Jesus Never Said Go Make Disciples

Prior to the ascension of Jesus, he spoke these words to his disciples.

“All authority in heaven and on the earth has been given to Me. Therefore having gone, disciple all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things, whatever I commanded you. And behold, I am with you all the days, until the completion of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 (BLB)

With these words, Jesus sent his disciples to disciple all nations. Some translations say to make disciples. However, the word make is not in the Greek manuscripts. The correct translation is disciple, meaning teach (Matthew 28:19).

Below are some translations providing this correct translation. Notice a few of the translations use the word teach rather than disciple. 

Therefore having gone, disciple all the nations... (Berean Literal Bible)

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations... (King James Bible)

Therefore go disciple all the nations... (Aramaic Bible In Plain English)

Going therefore, teach ye all nations... (Douay-Rheims Bible)

Therefore, as you go, disciple people... (International Standard Version)

...having gone, then, disciple all the nations... (Literal Standard Version)

Go ye therefore and teach all nations... (Webster’s Bible Translation)

...having gone, then, disciple all the nations... (Young’s Literal Translation)

Therefore, having gone, disciple all nations... (Smith’s Literal Translation)

Disciple in Matthew 28:19 is not referring to people but to teaching. This is why some translations use the word teach rather than disciple. The emphasis of Jesus is teaching people, not turning people into disciples or making disciples.

Disciple in this verse is an action not person.

The action is teach.

Because this verse has been mistranslated and mistaught, the word disciple in Matthew 28:19 is viewed as a person rather than teaching. When disciple is translated to be a person and make is added in front of disciple, we then have make disciples. This is an incorrect translation, which leads us to mistakenly apply this verse as Jesus saying to go make disciples rather than go teach people. Thus, leading to an emphasis on disciple making rather than teaching accurately.

Why Does This Matter?

It matters because it is an improper translation leading to improper applications, which could lead to toxic discipleship where pressure is put on someone to “go make disciples.” In toxic discipleship, believers are told being a disciple and making disciples is not an option. If someone is not making disciples, they are told they are lazy, immature believers.

This is an excerpt from my book, Toxic Discipleship, available on Amazon.

To read Brad’s other teachings about toxic discipleship, CLICK HERE.