The Commands of Jesus

Jesus says, “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.“ (Jn 14:21) He defines our relationship with Him in terms of our love for and obedience to His commands.

He continues, “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” (23) Christ is telling us what believing on Him looks like: keep His words, cherish them, know them by heart, obey them. Those who don’t love Him neglect His sayings. (24)

Loving Jesus, believing on Jesus — it means obeying Jesus, we cannot decouple obedience from belief, nor can we separate believing on Jesus from loving Him. (1Co 16:22)

So, what are the commands of Jesus?

Jesus speaking in the imperative voice is clearly a command, yet this is just scratching the surface: wherever Jesus’ words reveal opportunities to do good, neglecting to follow them is sin. (Ja 4:17) Since sin is breaking God’s law (1Jn 3:4), any guidance derived from Christ’s words serves as His command.

So, Jesus’ commands, as I understand them from Scripture (personalizing them per my current understanding and avoiding redundancy), include the following:

Turn from your own way and submit to God’s authority. Mt 4:17 – “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
1. If you have strayed away return back toward God. Re 2:5 – “Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.”
2. Be zealous to receive and obey God’s correction. Re 3:19 – “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”
3. Guard all truth you have, even if your faith is weak and dying. Re 3:2 “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.”
4. Remember what God has taught you, hold on to it tightly and return back to it. Re 3:3a – “Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent.”
Become regenerated with a new nature by the Holy Spirit. Jn 3:7 “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”
Seek to be poor in spirit. Mt 5:3 – “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Embrace godly sorrow for sin and loss. Mt 5:4 – “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”
Pursue and encourage meekness: controlled strength. Mt 5:5 – “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.”
Diligently seek grace from God to align all speech and actions with Torah. Mt 5:6 – “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”
Delight in mercy. Mt 5:7 – “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.”
Align all motives, values, emotions and thoughts with Torah. Mt 5:8 – “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”
Promote Torah-alignment in relationships. Mt 5:9 – “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”
Be thankful and joyful in persecution. Mt 5:10-12 – “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”
Let your light shine. Mt 5:16 – “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
1. Seek opportunity to influence others for good. Mt 5:13 – “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.”
2. Seek opportunity to enlighten others with the truth. Mt 5:14-15 – “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.”
Do not think Jesus makes any law in Torah irrelevant or obsolete. Mt 5:17 – “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”
1. Consider every detail of Torah obligatory as long as heaven and earth remain. Mt 5:18 – “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”
2. Keep every command in Torah you are able to keep and teach others to do the same. Mt 5:19 – “Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”
Repent of disrespect and inappropriate anger. Mt 5:22 – “But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.”
Prioritize reconciliation over worship. Mt 5:23-24 – “Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.”
1. Keep short accounts. Mt 5:25 – “Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.”
Respect the marriage relationship. Mt 5:28 – “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”
1. Only divorce under exceptional and irreconcilable circumstances. Mt 5:32a – “But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery:“
2. Do not remarry your former wife after she has remarried and been divorced by another. Mt 5:32b – “and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.“
3. Do not have sex outside of marriage. Re 2:20a – “Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication,”
4. Leave your parents and cleave to your wife. Mk 10:7 – “For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;“
5. Recognize God makes husband and wife into one organism. Mk 10:8-9 – “And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.“
Prioritize deliverance from sin above physical wholeness. Mt 5:29-30 – “And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.”
Do not make oaths. Mt 5:34-36 – “But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.”
Say what you mean and mean what you say. Mt 5:37 – “But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.”
Go beyond what is required in fulfilling obligations. Mt 5:38-41 – “Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: but I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.”
Be generous to those in need. Mt 5:42 – “Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.” *
1. Be diligently generous to the marginalized and vulnerable. Mt 25:35-36 – “For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.”
2. Give to those who cannot repay you. Lk 14:12-14 – “Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: and thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.”
Love your enemies. Mt 5:44a – “But I say unto you, Love your enemies,”
1. Seek the well-being of those who curse you. Mt 5:44b – “bless them that curse you,”
2. Act righteously toward those who hate you. Mt 5:44c – “do good to them that hate you,”
3. Ask God to help those who abuse you. Mt 5:44d – “and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”
4. Love others as yourself. Mt 22:39 – “And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”
Be mature and complete in heart, mind and soul. Mt 5:48 – “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.“
Do not do good deeds in order to be noticed by others. Mt 6:1a – “Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them:”
1. Be motivated by a heavenly reward. Mt 6:1b – “otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.”
2. Do not draw attention to your good deeds so as to be approved by others. Mt 6:2 – “Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.”
3. Do not try to keep track of your good works. Mt 6:3 – “But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:”
4. Let God keep track of your works and be your reward. Mt 6:4 – “that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.”
5. Do everything as unto Christ. Re 2:2a – “I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience,”
6. Live to promote the glory and reputation of Christ. Re 2:3a – “And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured,“
7. Do not give up when living for Christ gets hard. Re 2:3b – “and hast not fainted.”
Do not pray publicly with ulterior motives. Mt 6:5 – “And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.”
Pray discretely as if to be seen and heard only by God. Mt 6:6 – “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.”
Pray authentically, not just mouthing words. Mt 6:7 – “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.”
1. Pray in light of God’s omniscience and foresight. Mt 6:8 – “Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.”
2. Pray to God the Father. Mt 6:9a – “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father.”
3. Acknowledge God’s infinitude. Mt 6:9b – “which art in heaven.”
4. Ask for God’s character and reputation to be honored and revered. Mt 6:9c – “Hallowed be thy name.”
5. Ask for God’s universal dominion to be realized. Mt 6:10a – “Thy kingdom come.”
6. Ask for God’s will to be accomplished on Earth. Mt 6:10b – “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”
7. Ask God to provide your daily necessities. Mt 6:11 – “Give us this day our daily bread.”
8. Ask God to forgive you in the same way you forgive others. Mt 6:12 – “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”
9. Ask God to guide you away from what weakens your faith. Mt 6:13a – “And lead us not into temptation,”
10. Ask God to enable you to live righteously. Mt 6:13b – “but deliver us from evil:”
11. Exult in God’s eternal sovereignty, omnipotence and majesty. Mt 6:13c – “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”
12. Pray with importunity without giving up. Lk 11:8 – “I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.”
13. Pray for the power of the Holy Spirit. Lk 11:13 – “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?”
Expect God to forgive you the way you forgive others. Mt 6:14-15 – “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
When depriving yourself in a spiritual pursuit do not flaunt it. Mt 6:16 – “Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.”
1. Maintain your public appearance and demeanor. Mt 6:17 – “But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;”
2. Pursue spiritual struggles as if only God sees them. Mt 6:18 – “That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret:”
3. Be mindful of God’s pleasure in it. Mt 6:18b – “and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.”
Do not store up material wealth as precious. Mt 6:19 – “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:”
Invest in eternity. Mt 6:20 – “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:”
Recognize you will be loyal where you are invested. Mt 6:21 -“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Recognize perception of reality shapes behavior; Mt 6:22a -“The light of the body is the eye:”
1. that accurate perception enlightens your response, Mt 6:22b -“if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.”
2. and that cognitive bias blinds. Mt 6:23a -“But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness.”
3. Fear the inability to rightly perceive reality. Mt 6:23b – “If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!”
Recognize you can only be loyal to one boss. Mt 6:24a -“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.”
1. Recognize you cannot be loyal to both God and temporal comforts. Mt 6:24b -“Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
2. Diligently avoid coveting. Lk 12:15 – “And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.“
Do not worry about how God will take care of you. Mt 6:25a – “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on.”
1. Consider how God prioritizes His relationship with you. Mt 6:25b – “Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?”
2. Consider how God provides for the birds. Mt 6:26a – “Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them.”
3. Consider how much God values you. Mt 6:26b – “Are ye not much better than they?”
4. Consider how little you accomplish by worrying. Mt 6:27– “Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?”
5. Consider why you worry about what to wear. Mt 6:28a – “And why take ye thought for raiment?”
6. Consider how beautiful flora thrive without effort. Mt 6:28b – “Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:”
7. Consider how Man’s best pales in comparison for beauty. Mt 6:29 – “And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”
8. Consider how much God cares for you. Mt 6:30 – “Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?”
9. Do not worry about how your needs will be met. Mt 6:31 – “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?”
10. Do not emulate those who are ignorant of God. Mt 6:32a – “(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:)”
11. Remember God knows what you need. Mt 6:32b – “for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.”
12. Prioritize God’s agenda and trust Him to care for you. Mt 6:33 – “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
13. Since God is watching over you take it one day at a time. Mt 6:34 – “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”
Do not presume to know what some else deserves. Mt 7:1 – “Judge not, that ye be not judged.“
1. Consider you tend to judge your own sin in others. Mt 7:2 – “For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”
2. Consider why you focus on inspecting sin in others. Mt 7:3a – “And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye,”
3. Consider why you neglect to deal with your own sin. Mt 7:3b – “but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?”
4. Consider why you meddle with little sins in others while unaware of major sin in yourself. Mt 7:4 – “Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?”
5. Acknowledge the hypocrisy inherent in such behavior. Mt 7:5a – “Thou hypocrite,”
6. Overcome your own sin before offering to help someone else overcome theirs. Mt 7:5a – “first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.”
Do not offer instruction to those who are not seeking it. Mt 7:6a – “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.”
1. Expect them to disregard whatever you offer them. Mt 7:6b – “lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.”
2. Expect them to abuse you in return. Mt 7:6b – “and turn again and rend you.”
Ask God for wisdom and He will provide it. Mt 7:7a – “Ask, and it shall be given you;”
1. Search out wisdom and you will obtain it. Mt 7:7b – “seek, and ye shall find;”
2. Expect apparent obstacles to turn into opportunities. Mt 7:7c – “knock, and it shall be opened unto you:”
3. Expect all who diligently pursue wisdom to be fully rewarded. Mt 7:8a – “For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”
4. Consider how carnal parents honor reasonable requests from their children. Mt 7:9-11a –“Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children,”
5. Contrast this with God’s exceeding goodness in meeting the spiritual needs of those who ask Him. Mt 7:11b -“how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”
6. Since God is committed to caring for you, treat others the way you want to be treated. Mt 7:12 – “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them:”
7. Consider the benevolent kindness exemplified in God is the essence of Torah and how it is worked out. Mt 7:12b – “for this is the law and the prophets.“
In seeking eternal life, accept only God’s way. Mt 7:13a –“Enter ye in at the strait gate:”
1. Consider most people will make up their own way or will follow others who do. Mt 7:13b – “for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:”
2. Note the singular entrance into the journey toward Heaven. Mt 7:14a –“Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life,”
3. Expect most people will miss it. Mt 7:14b – “and few there be that find it.”
Be suspicious of those pushing religious agendas without humble authenticity. Mt 7:15 – “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”
1. Recognize them based on how they are impacting others. Mt 7:16a – “Ye shall know them by their fruits.”
2. Consider how we identify healthy fruit. Mt 7:16b – “Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?”
3. Consider how good things produce goodness and bad things produce badness. Mt 7:17 – “Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.”
4. Consider how good things cannot produce badness and bad things produce goodness. Mt 7:18 – “A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.”
5. Be confident God will destroy all who do no good. Mt 7:19 – “Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.”
6. Pay attention to prophetic impact to discern its legitimacy. Mt 7:20 –“Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”
7. Test those who claim apostolic authority and publicly expose liars as appropriate. Re 2:2c – “and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:”
8. Hate the works of those teaching inconsistently with Torah. Re 2:6 – “But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.”
9. Hold on to the truth. Re 2:25 – “But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.”
Understand calling Christ Lord is insufficient, one must actually obey Jehovah. Mt 7:21 – “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”
1. Expect many to seek acceptance by Christ based on their public ministry. Mt 7:22 – “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?”
2. Expect Christ to reject those He does not know: all who disobey Him. Mt 7:23 – “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
3. Consider those who obey Christ’s teaching wise; expect them to weather the storm of the final Judgement. Mt 7:24-25 – “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.”
4. Consider those who disobey Christ’s teaching foolish; expect them to be ruined by the storm of the final Judgement. Mt 7:26-27 – “And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.”
5. Keep all of Christ’s commands. Jn 13:34 –“If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.“
Ponder Christ’s voluntary homelessness and poverty. Mt 8:20 – “And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.”
Relegate worldly cares to worldlings who can manage them. Mt 8:22 – “But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.”
Meditate on the connection between fear and unbelief. Mt 8:26 – “And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?”
Seek to understand how God’s kingdom is grounded in mercy moved by repentance. Mt 9:13 – “But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
Ask God to send missionaries. Mt 9:38 – “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.”
Consider being sent by Christ means being vulnerable. Mt 10:16 – “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves:”
Use wisdom when engaging unbelievers and do no harm. Mt 10:16 – “be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”
Expect to be persecuted for your faith. Mt 10:17-18 – “But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; and ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.”
1. Do not worry about what to say when you are persecuted. Mt 10:19 – “But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.”
2. Expect to be hated for Christ’s sake. Mt 10:22 – “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.”
3. Expect to be treated the way Christ was. Mt 10:24 – “The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.”
4. Do not worry about being misrepresented. Mt 10:26 – “Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.”
5. Be faithful to proclaim the truth at every opportunity. Mt 10:27 – “What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.”
6. Do not order your life to please those who may harm your body. Mt 10:28a – “Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul:”
7. Instead, reverently order your life to please Him who may destroy both your spirit and body eternally. Mt 10:28b – “But rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
8. Let God’s valuation of you dispel all fear. Mt 10:31 – “Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.”
9. Do not be afraid of those who may harm you for Christ. Lk 12:4 – “And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.”
10. Do not be afraid of what you might suffer for Christ. Re 2:10a – “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days:“
11. Be faithful to Christ to the death. Re 12:10b – “be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.“
Expect Christ to affirm you before the Father the way you affirm Him before the world. Mt 10:32-33 – “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.”
1. Do not be ashamed of Scripture. Lk 9:26 – “For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.”
2. Expect Christ to be ashamed of those who are ashamed of Him. Mk 8:38 – “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
Expect most people to be offended by Christ. Mt 10:34 – “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.”
1. Expect families to be divided over Christ. Mt 10:35-36 – “For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.”
2. Be faithful to Christ even if family turn against you. Mt 10:37 – “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”
3. Follow Christ regardless of the cost. Mt 10:38 – “And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.”
4. Be willing to lose everything for Christ. Mt 10:39 – “He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.”
5. Count the cost of following Christ daily. Lk 9:23 – “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”
Receive servants of Christ as if they were Christ Himself. Mt 10:40 – “He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.”
Make every choice as if it will make an eternal difference. Mt 10:41-42 – “He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.”
Trust Christ implicitly, especially when He is not coming to your rescue. Mt 11:6 – “And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.”
Stop at nothing to enter Heaven. Mt 11:12 – “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.”
Ask God to give you a willingness to receive the truth. Mt 11:15 – “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
Do not exult in your own wisdom; look to God to teach you. Mt 11:25 – “At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.”
Come to Christ for relief whenever you are struggling. Mt 11:28 – “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
1. Submit to the Lordship of Christ. Mt 11:29a – “Take my yoke upon you,”
2. Study Christ’s heart until you are grounded in Him. Mt 11:29b – “and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”
3. Keep pursuing Him until His way becomes instinctive. Mt 11:30 – “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Do not judge those who violate Jewish tradition. Mt 12:7 – “But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.”
Carefully examine the spirit of Sabbath. Mt 12:11 – “And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?”
Do not witness to those who are not seeking truth. Mt 12:19 – “He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.”
Encourage even the smallest hints of truth-seeking. Mt 12:20 – “A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.”
Expect no inconsistency in God or His revelation. Mt 12:20 – “And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:”
Be intentional and precise in your speech. Mt 12:36-37 – “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”
Do not expect additional supernatural confirmation when you already have a preponderance of evidence. Mt 12:39 – “But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:”
Value spiritual relationships above natural ones. Mt 12:50 – “For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
Do not be content and smug in your current level of understanding. Mt 13:15 – “For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.”
1. Be careful to guard the truth. Mt 13:19 – “When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.”
2. Internalize and obey all truth you know. Mt 13:21 – “Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.”
3. Do not allow temporal concern to distract from spiritual pursuit. Mt 13:22 – “He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.”
4. Evaluate your understanding by how it impacts your behavior. Mt 13:23 – “But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
5. Be diligent to receive, process and apply truth. Mk 4:24a – “And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.“
Do not presume to know who within spiritual community are elect. Mt 13:30 – “Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.”
Recognize that God generally works through apparent weakness. Mt 13:31-32 – “Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.”
Recognize that God generally works in imperceptible ways. Mt 13:33 – “Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.”
Value obedience to truth above all else. Mt 13:44 – “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.”
Consider carefully the insights of those habitually meditating on God’s Word. Mt 13:52 – “Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.”
Honor your parents. Mt 15:4 – “And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.”
Do not teach the opinions of men as commands from God. Mt 15:9 – “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”
Do not try to persuade the dogmatic. Mt 15:14 – “Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.”
Be very careful to avoid any strain of legalism. Mt 16:6 – “Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.”
1. Be very careful to avoid any strain of religious pride and hypocrisy. Lk 12:1b – “Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.”
Trust in the omnipotence of Christ working through you. Mt 17:20 – “And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”
Trust God humbly, implicitly and completely. Mt 18:4 – “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
Be particularly receptive and helpful to the vulnerable. Mt 18:5 – “And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.”
Privately confront those in spiritual community who are in a pattern of sin toward you. Mt 18:15 – “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.”
1. If you are unable to reconcile, engage one or two more brothers to address the problem. Mt 18:16 – “But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.”
2. If that does not work involve the brotherhood as a whole. Mt 18:17a – “And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church:”
3. If that does not work esteem the offender to be an unbeliever. Mt 18:17b – “but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.”
4. Do not tolerate within the brotherhood those who practice sin. Re 2:2b – “and how thou canst not bear them which are evil:”
5. Do not tolerate harmful teachings within the brotherhood. Re 2:2b –“Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.”
Consider the consensus of a spiritual brotherhood binding. Mt 18:18 – “Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Place no limits on forgiveness. Mt 18:22 – “Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”
Be willing to voluntarily give up everything for Christ. Mt 19:21 – “Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.”
Do not fall for unearned, inorganic claims of spiritual authority. Mt 20:26-27 – “But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:”
Pay your taxes. Mt 22:21 – “They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.”
Love God with everything you have. Mt 22:37-38 – “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.”
1. Seek to understand how all of Torah is based on love. Mt 22:40 – “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
2. Follow Christ’s sacrificial wisdom in love. Jn 13:34 – “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”
3. Always seek to be growing in love for God. Re 2:4 – “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.”
4. Do not participate in idolatrous ceremonies. Re 2:20 – “Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.”
Stay in constant communion with Christ. Mt 24:42 – “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.”
1. Live in continual conscious intimate dependence on Christ. Jn 15:4 – “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.”
Be constantly ready to engage with what God is doing. Mt 24:44 – “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”
1. Be alert to discern impostors. Lk 21:8 – “And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.”
Be a good steward of all of your resources. Mt 25:29 – “For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.”
Keep Passover as a reminder of Christ’s atonement. Mt 26:26-28 – “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
Be alert and prayerful under duress and temptation. Mt 26:41 – “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Help everyone understand the Gospel. Mt 28:19a – “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,”
1. Make the Gospel available to all people. Mk 16:15 -“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
Baptize all who receive Christ in the names of the Trinity. Mt 28:19b – “baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:”
Teach all who are interested all that Christ commanded. Mt 28:20a – “teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:”
1. Provide edifying instruction to new believers. Jn 21:15 – “So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.”
2. Provide edifying instruction to mature believers. Jn 21:16 – “He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”
Acknowledge the omnipresence of Christ. Mt 28:20b – “and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
Bear witness to evidence of the Resurrection. Ac 1:8 – “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

To Be Continued

This a work in progress; as I learn more I will be adding to and refining it. Perfection is not expected in such an effort; there will always be more to discover. There are 288 distinct commands listed above. If you see anything I missed, or perhaps a better way to extrapolate from the text, please feel free to add a comment and we can collaborate.

Note: as I explore, I do not expect Yeshua to add to or diminish Torah (De 4:2), the law of Love (Mt 22:37-40), the law of Liberty (Ja 1:25), for that would mean God’s Law is incomplete, imperfect. (Ps 19:7) Torah is the law of Christ Himself, so I expect Christ to reveal the spirit of Torah, not disannul it. Then as I explore Jesus’ commands, I expect they elaborate upon Torah itself and inform its elaborate taxonomy.

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One thought on “The Commands of Jesus”

Tim Hayes says:

2025-06-14 at 15:37

Mt 10:29-30 – “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” Seems redundant with Mt 6:26.

One thought on “The Commands of Jesus”

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