40 Bible Verses About the Great Commission

The instruction Jesus gave His followers before ascending to heaven remains the heartbeat of Christian mission today. For believers around the world, studying Bible verses about the great commission strengthens faith, ignites purpose, and inspires bold obedience. Understanding what Jesus commanded and how the early church responded provides clarity for modern Christians who desire to honor this assignment.

This guide will walk you through 40 powerful scriptures that highlight God’s call to reach the world. It also includes explanations that help you understand what the Great Commission truly is, why it matters, and how these passages connect to Christian mission today.

By the end of this post, you will have a deeper grasp of the authority, responsibility, and promise connected to evangelism and how you can live out this divine instruction with confidence.

What Is the Great Commission?

The Great Commission refers to the final instruction Jesus gave His disciples before ascending into heaven. In simple terms, it is the assignment to spread the message of salvation, teach the nations, baptize new believers, and represent Christ faithfully.

This assignment emphasizes three key actions:

Go – Step out intentionally to reach people.
Teach – Help others understand and follow the teachings of Christ.
Baptize – Lead people into a public declaration of their faith.

It is not limited to pastors or missionaries; every believer plays a role. The Great Commission is ongoing, meaning it applies to every generation that follows Jesus.

What Does the Bible Say About the Great Commission?

Scripture contains many passages that point to God’s desire to reach the nations and His expectation that believers share the gospel. While Matthew 28:18–20 is the most direct passage, the message of global outreach appears throughout Scripture, from the prophets to the ministry of Jesus to the letters of Paul.

The Bible highlights:

God’s love for all nations
The responsibility of believers to spread His message
The promise of divine presence during the assignment
The power of the Holy Spirit to help believers witness boldly

Throughout this post, you will see Bible verses about the great commission that support these truths and show how central this assignment is to the Christian faith.

Why is the Great Commission Important?

The Great Commission carries significance for many reasons:

It is an instruction from Jesus: Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He gave this powerful charge to His followers. This alone makes it worth obeying wholeheartedly.
It leads people to salvation: Sharing the gospel opens the door for others to know God’s love, mercy, and grace.
It strengthens the church: When believers preach, teach, guide, and lead, the church grows stronger both spiritually and numerically.
It keeps believers spiritually awake: Obedience to God’s assignment positions believers for growth, discipline, prayer, compassion, and boldness.
It fulfills God’s purpose for mankind: God desires that “all men be saved.” Believers play a major role in making this possible.

This article on Bible verses about the great commission will help you meditate on God’s call and respond to it with faith.

40 Bible Verses About the Great Commission

Below are 40 scriptures that teach, confirm, or support the assignment Jesus gave His followers. These passages come from different parts of the Bible, revealing that God’s mission has always been global.

Matthew 28:18–20 Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…”
Mark 16:15 “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”
Luke 24:47 “…repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations…”
John 20:21 “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
Acts 1:8 “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses…”
Romans 10:14 “How can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?”
Romans 10:15 “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
Romans 1:16 “I am not ashamed of the gospel…”
2 Timothy 4:2 “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season…”
Isaiah 6:8 “Here am I. Send me!”
Isaiah 49:6 “I will also make you a light for the Gentiles…”
Psalm 96:3 “Declare his glory among the nations…”
Psalm 67:2 “Your salvation among all nations.”
Proverbs 11:30 “He who wins souls is wise.”
1 Corinthians 9:16 “Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!”
1 Corinthians 1:17 “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel…”
Matthew 24:14 “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world…”
Luke 10:2 “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few…”
John 4:35 “Open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.”
Acts 13:47 “I have made you a light for the Gentiles…”
Acts 4:20 “We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
Acts 5:42 “Day after day… they never stopped teaching and proclaiming…”
Acts 26:17–18 “I am sending you to them to open their eyes…”
1 Thessalonians 1:8 “The Lord’s message rang out from you…”
2 Corinthians 5:20 “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors…”
2 Corinthians 4:5 “For what we preach is not ourselves…”
Titus 2:11 “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.”
Revelation 14:6 “…an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth; to every nation, tribe, language, and people.”
Jonah 3:2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”
Genesis 12:3 “…all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
Zechariah 8:22 “Many peoples and powerful nations will come to seek the Lord…”
Micah 4:2 “Many nations will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord…’”
Matthew 9:37–38 “The harvest is plentiful…”
Philippians 2:15–16 “You shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.”
Colossians 1:28 “He is the one we proclaim…”
Colossians 4:5 “Make the most of every opportunity.”
1 Peter 3:15 “Always be prepared to give an answer…”
Hebrews 13:16 “Do not forget to do good and to share…”
Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world.”
Matthew 5:16 “Let your light shine before others…”

These passages paint a clear picture of God’s desire for believers to represent Him with boldness and compassion.

Conclusion

The Great Commission is one of the most meaningful instructions Jesus gave the church. Studying Bible verses about the great commission strengthens understanding, inspires action, and fuels passion for sharing the gospel. God calls every believer to take part in spreading His message so that people everywhere have a chance to know Christ.

May these scriptures draw you closer to God’s purpose and empower you to walk boldly in your faith.