I sometimes challenge myself by going back to what the Bible says. I was thinking about discipleship, and I wanted to look at what it meant. I turned to Matthew 28 and the great commission passage and start to read and don’t get very far as I let the text speak to me. This verse immediately pulls me up. I will explain why it triggered me.
So, the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated for them.
W. Hall Harris III, Elliot Ritzema, et al., eds., The Lexham English Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012), Mt 28:16.
I thought that’s interesting I’ve not noticed that before. The bit I am referring to is where it says the mountain. Which mountain? I wonder if it’s the mountain I’ve been reading about recently?
The text doesn’t specify exactly which mountain. This is probably quite purposeful. A mountain in the Bible is often symbolic of a high place and ancient people believed that was where the gods dwelt. If we take this on surface value, the Lord asked them to go to the mountain. It could be said that it’s the Lord’s mountain – or the mountain of the Lord as Jesus is there. I don’t know if this is an official view, but I like this possibility. The concept of mountains may ring bells for you if you’ve read your Bible. It may not. A couple of verses come to mind. I’m sure as you start to dig around there’ll be more.
A little aside here the Bible Project is a good resource. They have at least a couple of episodes on mountains. Their podcast series Episode 20 The mountain garden and the human ideal and Episode 3 Exile from the cosmic mountain.
Let us go to the mountain of the Lord…
Isaiah 2:3 Many peoples shall come. And they shall say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of Yahweh, to the house of the God of Jacob, and may he teach us part of his ways, and let us walk in his paths.” For instruction shall go out from Zion, and the word of Yahweh from Jerusalem.
Micah 4:2And many nations will come and say, “Come! Let us go up to the mountain of Yahweh, and to the temple of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways, and that we may walk in his paths,” for the law will go out from Zion, and the word of Yahweh from Jerusalem.
Let us go to the house of the Lord…
It is like the dew of Hermon that runs down upon the mountains of Zion, because there Yahweh commanded the blessing— life forever.
W. Hall Harris III, Elliot Ritzema, et al., eds., The Lexham English Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012), Ps 133:3.
The hills of Zion are those surrounding Zion (see Pss 87:1; 125:2). The psalmist does not intend to suggest that the dew from Mt. Hermon in the distant north actually flows down upon Zion. His point is that the same kind of heavy dew that replenishes Hermon may also be seen on Zion’s hills. See A. Cohen, Psalms (SoBB), 439. “Dew” here symbolizes divine blessing, as the next line suggests.
There’s another passage that links in here I believe which is where Jesus is talking to Peter and the disciples? He says on this rock I will build my church. I’ve never been to the part of the world where these things were spoken but to do so would give context to what is being said here.
I’ve read this interpretation does make a lot of sense and is the one that I’m basing this article on. The interpretation is that Jesus was actually in the location of the place where the gates of hell or hades were when he said it. This is what is in scholarly circles talked of as cosmic geography. He was actually being provocative to the enemy of Yahweh.
And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it!
W. Hall Harris III, Elliot Ritzema, et al., eds., The Lexham English Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012), Mt 16:18.
The phrase “this rock” also could refer generally to the site on which Jesus and the disciples were standing—a location that was considered to be the gateway to the underworld. Jesus would then be proclaiming the power of the Church to overcome evil and death.
John D. Barry, Douglas Mangum, et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Mt 16:18.
Similarly, maybe this is what is happening here in this scripture Matthew 28.16 and what it is leading up to. The notes from the Faithlife Study Bible below elaborate some more on what is going on here and link it to Matthew 17.1. where the transfiguration takes place.
On a high mountain There is no indication that Jesus and the disciples have moved away from Caesarea Philippi (16:13), located at the base of Mount Hermon. Another possibility is Mount Tabor, southwest of the Sea of Galilee. Since the fifth century, church tradition has favored Mount Tabor, though there is no textual basis for this choice; the association was established by early pilgrims. Details in the narrative seem to fit better with Mount Hermon, located on the northern edge of Bashan—a region associated in Jesus’ day with demonic activity. Based on this connection, Jesus’ revelation of His true identity in the Transfiguration can be understood as an advance against evil: The King has arrived to defeat the powers of darkness and claim what belongs to Him. The eschatological conquest of Bashan is described in Psa 68, a passage quoted by Paul in Eph 4:8 in connection with the Church.
John D. Barry, Douglas Mangum, et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Mt 17:1.
To some of you who may still be scratching your heads at this point this is where you need to have read some extra Biblical material. This material helps give background to how you read your Bible. More specifically 1 Enoch (apparently the best translation is from this author who’s made it a lifetime study). This book conveys the fall of the Watchers – or a particular group of Watchers. Also known as fallen angels. There is a lot of academic research behind these ideas. Peter and Jude were also familiar with this book – they quote from it in their epistles.
1 Enoch is a set of writings compiled into one book not unlike the Bible as I understand it. The reason I say this is they, the watchers allegedly used Mount Hermon to set up their own counterfeit divine council to the one that God has. And if you’re unfamiliar with the phrase divine council then more reading for you is required!
I started this article about how this verse about a mountain caught my eye. If I hadn’t known about this other material I’ve written of I would not have necessarily noticed this in my reading. (For further reading, if you subscribe to Academia, you can get free peer reviewed papers about it there).
One of my favourite books by Dr. Michael Heiser deals with Mount Hermon in more detail here and will also introduce you the reader to more extra Biblical works which help give context to your Bible reading and study.
What I’m really trying to say is that the mountain mentioned could be Mount Hermon. The fact that Jesus is directing his disciples there and proclaiming from it what he wants the disciples to do, can’t be an accident. He’s extending that mission to us, the Great Commission which as has been said by others, is spiritual warfare. It wasn’t an insignificant mountain in my view, but this is the mountain where all kinds of perversion, depravity and evil stem from. It wasn’t just the human family that fell and transgressed it was also some of the heavenly family. (Watch this short 7 minute video which deals with the three rebellions). Jesus has taken back the earth and begun his new kingdom. He’s here getting his disciples involved and by extension us who follow him. It is quite likely that he’s saying to the powers-that-be, “Your time is up now. I’ve taken authority back as God’s unique Son and this is how I’m expressing my authority”.
They (the supernatural enemies of God) only get destroyed when the Great commission is accomplished.So that needs to happen better. (The enemies of God say in his view) So let’s delay as long as we can. Distract the church as much as we can. Let’s make it worldly to invalidate its message. Let’s do all we can to give Jesus a bad reputation. Keep people blind, misdirected and distracted, not thinking about their eternal destiny. If we do that long enough, we can be here a long time. That’s what we’re about. That’s our business. That’s our business plan. … [Somewhat like CS Lewis’ Screwtape Letters – my words in brackets]
Michael Heiser on the Becket Cook show
And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed in the whole inhabited earth for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.
W. Hall Harris III et al., eds., The Lexham English Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012), Mt 24:14.
