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Summary
Globalisation of missions is a considerable aspect of contemporary Christianity, reflecting the
spread of religious beliefs and practices across geographical boundaries. In his article
“Globalisation of Missions: An Exegesis on the Great Commission (Mt 28:18 – 20),” Mookgo S.
Kgatle explores the biblical foundation of global missions as outlined in the Great Commission
found in the Gospel of Matthew. This paper explores the implications of this Biblical mandate
for modern-day missionary work, emphasizing the universality and inclusivity of spreading the
Gospel of Jesus Christ to all nations.
Kgatle’s analysis investigates the historical context of the Great Commission, examining how
early Christian missionaries interpreted and carried out this directive. Furthermore, he explores
how globalization has influenced the methods and strategies used by present missionaries in
reaching different cultures and societies worldwide. By establishing his reflections in Biblical
Scripture, Kgatle provides a theological framework for understanding the changing nature of
missions in a globalized world.
Moreover, his analysis opened my eyes to my own misconceptions about the Great Commission,
and the fact that if broken down one can see that the Commission can be shared globally and
with ease. Furthermore, when looking at the article what I appreciated the most was how Kgatle
first deconstructed the Commission and made it easy to understand to ensure that his thesis was
understood.
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Reflections
As I read the article, “Globalisation of Missions: An Exegesis on the Great Commission (Mt
28:18-20)”, several quotes stood out and made rethink my previous beliefs. These are the ones
that affected me the most.
The Great Commission is a charge to proclaim the Gospel which involves preaching the good
news, witnessing from a personal experience and relationship with God, effectively loving one’s
neighbour by the power of the Holy Spirit, and journeying through the process of discipleship
and growth into becoming a church.1 As I reflect on this statement, I am reminded that the Great
Commission is more then telling someone about Jesus. It is a call to share, not only, the Gospel,
but also how God has changed one’s own life. Moreover, I should be sharing the fact that it is a
process that takes time and commitment.
The disciples are commanded to baptize those who believe and after the baptism to orientate the
believers in the way that they should live here on earth as the children of God.2 If I were to break
this down in the simplest way I know it would be baptize, then teach new believers how to live
Godly. Again, the statement speaks volumes because at times I have seen and been guilty of not
doing this. Churches will accept people and tell them God has forgiven them and has forgiven
their sins, only to send them back into the world without any understanding of what they are
going to face. Moreover, when they come up against problems they are lost, however, if we truly
follow the Commission, which I believe many churches do, we build them up to overcome and
we should also be building them up to share with others.
1 Mookgo S. Kgatle, Globalisation of Missions: An Exegesis on the Great Commission (Mt 28:18-20), (2018), 2.
2 Ibid, 5.
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Jesus commanded the disciples to expand and stretch social relations, activities and
interdependence. Jesus, in the Great Commission, intensified and accelerated social exchanges
and activities that goes beyond human history into eternity.3 Of all the statements that I choose
and could have choose this one hit me the most in the fact that, yes Jesus called us to “Go out
into the world”4, but He called us to do something that goes beyond class, race, and time. What
Jesus was doing in the Great Commission, called us as His disciples, to go beyond our comfort
zone and go into places that we can only trust Him.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Mookgo S. Kgatle’s article on the “Globalisation of missions through an exegesis
on the Great Commission (Mt 28:18-20)” provided a comprehensive assessment of the
importance and effects of this Biblical command in the context of modern missions. Kgatle’s
exploration of the Great Commission highlights the universal call to spread the message of
Christianity to all nations, stressing the importance of cultural sensitivity, contextualization, and
inclusivity in modern missionary efforts.
3 Ibid, 6.
4 Matthew 28: 19, All Scripture King James Version unless otherwise stated.
