Lesson: JESUS SAID “ALL NATIONS” NOT “ALL GENTILES IN THE NATIONS”

by sola scriptura and apostle Paul’s doctrine

Jesus said:

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations…” — Matthew 28:19

Notice carefully what the verse actually says.

It says:

“all nations”

It does NOT say:

“all Gentiles in the nations.”

That distinction matters.

Most people automatically assume “all nations” means the apostles were now sent to build the Body of Christ among uncircumcised Gentiles. But the text itself never says that.

The next verse explains the mission:

“Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you…” — Matthew 28:20

So now the real question becomes:

WHAT WERE THEY TEACHING?

Jesus said they were to teach:

“all things whatsoever I have commanded you.”

That means the content of the teaching came directly from Jesus’ earthly ministry.

So who was Jesus ministering to during His earthly ministry?

Jesus Himself answered:

“I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” — Matthew 15:24

And:

“Go not into the way of the Gentiles…” — Matthew 10:5–6

Jesus’ earthly ministry was directed to Israel.

Not only that, but Israel was scattered throughout the nations.

The Bible repeatedly speaks about scattered Israel among the nations:

“And I will sift the house of Israel among all nations…” — Amos 9:9

And the Jews themselves said:

“Will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles…?” — John 7:35

So when Jesus later says:

“teach all nations”

the context already includes scattered Israelites living throughout the nations.

That is why Jesus called them:

“the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

They were scattered.

Lost does not mean nonexistent. It means dispersed.

JESUS ALSO SPOKE OF “OTHER SHEEP”

Jesus said:

“And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring…” — John 10:16

By strict sola scriptura, the verse does not say “Gentiles.”

People insert that assumption.

But within the context of Jesus’ earthly ministry to Israel, the more natural connection is scattered sheep of Israel outside the immediate fold in the land.

This matches the ongoing theme of dispersed Israel among the nations.

So when Jesus sends the apostles into “all nations,” the mission fits perfectly with gathering and teaching the scattered sheep connected to Israel’s kingdom program.

WHAT WERE THEY TEACHING THOSE NATIONS?

Jesus said:

“Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.”

What had Jesus commanded during His earthly ministry?

He taught kingdom doctrine connected to Israel:

“Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” — Matthew 4:17

“The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat…” — Matthew 23:2

“Offer the gift that Moses commanded…” — Matthew 8:4

“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved…” — Mark 16:16

Those are kingdom instructions connected to Israel’s prophetic program.

So Matthew 28 cannot simply be turned into Paul’s later mystery doctrine for the Body of Christ.

THE MYSTERY WAS STILL HIDDEN

According to apostle Paul doctrine, the mystery was not yet revealed during Jesus’ earthly ministry.

Paul says:

“Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men…” — Ephesians 3:5

And:

“According to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began” — Romans 16:25

So the apostles in Matthew 28 were not preaching the later revelation of the Body of Christ.

Even after the resurrection they still asked:

“Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” — Acts 1:6

That proves they were still operating within Israel’s kingdom expectation.

PAUL RECEIVED A DISTINCT REVELATION

Paul says:

“For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” — Galatians 1:12

And:

“The dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward” — Ephesians 3:2

Paul’s doctrine concerning the Body of Christ was a later revelation.

That is why Paul says:

“Ye are not under the law, but under grace.” — Romans 6:14

Yet Matthew 28 tells them to teach people to observe everything Jesus commanded during His earthly ministry to Israel.

Those are different programs according to apostle Paul doctrine.

THE WORDING MATTERS

Jesus said:

“all nations”

not:

“all Gentiles.”

And the teaching was:

“all things whatsoever I have commanded you”

which points back to His earthly ministry to the lost sheep of the house of Israel — including scattered sheep among the nations.

By sola scriptura, the verse must be read as written, not through later religious assumptions.