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Matthew 28:16
"Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them."

We conclude our study, Gathering in the Name of Jesus, with the final four verses of Matthew’s Gospel. This has been a rewarding journey into God’s plan and the teachings of our Lord and Savior. Last week we saw a key truth: when we aid the vulnerable—especially fellow believers in need—we touch God’s heart and bring Him delight. God meets us in suffering humanity; how we treat others reveals our relationship with Him.

Today’s passage brings us to Jesus’ final moments with His disciples. The number “eleven” is significant, underscoring Judas Iscariot’s absence after his betrayal and death. Despite their earlier abandonment (Matthew 26:56), these eleven men remain the core group chosen to receive Jesus’ parting instructions.

Their journey to Galilee shows obedience to His earlier command, delivered through the women at the tomb (Matthew 28:10). Galilee was the heart of Jesus’ ministry and a familiar place for the disciples. Though the specific mountain is unnamed, mountains in Matthew often signify divine revelation (e.g., Sermon on the Mount, Transfiguration). This setting highlights the weight and authority of the commission Jesus is about to deliver...

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