Jesus’ Commandments and Why You Need to Know Them
Jesus said:
“If you love me, obey my commandments.” John 14:15
Maybe, like me, you think … I love Jesus, I want to obey Him.
The other day a couple of questions came to mind that I’d never thought about before…
What are Jesus’ commandments?
Are they different from the original 10 Commandments in the Old Testament?
It’s funny. I memorized John 14:15 years ago and I really have wanted to obey Jesus but I’ve never specifically thought about His commands.
The Gospels are full of Jesus’ instructions and counsel for the way His followers should live but I wondered how many of them would qualify as actual commands.
And I found 10 verses that began with words like, “you must” or “I tell you the truth” … verses I believe are Jesus’ Commandments.
Jesus’ Commandments and Why You Need to Know Them
♥ Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. John 13:34
Jesus kind of love is more than just warm feelings. Loving like Jesus is an attitude that is demonstrated through actions.
Life Application Bible Notes say: loving like Jesus is helping when it’s not convenient, giving when it hurts and putting the welfare of others ahead of our own.
♥ “Repent of your sins and turn to God” Matthew 4:17
Repentance is defined as … turning from sin and dedicating yourself to the amendment of your life. (Miriam Webster Dictionary)
LAB Notes says that”becoming a follower of Jesus means turning away from our self-centeredness and “self” control and turning our life over to Christ Jesus’ direction and control.
♥ “You must take up your cross, and follow me.” Matthew 16:24
I’ll admit this one has been especially hard for me. I didn’t want any part of cross-carrying … so much so that I was afraid to completely surrender and follow.
Praise God, I’ve finally learned to believe … following Jesus trusts that God knows what’s best and that whatever He allows He will give me the strength and courage to endure.
♥ “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else” and “Don’t worry” Matthew 6:33–34
When you and I seek God’s Kingdom above all else, we put Him first … we make knowing Him and knowing His will our greatest priority.
For me, worry happens when I take my focus off God and focus on my “what if” circumstances. When I stop seeking Him first. But staying focused on God is the antidote to worry! I love that!
♥ “Become like little children.” Matthew 18:3
When the disciples asked Jesus, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” Jesus answered, “Anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.”
Being child-like involves being trusting, humble, and sincere.
Little children are comfortable in their own skin. They’re willing to be honest, knowingly dependent, and free of pretense. I want that!
♥ “Keep the commandments.” Matthew 19:17
Jesus’ Commandments do not replace or change God’s Commands given on Mt. Sinai.
In fact, He summed up the original 10 Commandments in the next two commands…
♥ “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.” Mark 12:30
When you and I love God completely, we acknowledge Him for who He is … holy—set apart. Not one of many gods but THE I AM: Creator, Redeemer, Comforter, Father, and Friend. The One who defines Himself as “love.”
All of me loving all of Him!
How to Love God with All Your Heart, Soul, Mind, and Strength
♥ “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:39
Dallas Willard defines love as, “being devoted to the good or well-being” of another.
I like that. Although I often fail at emotionally nurturing myself, I do work at taking care of myself – my “good and well-being.” I’m guessing you take care of yourself, too.
That defines loving our neighbor … doing good and taking care of each other. Looking out for the other person’s well-being. Can you imagine if everyone loved like that?! Wow!
How to Love Your Neighbor as You Love Yourself
♥ “You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. Give, and you will receive.” Luke 6:36–38
Other translations say, “You must be merciful,” and others, “You must be kind.”
Compassion, mercy, kindness, and forgiveness should set us apart as followers of Jesus. Imagine what could happen if we decided to simply love each other and let God take care of the rest.
Have you noticed that when you smile at random strangers, they generally smile back? Kindness breeds kindness. Compassion leads to more compassion. Forgiveness … etc.
Not always, that’s true! But maybe we could transform our relationships if we determined to love intentionally.
♥ “Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19
And that’s the bottom line …
When people see what you and I have in Jesus, they should want what we have.
Too often Christians are perceived as judgmental … like they’re trying to guilt people into the Kingdom.
Who wants that?
Honestly, that wasn’t God’s plan for His people. Even when He gave the original commands to the wilderness wanderers, His desire was that His people would look different … so wonderfully different, that the people in the surrounding nations would want to know Him too.
Jesus lived His Commandments! He demonstrated His law of love!
If you’re squirming a little right now, I get it. I know I fall far short obeying His commands.
Jesus’ commandments go beyond “do this and don’t do that.” His commands go to the attitudes of our hearts and doing everything from a heart of love is hard for sinful people.
It’s really hard.
Thankfully, God offers us the help we need.
Jesus said…
“I will ask My Father and He will give you another Helper. He will be with you forever.” John 14:16 (NLV)
God sent the Holy Spirit to fill us with so much of His love that it can’t help but pour out of us onto and into others.
And we not only have the Holy Spirit…
We have Jesus, Himself, who died and rose again that we might be covered with His grace and mercy—His perfect forgiveness for the times we fall short.
That’s comforting, isn’t it?
All you and I need to do is set our hearts and minds on loving God and loving others.
That’s it!
God does the rest … giving us everything we need. He fills us with His love. He shows us where He wants to use us and He equips us to share His love with others.
When I look at the list above and think about how far I fall short, it helps to know that God is always faithful to help His children to do His will His way.
We can rest knowing that when we love God and seek Him first, He will pour so much of His love into us that with His Spirit’s help, following Jesus’ commandments will become our greatest desire and best blessed part of our lives.
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Your words today were so basic, words from the Bible that we have heard over and over , yet what you wrote made me say yes, yes, this is how I need to think, and act. Thank you for your words and reminders on how to live every day.
Camden
I needed this reminder, Camden. I’m so glad it blessed you, too! Thank you so much for visiting and for leaving such kind encouragement. Blessings and hugs!
Thank you so much, Camden! Blessings!
I often tell my Sunday School class there are three basic commands that Jesus gave. Love Me (God is included since He and Jesus are one.)! Love others! Go and tell! You’ve added some new perspective to this truth. Thanks!
Blessings to you and yours!
Marie
I love that you mentioned the Holy Spirit in the end. God sent us a Helper to be with us every step of the way as He guides us in following Him. Great list Deb ????
I love how you broke down Jesus’ actual commands to us – simple and straightforward, though so difficult to follow unless we submit completely to the Lord, and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us along the right paths.
Blessings, Deb!
Thank you for this list Deb!
Great words, Deb!
I love the reminder to become like little children… the wonder, the honesty, the faith.
Sure do appreciate you!
Thank you Deb! I learned in my Biblical studies course that there are over 2000 commandments in the New Testament and yet, these that you shared with us, seem to sum up all of those! God bless Deb and thank you for the reminder.
A fresh and needed reminder today, sweet friend!! ♥
Blessings,
Lori
Hi Deb how revealing to have read Jesus Commandments, it caught my eye, has I searched a scripture and your blog popped up which I am glad I clicked on it. Yes I read and know those verses but never differentiated them as Jesus commandments, even so I read them many times before. I would have defined Jesus commandments immediately to the well known Exodus 10 commandments given to Moses.
Although Jesus commandments are obvious yet it wasn’t so obvious if you understand me.
I thank you for your blog and the explanations are very much of interest to me. Alleluia.
Thank you so much for visiting and for taking the time to let me know this blessed you! That is so kind and encouraging of you! God bless you!
I was on the hunt for ” Jesus’ Commandments”, and this huge jewel opened up. I completely enjoyed your writings and even subscribed (I don’t subscribe to anything. Thank you for this site. I will look forward to reading it.
Blessings,
Kathy
Yay!! I’m so glad, Kathy! Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know. I look forward to getting to know you! God bless you!
Repentance is defined as … turning from sin and dedicating yourself to the amendment of your life. (Miriam Webster Dictionary)
It is disturbing to me that you would cite Webster’s dictionary instead of a Bible dictionary.
“Repent of your sins and turn to God” Matthew 4:17
Mt. 4:17 says NOTHING about “repenting of your sins.” You are ASSUMING a definition that the Bible does not support.
The PRIMARY definition of repent is “turning to God” or for an Hebrew, “turning back to God.” As a result of turning to God and believing the gospel, one’s sins are forgiven.
There are other “mistakes” here on your web page, but I’m curious to see if you will respond to this one first.
Thank you for visiting, William. I often share the meanings of words from Webster’s or Dictionary.com because those are the definitions with which people are most familiar and I have many non-Christian readers who visit. That wording of Matthew 4:17 is taken directly from the New Living Translation of the Bible. I looked up the meaning of the word “repent” and “Turn to God” is the definition found in most Biblical dictionaries, so I felt that was in the Scripture verse itself.
Please know that my heart’s desire, in everything I write, is to encourage readers to SEEK to know and trust God themselves. Not to just study the “theology” but to fall in love (heart, soul, mind, and strength) with the God of the universe who loves them so much He sent His Son to die for them. I want them to read the Bible and turn to Him in prayer.
I don’t claim to be a theologian but I love the Triune God with all that I am. I am overwhelmed and humbled that God, the Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit, would invite us to know and love Him. I pray you will be patient with my “mistakes” and know that my desire is to simply tell people about all that God has done for me because I want them to want to know Him and experience His grace, mercy, and love as well.
Thank you Deb, your simple outline on Jesus’s Commands does help my research to share from this topic. It gives me insights and though to share. I’m soo bless.
May God (Redeemer) continue to bless you
I’m so glad it blessed you! Thank you for visiting and your kindness.