with people from every nation, tribe, and language, and to work towards the goal of seeing people from every tongue, tribe, and nation come to faith in Jesus.
One practical way to fulfill the Great Commission is through missions. This can involve going to other countries to share the gospel, supporting mission organizations financially, or even praying for the unreached people groups. The apostle Paul, who was a missionary himself, wrote in Romans 10:14-15 "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent?" This verse highlights the importance of going and preaching the gospel to those who haven't heard yet.
Another way to fulfill the Great Commission is by being intentional about sharing the gospel with people from different cultures, languages, and tribes in our own communities. This can involve building relationships with people from different backgrounds, learning about their culture, and being open to sharing the gospel with them in a way that is appropriate and respectful.
The Great Commission is a call to all believers to share the message of Jesus with people from every nation, tribe, and language. It is a call to be part of God's plan to bring salvation to all people, and to see every tongue, tribe, and nation come to faith in Jesus. It is a call to be obedient to Jesus' command and to do our part in fulfilling the Great Commission.