THE COMMANDS OF JESUS
Looking to better understand the kind of life Jesus has called us to live with him? Check out the resource below for a list of the commands of Jesus with references to find them in context in the Gospels.
COMMANDS FOR ALL DISCIPLES
ON RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
- “Come and you will see.” Jn 1:39… “Whoever has ears, let them hear” Mt 11:15, 13:9, 43; Mk 4:9; Lk 8:8
- “You must be born again” Jn 3:7
- “Repent, the kingdom of heaven has come near” Mt 4:17; Mk 1:15
- “Follow Me.” Mt 4:19; Mk 1:17, 2:14; Lk 5:27, 9:59; Jn 1:43, 21:19, 22 “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” Mt 16:24; Mk 8:34; Lk 9:23
- “Remain in my love” Jn 15:9
- “Receive the Holy Spirit” Jn 20:22
ON SEEKING RIGHTEOUSNESS
- “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets” Mt 5:17
- “Do this [Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your mind, and with all your strength...and love your neighbor as yourself] and you will live” Mt 22:37-39; Mk 12:29-31; Lk 10:27-28
- “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself’” Mt 19:18-19; Mk 10:19; Lk 18:20
- “If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away...if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away” Mt 5:29-30, 18:8-9; Mk 9:43,45
- “Do not swear an oath at all... say simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’” Mt 5:34, 37
- “Be perfect/merciful, just as your heavenly Father is perfect/merciful” Mt 5:48; Lk 6:36
- “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them...When you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets...When you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing...When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites...go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen...When you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans...When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do...put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen” Mt 6:1-8, 16-18
- “See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness” Lk 11:35
- “Seek first [God’s] kingdom and his righteousness” Mt 6:33; Lk 12:31
- “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not and you will not be condemned, forgive and you will be forgiven; give and it will be given to you” Mt 7:1; Lk 6:37-38
- “Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly” Jn 7:24
- “First take the log out of your own eye, then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye” Mt 7:5; Lk 6:42
- “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs” Mt 7:6
- “Enter through the narrow gate/door” Mt 7:13; Lk 13:24
- “Watch out for false prophets” Mt 7:15
- “In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you” Mt 7:12; Lk 6:31
ON RELATIONSHIPS WITH ONE ANOTHER
- “Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate” Mt 19:6; Mk 10:9
- “See that you do not despise one of these little ones” Mt 18:10
- “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them” Mt 19:14; Mk 10:14; Lk 18:16
- “Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master’” Jn 15:20...“whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave” Mt 20:26-27; Mk 10:43-44; Lk 22:26
- “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi’...do not call anyone on earth ‘father’...nor are you to be called instructors” Mt 23:8-10
- “Love each other as I have loved you” Jn 13:34; Jn 15:12, 17
- “If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way” Mt 5:23-25; Lk 12:58
- “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. If they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.” Mt 18:15-17; Lk 17:3
- “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth” Mt 10:34; Lk 12:51
- “Do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles” Mt 5:39-41; Lk 6:29; Jn 15:18
- “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” Mt 5:44; Lk 6:27-28
ON PRAYER
- “Pray then like this: Our Father, in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins/debts, as we forgive those who sin against us/our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Mt 6:9-13; Lk 11:2-4
- “Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone” Mt 6:12,15; Mk 11:25; Lk 11:4
- “Ask, Seek, Knock”...“Have faith in God...whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them” Mt 7:7; Mk 11:22; Lk 11:9; Jn 14:14, 15:7, 16:23-24
ON SIMPLICITY
- “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened...take my yoke upon you and learn from me” Mt 11:28-29...“Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink” Jn 7:37
- “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life” Jn 6:27
- “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth...but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven…” Mt 6:19-20
- “Sell your possessions and give to the poor” Lk 12:33
- “Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you...if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back” Mt 5:42; Lk 6:30, 35
ON WITNESS AND MISSION
- “Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field” Mt 9:38; Lk 10:2; Jn 4:3
- “What I tell you in the dark, utter in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops” Mt 10:27; Lk 12:3
- “Do not worry/be afraid...Take heart!” Mt 6:25-34, 10:19-31; Mk 13:11; Lk 5:10, 12:2-32, 21:14; Jn 16:33, 14:1-27
- “Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another” Mk 9:50
- “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” Mt 5:16
- “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” Mk 16:15, see also “Go and make disciples” Mt 28:19-20
ON SPECIAL OBSERVANCES
- “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” Mt 28:19-20
- “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet” Jn 13:14
- “Take and eat; this [bread] is my body...drink from [this cup], all of you; for this is the blood of the covenant” Mt 26:26-28; Mk 14:22-24; Lk 22:17-20
COMMANDS FOR SPECIFIC PEOPLE OR OCCASIONS
This second list of commands are those given to specific individuals or for specific occasions. They are not necessarily expectations for the everyday life of a disciple of Jesus, but they still helpful examples for how we can respond in similar situations.
TO SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS
- [Wedding Attendants] “Fill the jars with water...draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet” Jn 2:7-8
- [John the Baptist] “Let it be so now…(baptize me)” Mt 3:15
- [JtB’s Disciples] “Go back and report to John what you hear and see” Mt 11:4; Lk 7:22
- [Samaritan Woman] “Give me a drink” Jn 4:7
- [Samaritan Woman] “Go, call your husband, and come back” Jn 4:16
- [Samaritan Woman] “Believe me…” Jn 4:21
- [Widowed Mother] “Don’t cry” Lk 7:13
- [Potential Disciple] “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God” Mt 8:22; Lk 9:60
- [Friends of Jairus] “Don’t be afraid; just believe” Mk 5:36; Lk 8:50
- [Friends of Jairus] “Go away...stop wailing” Mt 9:24; Lk 8:52; Mk 5:39
- [Syrophoenecian Woman] “First let the children eat all they want, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs” Mt 15:26; Mk 7:27
- [law expert] “Go and do likewise [show mercy to others]” Lk 10:37
- [young wealthy man] “Go, sell your possessions and give to the poor...then come, follow me” Mt 19:21; Mk 10:21; Lk 18:21
- [Jesus’ Brothers] “You go to the festival. I am not going up to this festival, because my time has not yet fully come” Jn 7:8
- [Zaccheus] “Come down immediately [from the tree]” Lk 19:5
- [Peter] “Come (out onto the water)” Mt 14:29
- [Peter] “Get behind me, Satan” Mt 16:23; Mk 8:33
- [Peter] “Go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours” Mt 17:27
- [Judas] “What you are about to do, do quickly” Jn 13:27
- [soldiers and officials] “...Let these men go” Jn 18:8
- [Peter] “Put your sword back into its place” Mt 26:52; Jn 18:11
- [Mary and John] “Woman, behold your son…[to the disciple he loved] behold your mother” Jn 19:26-27
- [Mary Magdalene] “Do not hold me” Jn 20:17
- [Peter] “Throw your net on the right side of the boat...Bring some of the fish you just caught...come and have breakfast” Jn 21:6-12
- [Peter] “Feed my lambs...tend my sheep...feed my sheep” Jn 21:16-17
ON SITUATIONS THAT REQUIRE DISCERNMENT
- “Consider carefully what you hear…” Mk 4:24 “Listen to another parable” Mt 21:33; see also Mk 12:1; Lk 20:9 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means” Mt 13:18
- “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad” Mt 12:33; Lk 6:43; Mt 7:16-17
- “Leave them; they are blind guides” Mt 15:14
- “Be careful and guard against the yeast of the pharisees (and sadducees, and of Herod), which is hypocrisy” Mt 16:6, 11; Mk 8:15, 12:38; Lk 12:1, 20:46
- “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed” Lk 12:15
- “Behold, the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life! ” Mt 20:18-19; Mk 10:33; Lk 9:44, 18:31
- “If anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it...Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them.” Mt 24:4, 23; Mk 13:5, 21, 23; Lk 17:23, 21:8
- “When you see ‘the abomination that causes desolation’ standing where it does not belong—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the housetop go down or enter the house to take anything out. Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak.” Mk 13:14-16; Mt 24:17-18; Lk 17:31
- “Keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come...Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning” Mt 24:42; Mk 13:33; Lk 12:35
- “Walk while you have the light...believe in the light” Jn 12:35-36
INSTRUCTIONS FOR TASKS
- “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Lk 5:4, Jn 21:6
- “Let us go over to the other side” Mk 4:35; Mt 8:18
- “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel” Mt 10:5-6
- “As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons” Mt 10:7-8; Mk 3:13; Lk 9:2
- “Freely you have received; freely give. Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts—no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff” Mt 10:8-10; Mk 6:8-9; Lk 9:3, 10:4
- “Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. As you enter the home, give it your greeting. If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you” Mt 10:11-13; Mk 6:10; Lk 9:4, 10:6-7
- “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet” Mt 10:14; Mk 6:11; Lk 9:5,10:10-11
- “I am sending you out as sheep among wolves; so be shrewd as snakes and innocent as doves. Be on your guard.” Mt 10:16-17; Mk 13:9; Lk 10:3, 21:12
- “When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another” Mt 10:23
- “Do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven” Lk 10:20
- “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest” Mk 6:31
- “You give them something to eat...Go and see (how many loaves we have)...Bring them (loaves and fishes) to me...Hame them sit down in groups of about fifty each...Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted” Mt 14:16-18; Mk 6:37-39; Lk 9:13-14; Jn 6:10-12
- “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid” Mt 14:27; Mk 6:50; Jn 6:20
- “Do not even enter the village” Mk 8:26
- “Do not stop him (the man casting out demons in Jesus’ name)” Mk 9:39; Lk 9:50
- “Let us go back to Judea...let us go to him [Lazarus]” Jn 11:7, 15
- “Go into the village opposite you...you will find an ass/colt (with a colt); untie it/them and bring it/them to me. If any one says anything to you, you shall say, ‘the Lord has need of them’” Mt 21:2-3; Mk 11:2-3; Lk 19:30-31
- “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover...As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.” Mt 26:18; Mk 14:14; Lk 22:11
- “Leave her alone” Mt 26:10; Mk 14:6; Jn 12:7
- “Now, let him who has a purse take it, and likewise a bag. And let him who has no sword sell his mantle and buy one” Lk 22:36
- “Sit here while I go and pray...Pray that you may not enter into temptation” Mt 26:36, 41; Mk 14:32, 38; Lk 22:40
- “Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!” Mt 26:45-46; Mk 14:42; Lk 22:46
- “Be Glad!” Mt 28:9
- “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see me” Mt 28:10
- “See my hands and my feet...handle me, and see” Lk 24:39; Jn 20:27
- “Stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high” Lk 24:49
ASSOCIATED WITH MIRACLES OR HEALINGS
- “Your faith has saved you; go in peace” Lk 7:50
- “Be clean.” Mt 8:3; Mk 1:41; Lk 5:13
- “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” Mt 8:4; Mk 1:44; Lk 5:14
- “Take heart...your sins are forgiven” Mt 9:2; Mk 2:5; Lk 5:20
- “Rise, take up your bed/pallet, and go home” Mt 9:6; Mk 2:11; Lk 5:24; Jn 5:8
- “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you” Jn 5:14
- “Come here...stretch out your hand” Mt 12:13; Mk 3:3, 5; Lk 6:8, 10
- “Go, and do not sin again” Jn 8:11
- “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would” Mt 8:13; Jn 4:50
- “Young man, I say to you, arise” Lk 7:14
- “Go/Return to your home/friends, and tell how much the Lord has done for you” Mk 5:19; Lk 8:39
- “Take heart; go in peace and be healed” Mt 9:22; Mk 5:34; Lk 8:48
- “Talitha cumi (Little girl/child, arise)” Mk 5:31; Lk 8:51; Mt 9:25
- “Call him (blind man who had cried out to Jesus)” Mk 10:49; Lk 18:40
- “Go your way/receive your sight, your faith has made you well” Mk 10:52; Lk 18:42
- “See that no one knows it” Mt 9:30
- “(Ephphatha) Be opened” Mk 7:34
- “Bring him (son with seizures) to me” Mt 17:17; Mk 9:19; Lk 9:41
- “Go and show yourselves to the priests” Lk 17:14
- “Go wash in the pool of Siloam” Jn 9:7
- “Take away the stone” Jn 11:39
- “Lazarus, come out” Jn 11:43
- “Unbind him, and let him go” Jn 11:44
TO OPPONENTS
- “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” Jn 2:16
- “Destroy this temple…” Jn 2:19
- “Answer me...Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?” Mt 21:24-25; Mk 11:29-30; Lk 20:3-4
- “Do not be amazed at this (Jesus healing the paralyzed man/forgiving sin)” Jn 5:28
- “Do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses...” Jn 5:45
- “Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’” Mt 9:13
- “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone” Jn 8:7
- “Go and tell that fox [Herod], ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course...it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem” Lk 13:31-33
- “Bring/show me a coin” Mt 22:19; Mk 12:15; Lk 20:24
- “Look (Jerusalem), your house is left to you desolate.” Mt 23:38; Lk 13:35
- “When you are invited by anyone to a marriage feast, do not sit down in a place of honor...go and sit in the lowest place” Lk 14:8, 10
- “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your kinsmen or your rich neighbors...invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind” Lk 14:12-14
- “Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” Jn 10:37-38
- “First cleanse the inside of the cup and of the plate, that the outside may also be clean” Mt 23:26; see also Mk 7:4; Lk 11:40
- “Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers” Mt 23:32; see also Lk 11:48
- “But let the scriptures be fulfilled” Mk 14:49
- “Ask those who heard me” Jn 18:21
- “‘If I said something wrong...testify as to what is wrong’” Jn 18:23
TO SATAN OR DEMONS
- “Be gone, Satan!” Mt 4:10
- “Be silent, and come out of him!” Mk 1:25; Lk 4:35; see also Mt 12:16; Mk 3:12; Mk 5:8; Lk 4:41
- “Go [into that herd of pigs]” Mt 8:32; Mk 5:13; Lk 8:32
- “You deaf and mute spirit... come out of him and never enter him again.” Mk 9:25
TO CREATION
- [Wind and waves] “Peace! be still!” Mk 4:39; Mt 8:26; Lk 8:25
to god, the father
- “This is my (beloved) Son (with whom I am well pleased) (my Chosen), listen to him!” Mt 17:5; Mk 9:7; Lk 9:35
- “Father, glorify thy name” Jn 12:28
- “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. … glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began” Jn 17:1, 5
- “Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one” Jn 17:11
- “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth” Jn 17:17
- “Father...remove this cup from me” Mt 26:39, 42; Mk 14:36; Lk 22:42
- “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Lk 23:34
note for next steps
Pastor Cory compiled these lists by using a resource called Synopsis of the Four Gospels* in order to search the Gospel texts for every imperative verb that he could find. Having the parallel texts from each Gospel was helpful in combining together the redundancies as well as noting where there nuances to wording or context. For the most part, commands are listed here from the NIV translation, selecting the Gospel version that seemed most fitting. We encourage readers to investigate the Gospels themselves to check that work.
It should be stressed that neither Jesus nor the early Christians appeared to find benefit in separating out Jesus’ commands from the larger context of his teaching and life. This list should only be viewed as a helpful guide for better understanding, communicating, and obeying Jesus’ commands.
We would love for you to join us in following Jesus together. Beyond knowing the wording of the command, begin to explore the context, the original audience, the purpose of the command, the good news that it implies, and the challenges to obeying. Most importantly, reflect upon how you would teach others to obey the commands!
You can follow Pastor Cory on instagram (@thatbrethrenpastor) for deeper dives into each of these commands. If you are in the Goshen (IN) area, we invite you to join us at Goshen First Brethren Church for worship services, bible studies, and mission events. Pastor Cory is also available any time for a one-on-one conversation.
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*Kurt Aland, ed., Synopsis of the Four Gospels: Greek-English Edition of the Synopsis Quattuor Evangeliorum, On the basis of the Greek text of the Nestle-Aland 26th edition and Greek New Testament 3rd edition : the English text is the second edition of the Revised Standard Version, Seventh Edition (Germany: German Bible Society Stuttgart, 1984).
It should be stressed that neither Jesus nor the early Christians appeared to find benefit in separating out Jesus’ commands from the larger context of his teaching and life. This list should only be viewed as a helpful guide for better understanding, communicating, and obeying Jesus’ commands.
We would love for you to join us in following Jesus together. Beyond knowing the wording of the command, begin to explore the context, the original audience, the purpose of the command, the good news that it implies, and the challenges to obeying. Most importantly, reflect upon how you would teach others to obey the commands!
You can follow Pastor Cory on instagram (@thatbrethrenpastor) for deeper dives into each of these commands. If you are in the Goshen (IN) area, we invite you to join us at Goshen First Brethren Church for worship services, bible studies, and mission events. Pastor Cory is also available any time for a one-on-one conversation.
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*Kurt Aland, ed., Synopsis of the Four Gospels: Greek-English Edition of the Synopsis Quattuor Evangeliorum, On the basis of the Greek text of the Nestle-Aland 26th edition and Greek New Testament 3rd edition : the English text is the second edition of the Revised Standard Version, Seventh Edition (Germany: German Bible Society Stuttgart, 1984).