Matthew 28:18 kjv
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Matthew 28:18 nkjv
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
Matthew 28:18 niv
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Matthew 28:18 esv
And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Matthew 28:18 nlt
Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.
Matthew 28 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Dan 7:13-14 | "...one like a son of man coming... was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples..." | Prophecy of Son of Man receiving universal and eternal dominion. |
| Ps 2:6-8 | "“I have set my King on Zion... Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage..." | Messianic psalm foretelling the Son's rule over the nations. |
| Isa 9:6-7 | "...a child is born to us... The government will be on his shoulders... of the increase of his government..." | Prophecy of the coming King and the expansion of His kingdom. |
| Zech 14:9 | "And the LORD will be king over all the earth. On that day the LORD will be one, and his name one." | Prophecy of the LORD's universal kingship, fulfilled in Christ. |
| Mt 11:27 | "All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father..." | Jesus’ earlier claim of comprehensive knowledge and authority from the Father. |
| Jn 3:35 | "The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand." | Father's love expressed in granting all authority to the Son. |
| Jn 5:22 | "For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son," | Jesus receiving authority over ultimate judgment. |
| Jn 17:2 | "since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him." | Jesus acknowledging received authority to grant eternal life. |
| Rom 1:4 | "...declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead," | The resurrection affirms Jesus' divine Sonship and power. |
| Rom 14:9 | "For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living." | Christ's resurrection establishes His universal lordship. |
| 1 Cor 15:27-28 | "For he has put all things in subjection under his feet... the Son himself will also be subjected to him..." | All things are subjected to Christ by the Father, ultimately for God's glory. |
| Eph 1:20-23 | "...seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power..." | Christ's supreme exaltation and headship over the Church and all things. |
| Phil 2:9-11 | "Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name..." | God's exaltation of Christ, leading to universal confession and worship. |
| Col 1:16-17 | "For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth... He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." | Christ as the pre-existent Creator and Sustainer of all. |
| Heb 1:2 | "...in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things..." | Christ as the appointed heir and agent of creation. |
| 1 Pet 3:22 | "...who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him." | Christ's ascended status and the subjection of all spiritual powers to Him. |
| Rev 1:5 | "...Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings on earth." | Christ's ultimate sovereignty over earthly rulers. |
| Rev 11:15 | "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever." | The future culmination of Christ's reign over all earthly kingdoms. |
| Rev 19:16 | "On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords." | Revelation's depiction of Christ's supreme and undeniable authority. |
| Mt 28:19-20 | "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations..." | The direct logical outflow of Jesus' universal authority is the global mission. |
| Acts 2:36 | "...let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus..." | Peter's Pentecost sermon, proclaiming Jesus' Lordship by God's action. |
| Lk 10:22 | "All things have been delivered to me by my Father..." | Luke's parallel statement of Jesus' authority from the Father. |
Matthew 28 verses
Matthew 28 18 Meaning
Matthew 28:18 presents Jesus, after His resurrection, declaring a comprehensive and absolute declaration of His universal authority. He states that all legitimate power and right to rule, derived from God the Father, has been entrusted to Him, encompassing both the spiritual and material realms of existence—from the highest heavens to every part of the earth. This declaration serves as the foundational premise for the subsequent command to make disciples of all nations, as His global mission stems directly from His total sovereignty.
Matthew 28 18 Context
Matthew 28:18 is situated immediately following Jesus' post-resurrection appearance to His eleven disciples on a mountain in Galilee, as commissioned by Him through Mary Magdalene (Mt 28:10) and then the women at the tomb (Mt 28:7). This meeting is crucial, serving as the capstone of Jesus' earthly ministry before His ascension. It provides the essential theological and positional foundation for the Great Commission in verses 19-20. The disciples, who previously doubted (v. 17), now receive this powerful declaration from the resurrected Christ, who definitively asserts His newly manifested, supreme authority. This authority is not merely an increase but the culmination of His rightful power as Messiah, demonstrated by His victory over death and His exaltation. Historically and culturally, this declaration contrasts sharply with any limited or regional claims of power by human rulers or pagan deities, establishing Jesus as the truly ultimate, universal Sovereign, validating His claims of divinity throughout His earthly ministry.
Matthew 28 18 Word analysis
- And Jesus came and spoke to them: This highlights the active initiative of the resurrected Christ. He purposefully approaches and engages with His disciples, setting the stage for a critical teaching and commissioning. The interaction is direct and personal.
- saying: (Greek: legōn - λέγων). A standard introduction to direct speech, indicating that what follows is an exact statement from Jesus.
- “All authority": (Greek: pasa exousia - πᾶσα ἐξουσία).
- "All" (pasa): Emphatic. Denotes universality and totality, leaving no aspect, sphere, or being outside the scope of this authority. It signifies completeness without any exceptions.
- "authority" (exousia): This is a crucial term. It signifies not merely raw strength or brute power (dynamis), but rightful power, rightful dominion, jurisdiction, legal right, control, prerogative, or the freedom to act. It is power exercised according to established right or legitimate sanction. This distinction is significant: Jesus isn't merely strong; He has the right to wield that strength and command.
- "has been given": (Greek: edothē - ἐδόθη). This is an aorist passive indicative of didōmi (to give).
- Divine Passive: The passive voice here implies the agent is divine, specifically God the Father. This signifies that Jesus' authority is not self-appointed or seized, but conferred upon Him by the Father. This highlights the relational dynamics within the Godhead, where the Son receives from the Father, even in His exaltation.
- Aorist Tense: Indicates a completed action with continuing results. This granting of authority happened decisively and definitively, especially in light of His resurrection and subsequent ascension, marking a new, manifest phase of His sovereignty.
- "to Me": (Greek: moi - μοι). The dative singular pronoun emphasizes Jesus Himself as the unique recipient and embodiment of this complete authority. This distinguishes Him from any other figure.
- "in heaven": (Greek: en ouranō - ἐν οὐρανῷ). Refers to the spiritual realm, the divine domain, the abode of God, angels, and heavenly powers. It encompasses spiritual realities, divine decrees, and all unseen forces. His authority extends over cosmic order, angelic beings, and even spiritual warfare.
- "and on earth": (Greek: kai epi gēs - καὶ ἐπὶ γῆς). Refers to the physical realm, the human domain, nations, societies, and all created order. It encompasses political structures, social institutions, natural laws, and every aspect of human life. There is no geographical or human sphere outside His jurisdiction.
Matthew 28 18 Bonus section
The "all authority" mentioned in Matthew 28:18 can be understood as Jesus' rightful dominion confirmed and fully exercised subsequent to His perfect obedience and atoning work, culminating in the resurrection. While the Son eternally possesses divine attributes, this verse marks a distinct post-resurrection inauguration of His comprehensive rule in His capacity as the God-man and ascended Lord. This means that every spiritual and physical power, including unseen angelic and demonic forces, governmental powers, and even natural laws, are now definitively under His ultimate control. It implies that resistance to His mission is not merely against human agents, but against the sovereign will of the one to whom "all authority has been given." The theological implication is immense: every prayer is offered to one with complete power, every evangelistic endeavor is undertaken with divine backing, and every trial of the believer is permitted under the purview of His absolute control. This divine passive, "has been given," underscores the Father's orchestration and ultimate unity in purpose within the Trinity concerning the Son's exalted role.
Matthew 28 18 Commentary
Matthew 28:18 stands as the foundational assertion of Christ's supreme, universal, and divinely sanctioned authority. Having triumphed over sin and death through His resurrection, Jesus is declared to be the rightful sovereign over every dimension of existence—both unseen spiritual realities ("in heaven") and tangible earthly affairs ("on earth"). This authority, given to Him by God the Father, is absolute and total, signifying His ultimate lordship over creation, salvation, and all powers. This declaration is not merely a statement of status but a necessary premise for the Great Commission that immediately follows (v. 19-20). Because all authority belongs to Him, disciples are commanded to go to all nations, baptizing and teaching all that He commanded, assured of His presence always. This verse establishes that the church's mission operates under the mandate of an utterly sovereign Christ, whose power legitimizes and empowers their global endeavor. His authority enables forgiveness of sins, commands the forces of nature, subdues demonic powers, ordains kings, and ultimately orchestrates history towards its appointed end.