Matthew 28:19–20 (KJV): meaning and how to memorise it

What Matthew 28:19–20 says

The risen Christ sends his disciples to teach all nations, to baptise them in the name of the Trinity, and to teach them to obey. He promises to be with them always.

Matthew 28:19–20 in context

¹⁶Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. ¹⁷And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. ¹⁸And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. ¹⁹Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: ²⁰Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Matthew 28, verses 16–20. Read the whole chapter with John Brown’s notes in the Self-Interpreting Bible.

Matthew 28:19–20 in the catechisms

The Reformation catechisms and confessions cite Matthew 28:19–20 41 times as a proof text.

WSC 6
How many persons are there in the Godhead?
WSC 26
How doth Christ execute the office of a king?
WSC 88
What are the outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption?
WSC 92
What is a sacrament?
WSC 93
Which are the sacraments of the New Testament?
WSC 94
What is Baptism?
WLC 9
How many persons are there in the Godhead?
WLC 11
How doth it appear that the Son and the Holy Ghost are God equal with the Father?
WLC 35
How is the covenant of grace administered under the New Testament?
WLC 42
Why was our Mediator called Christ?
WLC 53
How was Christ exalted in his ascension?
WLC 62
What is the visible church?
WLC 108
What are the duties required in the second commandment?
WLC 154
What are the outward means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of his mediation?
WLC 162
What is a sacrament?
WLC 164
How many sacraments hath Christ instituted in his church under the New Testament?
WLC 165
What is Baptism?
WLC 166
Unto whom is Baptism to be administered?
WLC 176
Wherein do the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's supper agree?
WCF 2.3
In the unity of the Godhead there be three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. The Father is of none, neither…
WCF 7.6
Under the gospel, when Christ the substance was exhibited, the ordinances in which this covenant is dispensed are the preaching of the Word and the administration of the…
WCF 21.5
The reading of the Scriptures with godly fear; the sound preaching; and conscionable hearing of the Word, in obedience unto God with understanding, faith, and reverence;…
WCF 25.3
Unto this catholic visible Church Christ hath given the ministry, oracles, and ordinances of God, for the gathering and perfecting of the saints, in this life, to the end of…
WCF 25.5
The purest churches under heaven are subject both to mixture and error; and some have so degenerated as to become no churches of Christ, but synagogues of Satan. Nevertheless,…
WCF 27.1
Sacraments are holy signs and seals of the covenant of grace, immediately instituted by God, to represent Christ and his benefits, and to confirm our interest in him: as also…
WCF 27.4
There be only two sacraments ordained by Christ our Lord in the Gospel, that is to say, Baptism and the Supper of the Lord: neither of which may be dispensed by any but by a…
WCF 28.1
Baptism is a sacrament of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, not only for the solemn admission of the party baptized into the visible Church, but also to be unto him…
WCF 28.2
The outward element to be used in this sacrament is water, wherewith the party is to be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, by a minister…
WCF 28.4
Not only those that do actually profess faith in and obedience unto Christ, but also the infants of one or both believing parents are to be baptized.
WCF 30.1
The Lord Jesus, as king and head of his Church, hath therein appointed a government in the hand of Church officers, distinct from the civil magistrate.
HC 22
What, then, must a Christian believe?
HC 25
Since there is only one God, why do you speak of three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?
HC 31
Why is He called Christ, that is, Anointed?
HC 47
Is Christ, then, not with us until the end of the world, as He has promised us?
HC 53
What do you believe concerning the Holy Spirit?
HC 65
Since then faith alone makes us share in Christ and all His benefits, where does this faith come from?
HC 68
How many sacraments has Christ instituted in the new covenant?
HC 69
How does holy baptism signify and seal to you that the one sacrifice of Christ on the cross benefits you?
HC 71
Where has Christ promised that He will wash us with His blood and Spirit as surely as we are washed with the water of baptism?
SC Bapt. 1
What is Baptism? Baptism is not simple water only, but it is the water comprehended in God's command and connected with God's Word. Which is that word of God? Christ, our Lord,…
WSC 50
What is required in the second commandment?

How to memorise Matthew 28:19–20

Hearers breaks the verse into clauses and teaches each clause in four steps. Then it brings each clause back just before you forget it.

01
Read
Read the verse with the clauses marked. Listen to it read aloud.
02
Trace
Type the first letter of each word, with the words shown faintly.
03
Fade
Half of the words go. Type the text again, and fill the gaps from memory.
04
Recall
All the words go. Type it or say it aloud. Each clause gets its own grade and its own review date.