Post 4 – God’s Mission Didn’t Start in Matthew
This post is part of the series:
Why We Need the Old Testament—Now More Than Ever
View the full series here
Post 4 – God’s Mission Didn’t Start in Matthew
The Global Purpose of God from Genesis to Jesus
If you asked most Christians where the Church’s mission begins, they might say, “The Great Commission”—Jesus’ command in Matthew 28 to make disciples of all nations.
That’s a good answer—but it’s not the full story.
God’s mission didn’t start in Matthew. It started in Genesis.
In fact, if we don’t understand the Old Testament foundation of global mission, we risk misunderstanding the purpose of the Church, the nature of the gospel, and even the heart of God.
God's First Commission: Fill the Earth
In Genesis 1:28, God commands humanity to “be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it.” This wasn’t just a call to population growth—it was a call to extend the reign and goodness of God throughout creation. Humanity was created to be God's image-bearers, spreading His presence and peace across the world.
After the fall, this mission wasn’t abandoned. It was reframed through a covenant.
The Call of Abraham: A Blessing for All Nations
In Genesis 12:1–3, God calls Abram with a promise:
“I will bless you… and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
This moment is the missional heartbeat of the Old Testament. Israel was chosen not as a favorite, but as a vehicle. God’s blessing was never meant to stop with them—it was meant to flow through them.
God’s election is always for the sake of others.
Israel’s Mission: A Light to the Nations
Throughout the Torah and Prophets, God reminds His people that their calling is to reflect His justice, mercy, and holiness to the world.
- Exodus 19:6 – “You shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”
- Isaiah 49:6 – “I will make you a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”
- Psalm 67:1–2 – “May God be gracious to us… that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations.”
Israel’s priestly vocation was to stand between God and the world, showcasing what life with Yahweh looked like.
The Prophets and the Nations
The prophets repeatedly speak of a future in which the nations will come to know the Lord:
- Micah 4 envisions nations streaming to Zion to learn God’s ways.
- Zechariah 8:23 pictures people from every language grabbing hold of a Jew and saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”
- Isaiah 2 and Isaiah 60 both declare that all nations will come to the light of the Lord.
These aren’t isolated visions. They form a continuous theme: God’s desire to restore the world through His people.
Jesus: The Fulfillment and Expansion of the Mission
Jesus doesn’t replace this mission—He embodies it.
He is the true Israel, the light of the world, the Son of Abraham through whom all nations are blessed. His ministry brings the kingdom to the poor, the outsider, the Gentile, and the outcast. And in His final words to His disciples, He doesn’t launch something new—He extends something ancient:
“Go and make disciples of all nations…” (Matt. 28:18–20)
This is the Abrahamic mission fulfilled.
The Church: A Global People from the Start
The early Church understood this. Pentecost (Acts 2) wasn’t just the birth of the Church—it was the fulfillment of the promise to bless all peoples. Peter’s sermon in Acts 3 explicitly connects Jesus to the covenant with Abraham.
The mission of the Church is not a new plan. It is the ancient mission of God finally reaching its global phase.
Live Sent Practice
Read Genesis 12:1–3, Isaiah 49:6, and Matthew 28:18–20.
Ask:
- How do I see continuity between these passages?
- How might my church or life group reflect God’s global mission more intentionally?
Series Index
- Intro: Why We Need the Old Testament—Now More Than Ever
- Why the Old Testament Still Matters
- Jesus and the Law: Fulfillment, Not Cancellation
- God’s Mission Didn’t Start in Matthew
- (Coming Soon) Justice, Mercy, and the Prophets
- (Coming Soon) How to Read the Old Testament Like Jesus
- (Coming Soon) Living the Whole Story