Jesus was a giver of commandments

JESUS WAS A GIVER OF COMMANDMENTS
EDITED BY GLENN PEASE
Welcome To The Commandments Of Jesus:The Complete List
Keywords: Jesus Christ Christian Bible Biblical Commandments Complete
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A service of Bill McGinnis Ministries
Scriptural Authority . . .
Matthew 28:19-20 (KJV)
"Go ye therefore, and teachall nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all
things whatsoeverI have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even
unto the end of the world. Amen."
Summary Of All The Commandments Of Jesus
This is His one commandment which summarizes all the others:
********************************************************
"This is my commandment, that you love one another
as I have loved you." (John 15:12 RSV)
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Here is the way He arrived at this one summary verse.
JOHN 15:9-12 (RSV)

_____________________________________________________________
9
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in
my love.
10
If you keepmy commandments, you will abide in my love,
just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in
his love.
11
These things I have spokento you, that my joy may be in
you, and that your joy may be full.
12
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I
have loved you.
_____________________________________________________________
This is not just one more commandment He added to a list. This one
commandment summarizes all the others: "Love one another as I have loved
you." "
NOTE:"Love one another" means "love all people," not just "love other
Christians."
Complete List Of The Commandments Of Jesus

Here, then, is the complete list of all the Commandments which Jesus taught
His disciples to observe, as I have found them recorded in the four Gospels.
They are organizedinto two groups: the Universal MoralLaw, and the Other
Commandments Of Jesus.
A summary of eachcommandment is given first, then a detailedexplanation
of eachone, with Scriptural references.
It is always possible that I have overlookeda commandment or two. So in
order to make sure for yourself, please buy a Bible with the words of Jesus
written in red. Then read the red words first, and see for yourself! As Jesus
said, "the words I speak to you, they are spirit and they are life." (John 6:63b
KJV)
Summary List Of The Commandments Of Jesus
I. The Universal MoralLaw
A. The Law Of Love
"First, love God your Creatormore than anything
else. Then, love all other people the same as you
love yourself."
B. The Ten Commandments
1. "Do not put anything ahead of God your Creator."
2. "Do not make or worship idols."
3. "Do not take the name of God in vain."
4. "Take one day of complete rest eachweek, in honor of God."
5. "Honor your father and your mother."

6. "Do not commit murder."
7. "Do not commit adultery."
8. "Do not steal."
9. "Do not tell lies againstanyone."
10. "Do not covetother people's possessions."
C. The Golden Rule
"TreatOthers As You Would Like To Be Traeted."
II. The Other Commandments Of Jesus
1. "FORGIVE EVERYBODYOF ALL THEIR OFFENSESAGAINST
YOU."
(Forgive, and be forgiven.)
2. "YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN."
3. "ABIDE IN ME, AND LET ME ABIDE IN YOU."
4. "LET PEOPLE SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS." (Do not hide your light
under a basket.)
5. "END DISPUTES QUICKLY."
6. "WHATEVER CAUSES YOU TO SIN, GET RID OF IT."
7. "DO NOT SWEAR OATHS AT ALL."
8. "DO NOT RETURN OFFENSE FOR OFFENSE." (Turn the other
cheek.)
9. "GIVE WHAT PEOPLE ASK OF YOU, AND GIVE MORE THAN IS
REQUIRED."
(Go the extra mile.)

10. "LOVE YOUR ENEMIES AND THOSE WHO WORK AGAINST
YOU."
11. "GIVE TO THE POOR TO PLEASE GOD, NOT TO GAIN
APPROVAL
FROM OTHER PEOPLE."
12. "PRAY PRIVATELY AND SIMPLY, NOT TO IMPRESS OTHER
PEOPLE."
13. "MAKE YOUR PRAYERS BE LIKE THE LORD'S PRAYER."
14. "WHEN YOU FAST, DO IT SECRETLY, NOT FOR SHOW."
15. "STOREUP YOUR TREASURES IN HEAVEN, NOT ON EARTH."
16. "DO NOT WORRYABOUT YOUR MATERIAL NEEDS."
17. "DO NOT WORRYABOUT THE FUTURE."
18. "MAKE GOD YOUR HIGHEST PRIORITY, AND HE WILL TAKE
CARE OF
ALL YOUR NEEDS."
19. "DO NOT JUDGE OTHER PEOPLE." (Judge not, lest ye be judged.)
20. "DO NOT GIVE HOLY THINGS TO DOGS OR CAST YOUR
PEARLS
BEFORE SWINE."
21. "ASK GOD FOR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO HAVE." (Seek, and
ye shall
find.)
22. "FEED THE HUNGRY, CLOTHE THE NAKED, SHELTER THE
HOMELESS,
COMFORT THOSE IN DISTRESS."

23. "FOLLOW THE NARROW PATH TO LIFE." (Enter by the narrow
gate.)
24. "BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS."
25. "EXERCISE POWER OVER UNCLEAN SPIRITS."
26. "LOVE LITTLE CHILDREN, DO NOT DESPISE THEM."
27. "DO NOT TAKE THE TITLES 'MASTER'OR 'FATHER' FOR
YOURSELF."
28. "RESOLVE DISPUTESIN AN ORDERLYWAY, LIKE THIS . . . "
29. "DO NOT OPPOSE OTHER BELIEVERSIN CHRIST WHO ARE
NOT IN YOUR
GROUP."
30. "HAVE TOTAL FAITH IN GOD FOR EVERYTHING."
31. "BE LIKE THE GOOD SAMARITAN." (Go, and do likewise.)
32. "LOVE OTHER PEOPLE AS I HAVE LOVED YOU"
33. "EAT BREAD AND DRINK WINE IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME."
34. "WASH ONE ANOTHER'S FEET."
35. "BE MERCIFUL."
36. "GO AND TEACH ALL NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM."
37. "KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS."
38. "BE PREPAREDFOR YOUR MASTER TO RETURN."
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DetailedList Of The Commandments Of Jesus, With Scriptural References
The Universal Moral Law

This is the Universal Moral Law regarding your relationship with your
Creatorand with all other people on Earth. This law now applies to
all people in all situations.
There are three parts to the Universal MoralLaw . . .
1. The Law Of Love
2. The Ten Commandments
3. The Golden Rule
THE LAW OF LOVE
"First, love God your Creatormore than anything
else. Then, love all other people the same as you
love yourself."
(Basedon Matthew 22:35-40, restatedin Mark
12:28-31 and Luke 10:25-28. The idea of all people
as neighbors is explained in Luke 10:29-37)
"Jesus saidunto 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." (Matthew 22:37-38 KJV)
"And the secondis like unto it, Thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang
all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:39-40 KJV)

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
Throughout the Old Testament, there are hundreds of "commandments,"
covering all parts of life. Collectively, these make up "the Law" of
the Old Covenant.
However, one group of commandments is very special, and it is knownas
"the commandments." That is the Ten Commandments, dictated by God,
written in stone, and given to all people forever. The people of
Israelplaced The TenCommandments first, separate and distinct above
all others.
Mostof The Law of the Old Covenantno longerapplies to Christians
under the New Covenant(See Hebrews 8:13, etc.)However, the Ten
Commandments still apply, because they were ratified by Jesus in Mark
10:19 and Luke 18:20 when He said, "You know the commandments."
The Ten Commandments are given in two different places in the Bible,
once in Exodus 20:1-17 and once in Deuteronomy5:6-22. The content is
the same in both places.
Here is the modern restatementof The Ten Commandments. After this is
the translationof the original text.

The Ten Commandments: Modern Restatement
1. "Do not put anything ahead of God your Creator."
2. "Do not make or worship idols."
3. "Do not take the name of God in vain."
4. "Take one day of complete rest eachweek, in honor of God."
5. "Honor your father and your mother."
6. "Do not commit murder."
7. "Do not commit adultery."
8. "Do not steal."
9. "Do not tell lies againstanyone."
10. "Do not covetother people's possessions."
(Basedon Exodus 20:1-17, restatedin
Deuteronomy 5:6-22. Jesus did not specifically
restate commandments 2, 3, 4 or 10, but it was
understood that He endorsedand followedall of the
Ten Commandments.)
EXODUS 20:1-17 (KJV)
The Ten Commandments
1
And God spake all these words, saying,
2
I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of

the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3
Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
4
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or
any likeness ofany thing that is in heaven above, or
that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water
under the earth.
NOTE:"Gravenimages" here means idols, not all
drawings or statues, as some have mistakenly
believed. If statues were prohibited, then
the two angel statues on the Ark Of The
Covenant would have been prohibited.
(See Exodus 25:18-20)
5
Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve
them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God,
visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the
children unto the third and fourth generationof them
that hate me;
6
And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love
me, and keepmy commandments.

7
Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in
vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that
taketh his name in vain.
8
Remember the sabbath day, to keepit holy.
9
Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
10
But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy
God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy
son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy
maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy strangerthat is
within thy gates:
11
For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the
sea, and all that in them is, and restedthe seventh
day: wherefore the LORD blessedthe sabbath day, and
hallowed it.
12
Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may
be long upon the land which the LORD thy Godgiveth
thee.

13
Thou shalt not kill.
NOTE:This is a prohibition againstprivate killing,
not againstkilling in waror as punishment for
breaking the law. Godspecificallyauthorized
killing in war (see Deuteronomy7:2, etc.)
and killing as punishment for certaincrimes
(see Deuteronomy 13:9, etc.)
14
Thou shalt not commit adultery.
15
Thou shalt not steal.
16
Thou shalt not bear false witness againstthy
neighbour.
17
Thou shalt not covetthy neighbour's house, thou
shalt not covetthy neighbour's wife, nor his
manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his
ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.
* * *
"And all the people saw the thunderings, and the
lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the

mountain smoking:and when the people saw it, they
removed, and stoodafar off." (Exodus 20:18 KJV)
THE GOLDEN RULE
"TreatOthers As You Would Like To Be Treated."
(Basedon Matthew 7:12, restatedin Luke 6:31)
"Therefore allthings whatsoeverye would that men
should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is
the law and the prophets." (Matthew 7:12 KJV)
The Other Commandments Of Jesus
1. "FORGIVE EVERYBODYOF ALL THEIR OFFENSESAGAINST
YOU."
(Forgive, and be forgiven.)
As you forgive other people, God will forgive you.
"And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our
debtors." (Matthew 6:12 KJV)
"And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have
ought againstany: that your Father also which
in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
"But if ye do not forgive, neither will your
Father which is in heaven forgive your

trespasses."(Mark 11:25-26 KJV)
2. "YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN."
Being "born again" means casting off the spirit of the
flesh and taking on the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit,
Who is given by the grace of God to those who believe
in Jesus Christ as the only-begottenSon of God, risen
from the dead.
"Marvelnot that I said unto thee, Ye must be born
again." (John 3:7 KJV)
3. "ABIDE IN ME, AND LET ME ABIDE IN YOU."
When you acceptJesus as your personal Lord and Saviour,
His Holy Spirit moves into your heart. He actually lives
in you, and you live in Him.
"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, exceptye abide in me." (John 15:4 KJV)
4. "LET PEOPLE SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS." (Do not hide your light
under a basket.)
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see

see your goodworks, and glorify your Father which is
in heaven." (Matthew 5:16 KJV; see also Matthew 5:15)
5. "END DISPUTES QUICKLY."
"Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art
in the way with him; lestat any time the adversary
deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee
to the officer, and thou be castinto prison."
(Matthew 5:25 KJV)
6. "WHATEVER CAUSES YOU TO SIN, GET RID OF IT."
"And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and
castit from thee: for it is profitable for thee that
one of thy members should perish, and not that thy
whole body should be castinto hell.
"And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and
castit from thee: for it is profitable for thee that
one of thy members should perish, and not that thy
whole body should be castinto hell."
(Matthew 5:29-30 KJV)
7. "DO NOT SWEAR OATHS AT ALL."
"But I sayunto you, Swearnot at all; neither by
heaven; for it is God's throne:
"Norby the earth; for it is his footstool:neither by

Jerusalem;for it is the city of the greatKing.
"Neithershalt thou swearby thy head, because thou
canst not make one hair white or black.
"But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay:
for whatsoeveris more than these cometh of evil."
8. "DO NOT RETURN OFFENSEFOR OFFENSE."(Turn the other
cheek.)
"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 resistnot evil: but
whosoevershallsmite thee on thy right cheek, turn
to him the other also."
9. "GIVE WHAT PEOPLE ASK OF YOU, AND GIVE MORE THAN IS
REQUIRED."
(Go the extra mile.)
"And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take

away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.
"And whosoevershallcompelthee to go a mile, go with
him twain.
"Give to him that askeththee, and from him that would
borrow of thee turn not thou away."
10. "LOVE YOUR ENEMIES AND THOSE WHO WORK AGAINST
YOU."
"But I sayunto you, Love your enemies, bless them
that curse you, do goodto them that hate you, and
pray for them which despitefully use you, and
persecute you;
"Thatye may be the children of your Fatherwhich is
in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil
and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on
the unjust."

11. "GIVE TO THE POOR TO PLEASE GOD, NOT TO GAIN
APPROVAL
FROM OTHER PEOPLE."
"Take heedthat ye do not your alms before men, to
be seenof them: otherwise ye have no reward of your
Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 6:1 KJV)
12. "PRAY PRIVATELY AND SIMPLY, NOT TO IMPRESS OTHER
PEOPLE."
"And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are:
for they love to pray standing in the synagoguesand in the
corners of the streets, that they may be seenof men. Verily I
sayunto you, They have their reward.
"But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when
thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Fatherwhich is in secret;
and thy Father which seethin secretshall reward thee openly.
"But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do:
for they think that they shall be heard for their much
speaking."
(Matthew 6:5-7 KJV)

13. "MAKE YOUR PRAYERS BE LIKE THE LORD'S PRAYER."
After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Fatherwhich art in heaven,
Hallowedbe thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done in earth,
As it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And leadus not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil:
Forthine is the kingdom,
And the power,
And the glory,
Forever.
Amen.
14. "WHEN YOU FAST, DO IT SECRETLY, NOT FOR SHOW."
"Moreoverwhenye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad
countenance:for they disfigure their faces, thatthey may
appearunto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their

reward." (Matthew 6:16)
15. "STORE UP YOUR TREASURES IN HEAVEN, NOT ON EARTH."
"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and
rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
"But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither
moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break
through nor steal:
"Forwhere your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
(Matthew 6:19-21)
16. "DO NOT WORRY ABOUT YOUR MATERIAL NEEDS."
"Therefore I sayunto 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. Is not the life more than meat, and the
body than raiment?
"Beholdthe fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they
reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Fatherfeedeth
them. Are ye not much better than they?"

17. "DO NOT WORRYABOUT THE FUTURE."
"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." (Matthew 6:34 KJV)
18. "MAKE GOD YOUR HIGHEST PRIORITY, AND HE WILL TAKE
CARE OF
ALL YOUR NEEDS."
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his
righteousness;and all these things shall be
added unto you." (Matthew 6:33 KJV)
19. "DO NOT JUDGE OTHER PEOPLE."(Judge not, lest ye be judged.)
"Judge not, that ye be not judged.
"Forwith what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with
what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again."
(Matthew 7:1-2 KJV)
So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and
said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first
casta stone at her. (John 8:7 KJV)

20. "DO NOT GIVE HOLY THINGS TO DOGS OR CAST YOUR
PEARLS
BEFORE SWINE."
"Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither castye
your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under
their feet, and turn againand rend you."
(Matthew 7:6 KJV)
21. "ASK GOD FOR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO HAVE." (Seek, and
ye
shall find.)
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, andye shall find;
knock, and it shall be openedunto you:" (Matthew 7:7 KJV)
22. "FEED THE HUNGRY, CLOTHE THE NAKED, SHELTER THE
HOMELESS,
COMFORT THOSE IN DISTRESS."
"Then shall the King sayunto them on his right hand, Come,
ye blessedof my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for
you from the foundation of the world:
"ForI 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.
23. "FOLLOW THE NARROW PATH TO LIFE." (Enter by the narrow
gate.)
The wide gate is the gate you simply stumble through, when you
are not paying attention.
"Enter ye in at the strait gate:for wide is the gate, and broad
is the way, that leadethto destruction, and many there be
which go in thereat:
"Because straitis the gate, and narrow is the way, which
leadethunto life, and few there be that find it."
24. "BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS."
"Beware offalse prophets, which come to you in sheep's
clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves."
(Matthew 7:15 KJV)
25. "EXERCISE POWEROVER UNCLEAN SPIRITS."

"And when he had calledunto him his twelve disciples,
he gave them power againstunclean spirits, to castthem out,
and to heal all manner of sickness andall manner of disease."
(Matthew 10:1 KJV)
"Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast
out devils: freely ye have received, freely give."
(Matthew 10:8 KJV)
26. "LOVE LITTLE CHILDREN, DO NOT DESPISE THEM."
"Take heedthat ye despise not one of these little ones;
for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do
always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven."
(Matthew 18:10 KJV)
27. "DO NOT TAKE THE TITLES 'MASTER'OR 'FATHER' FOR
YOURSELF."
"But be not ye calledRabbi: for one is your Master,
even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
"And call no man your father upon the earth: for one
is your Father, which is in heaven.
"Neitherbe ye calledmasters:for one is your Master,

even Christ.
"But he that is greatestamong you shall be your
servant.
"And whosoevershallexalt himself shall be abased;
and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted."
28. "RESOLVE DISPUTES IN AN ORDERLYWAY, LIKE THIS . . . "
"Moreoverif thy brother shall trespass againstthee,
go and tell him his fault betweenthee and him alone:
if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
"But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one
or two more, that in the mouth of two or three
witnesses everyword may be established.
"And if he shall neglectto hear them, tell it unto
the church: but if he neglectto hear the church, let
him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican."

29. "DO NOT OPPOSE OTHER BELIEVERS IN CHRIST WHO ARE
NOT IN YOUR
GROUP."
"And John answeredhim, saying, Master, we saw one
casting out devils in thy name, and he followethnot
us: and we forbad him, because he followethnot us.
"But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man
which shall do a miracle in my name, that canlightly
speak evil of me.
"Forhe that is not againstus is on our part."
(Mark 9:38-40 KJV)
30. "HAVE TOTAL FAITH IN GOD FOR EVERYTHING."
"And Jesus answering saithunto them, Have faith in
God.
"Forverily I say unto you, That whosoevershallsay
unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast
into the sea;and shall not doubt in his heart, but
shall believe that those things which he saith shall
come to pass;he shall have whatsoeverhe saith.

"Therefore I sayunto you, What things soeverye
desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them,
and ye shall have them."
(Mark 11:22-24 KJV)
31. "BE LIKE THE GOOD SAMARITAN." (Go, and do likewise.)
"ThenJesus saidunto him, Go, and do thou
likewise." (Luke 10:37bKJV)
This was in reference to the Parable Of The
GoodSamaritan, who helped and took care of
a man who had been attackedby robbers.
(See Luke 10:30-35)
32. "LOVE OTHER PEOPLE AS I HAVE LOVED YOU"
"This is my commandment, That ye love one another,
as I have loved you." (John 15:12 KJV)
NOTE:This one commandment summarizes
all the others.
33. "EAT BREAD AND DRINK WINE IN REMEMBRANCEOF ME."
"And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and
gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given
for you: do this in remembrance of me. Likewise also
the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new

testamentin my blood, which is shed for you."
(Luke 22:19-20 KJV)
34. "WASH ONE ANOTHER'S FEET."
The full meaning of this dramatic command is for us
to care for eachother's needs as if they were our own.
He also wants us literally to wash eachother's feet.
"If I then, your Lord and Master, have washedyour feet; ye
also ought to washone another's feet." (John 13:14 KJV)
35. "BE MERCIFUL."
"Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful."
(Luke 6:36 KJV)
" . . . for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil."
(Luke 6:35b KJV)
36. "GO AND TEACH ALL NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM."
"Go ye therefore, and teachall nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoeverI have
commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto
the end of the world." Amen. (Matthew 28:19-20 KJV)
37. "KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS."
"If you love me, keepmy commandments." (John 14:15 KJV)
38. "BE PREPARED FOR YOUR MASTER TO RETURN."

"Be ye therefore ready also:for the Son of man cometh
at an hour when ye think not." (Luke 12:40 KJV)
* * *
May the Lord bless this presentation of His holy Word.
Amen.
See more pages like this, at our Index of Pearls Of Faith, a treasury of Biblical
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Jesus CanBecome Your Lord Right Now!
Beloved, you have now finished reading The Commandments Of Jesus. You
now know what Jesus really teaches. Ifyou love His teaching, you will love
Him even more personally. You can have Him personally, dwelling inside you
as your own personalLord and Saviour, with you all the time. This is called
"Salvation," or"being saved," orbeing "born again."
The Scriptural requirements for Salvation are set forth in Romans 10:9.
"Thatif thou shalt confess withthy mouth the Lord Jesus, and
shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raisedhim from the

dead, thou shalt be saved." (Romans 10:9 KJV)
Confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is your personalLord, and believe
in your heart that God raised Him from the dead: that's all it takes to gain
Salvation.
If any person prays this prayer out loud, sincerely believing these words, he
has met the scriptural requirements for salvation. Jesus Christ will then come
into his life as Lord and Saviour, as He promised.
"PersonalPrayerOf Salvation"
O Lord, I know that You are waiting here,
For me to let You come into my life.
I know that You are knocking on the door,
And now I pray that You will enter in.
* * *
I pray that You will come into my life,
As Lord and Saviour, ruling over me.
I know that You are truly Son of God,
I know that You have risen from the dead,
I know that only You can save my soul.
I need Your guidance, and I need Your love;
I want to follow everywhere You lead.
I truly do repent of all my sins;
I feel remorse for evil I have done;
I know that only You can make me clean.
I turn my back on sin and look to You.

I am forgiving all who did me harm,
As You are now forgiving all my sins.
And now as I commit myself to You,
I pray that You commit Yourself to me.
I pray that You will take me as I am,
And draw me, step-by-step, into Your arms.
In Jesus'holy name I pray, Amen.
<><
Blessings to you in Jesus Christ, our Lord! If you said this prayer sincerely,
you are now a Christian. Congratulations!
Now, what next? You have made the committment to Jesus, so what should
you do now? Write to me and tell me! Then, go tell the first practicing
Christian you can find. He (she) will know what to do next. And also please
see . . .
Information for new Christians at ==>
https://www.loveallpeople.org/newchristian.html
John 15:12 12My command is this: Love each other as
I have loved you.

BIBLEHUB RESOURCES
Pulpit Commentary Homiletics
Christ's Friendship For His People
John 15:12-15
J.R. Thomson
Human friendship is both beautiful to perceive and precious to enjoy. If
affectionand sympathy were thrust out of life, and if interest alone bound
men together, how uninteresting and dismal would this world of humanity
become!Every instance of friendship has its charm. The young, who share
their pursuits and confidences;the middle-aged, who are guided by the same
tastes, orprinciples, or occupations;the old, who interchange their
recollections ofbygone years; - all furnish examples of the powerand the
beauty of friendship evenamongst faulty and imperfect beings. Who is not
grateful for friends? Who would be without them? Who has not found
friendship a charm, a stimulus, a power, in life? But whether earthly friends
are few or many, faithful or unkind, there is a Divine, a heavenly Friend,
whose love is declared to us by his own language, and proved by his own acts
and sufferings. Christ deigns to call his disciples friends!
I. CHRIST'S FRIENDSHIP TOWARDS HIS PEOPLE IS A WONDERFUL
FACT, DECLARED BY HIMSELF. The wonderis apparent when we
considerwho we are; when we reflectthat we are poor, sinful, and helpless
beings, who could not, apart from his assurances,venture to claim or to hope
for the friendship of Christ. For who is he? Jesus is not merely the best of
beings; he is the Son of God. It is hard for us to realize that "Godis Love."
But in the PersonofChrist the eternal and supreme Lord comes down to our
level, walks our way, dwells on our earth, reveals to us his love. He is the
friend, the Well-wisher, of sinners; he is the Friend, in a fuller sense, of those

who know and love him. If this is a wonderful truth, it is also a delightful
truth.
II. CHRIST'S FRIENDSHIP IS PROVED BY HIS INTIMACY AND HIS
CONVERSATIONS. Men's talk with one another often indicates their
relationship. There is conversationwhich is ordinary and casual, and there is
conversationwhich is confidential and intimate. There is the speechof
acquaintances, upon common subjects;there is the speechof the master to the
servant, conveying orders; there is the speechwhich is distinctive of close and
affectionate friendship, upon matters of personalinterest and concern. Now,
the intimacy betweenthe Divine Fatherand the Divine Son is of the most
confidential and unreserved nature. The Son is "in the bosom" of the Father,
i.e. is in possessionof the counsels and feelings of his mind; he is "one" with
the Father. it is very observable that, according to our Lord's own
declaration, he, having perfect knowledge ofthe Father's thoughts,
communicates those thoughts to his people. As the Father has no secrets from
the Son, so the Son has no secrets fromhis disciples. This is a conclusive proof
of our Lord's friendship for us. He makes knownto us "all things" which the
Father purposes that bear upon our salvationand eternallife. This accounts
for the unexampled power of our Lord's language, its sublimity, its
tenderness, fits authority. The words of the Redeemerare the communications
of his friendship, the tokens ofhis brotherly love. To the unspiritual and
unsympathetic, Christ's words are now, as they were when they were first
spoken, uninteresting and without value. But the true friends of Jesus feel
their sweetnessandtheir might; applied by the Spirit of God, they are the
lessons, the counsels, the promises, of a Divine and faithful Friend. How could
he better prove his friendship than by revealing to us in his words the
thoughts and the purposes of the Father's heart? There is one way even more
effective, and this our Lord describes.
III. CHRIST'S FRIENDSHIP IS FURTHER PROVED BY HIS SELF-
SACRIFICING BENEVOLENCE. Self-denialis a recognizedelementin true
love and friendship. Men are found willing to give up money, time, rank, etc.,
for the benefit of their friends. But it is the highest proof of love when one is
found ready to resignlife to secure the life of a friend. "Peradventure for a
goodman one would even dare to die." This is the proof of self-sacrificing

friendship which the Lord Jesus was resolvedto give. He laid down his life for
the sheep. "Greaterlove hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life
for his friends." Jesus not only gave us knowledge by his teaching; he gave us
salvationby his death. This willing sacrifice was in order to win our hearts, to
make us his friends indeed, to bring to bear upon our nature a spiritual,
principle and power, to bind us to himself for ever by the chains of gratitude
and devotion.
IV. CHRIST'S FRIENDSHIP IS PROVED BY HIS WHOLE DEMEANOR
AND HIS WHOLE TREATMENT OF US NOW THAT HE HAS
ASCENDED.In his ministry he taught us, by his death he saved us, in his
mediatorial life he blesses us. He is a sympathizing Friend, touched with a
feeling of our infirmities. He is a forbearing and patient Friend, who is not
repelled by the imperfect response he meets with on our part. He is a practical
and helpful Friend, who expresseshis friendship in deeds and spiritual
ministrations. He is an unchanging and eternal Friend. "Who shall separate
us from the love of Christ?" - T.
Biblical Illustrator

This is My commandment, that ye love one another.
John 15:12-17
The greatcommandment of Christ
C. Bradley, M. A.
I. THE LOVE OF CHRIST. Remember —
1. How free it was. We did not merit it, ask for it, nor even desire it. And here
is the wonder of it. It is love which found nothing to draw it forth. It was
entirely self-moved. Disinterestednessthen must be one main ingredient in the
love we are to bear our fellow men. It is not to stop and ask, "Why should I
love that man? What has he done for me?" That is a love like Christ's, which
rises up spontaneously. It does not wait to be bought or won.
2. How costly. "Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ; though He was
rich, yet for our sakes He became poor." Movedby His grace, He paid for our
redemption the price that His law demanded. And what a price! Oh to find a
man who will break through any thing but the law of God for his fellow man!
That is the man, who embodies this precept of our Lord; a self-denying man,
one who even in his love is willing to take up his cross and follow Christ.
3. How compassionate andtender! In looking at its greatness,we oftenlose
sight of this. But the softness ofa mother's love never equalled our Lord's.
ReadHis life. It is not here and there that His compassioncomes out, it is
everywhere. And this is the point in which the love of many realChristians is
most deficient. Our neighbours want our hearts as well as our hands. There is
ten-fold more sorrow in men's minds, than pain in men's bodies, or sickness
and poverty in men's houses. Would you show it mercy? Then carry a feeling
heart through it. This will do more for the world's comfort than the richest
purse.
4. How bountiful! "No goodthing will He withhold from us." "Freelyye have
received, freely give." The measure of what our love is to do for others and
give to others, is simply this, the measure of our ability to give and do. That is
Christ's standard in His love; it must be our standard in ours.

5. How extensive!It is discriminating. It took almost as many forms as love
could take. The love of country was strong in Him, and the love of kindred
and the love of friends. But then look, at the same time, at its extent. Who was
excluded from it? His enemies? No, with His last breath He prayed for the
very men who murdered Him. Or the world? There is not a guilty being on
the wide earth whom He does not pity, and loaddaily with benefits. His love is
like the sun in the heavens — they who are the nearest to it are warmed, and
gladdened by it the most, but they who are the farthest off from it behold its
light. And this is the unfailing characterof all true Christian love. Worldly
love is narrow, and generally becomes more so as we grow older. This is
expansive. No one object canabsorb it; no one house or family canhold it; no
sector party can confine it.
II. THE CHARGE OUR LORD GIVES US TO IMITATE HIM IN HIS
LOVE.
1. There is a commandment in the case. It is remarkable that our Lord, who
seldom uses this word on other occasions,uses it againand againin reference
to this love. Here, you observe, is authority pressing down on us. We are to be
without this love at our peril. We little think what we are doing when we keep
back the helping hand or the pitying heart from a suffering brother. We are
setting up once more for our own masters.
2. It is Christ's commandment. He stamps it with His own authority. Viewed
in this light, there is an appeal in this charge to our gratitude and affection.
When our Lord calls it a commandment, He says, "Dreadto dispise it;" and
when He calls it His commandment, He urges us by His mercies towards us to
obey it. And there may be a reference here to a customof the times. Eachof
the different sects among the Jews had some particular tenet or practice to
distinguish it. "Now I," says our Lord, "fix on this as the mark and badge of
My followers — mutual love. You shall be as well known by this love, as the
priests of the Temple are by their garments, or the Roman soldiers by their
standards."
3. It is His lastand greatcommandment. Herein He shows us —(1) The
amazing tenderness of His own love. His love for them triumphs overevery

other feeling and desire.(2)The importance in itself of this mutual love. Our
all-wise Lord would not have spokenthus emphatically of a trifle. St. Paul
says that this love is "the fulfilling of the law," and "the end of the
commandment." Just so our Lord speaks ofit (ver. 17).
(C. Bradley, M. A.)
Brotherly love
D. Thomas, D. D.
I. HAS THE HIGHEST MODEL. "As I have loved you." How did Christ
love? —
1. Disinterestedly. There was not a taint of selfishness in His love. He looked
for no compensation, no advantage.
2. Earnestly. It was an all-pervading, all-commanding passion. It was a zeal
consuming Him.
3. Practically. It was not a love that slept as an emotion in the heart, that
expended itself in words and professions;it was a love that workedall the
faculties to the utmost, and led Him to the sacrifice ofHimself. This is the kind
of love we should have one toward another. This is the brotherly love that —
(1)Unites Christ's disciples together.
(2)Honours Christ.
(3)Blessesthe world with the most beneficient influences.
II. FORMS THE HIGHEST FRIENDSHIP. "Ye are My friends," etc.
1. It not only establishes a friendship, but a friendship betweenthem and
Christ. A true friendship betweenman and man is the greatestblessing on
earth.
2. A friendship between man and Christ is the consummation of man's well
being. If Christ is my friend what want I more?

III. HAS THE HIGHEST SOURCE. "Ye have not chosenMe," etc. We did
not choose to love Christ first, but He chose to love us. His love to us generates
our love to Him. He chose His first disciples from their worldly avocations and
calledthem into His circle;this inspired them with His love. Men will never
love one anotherproperly until Christ sheds abroad His love in their hearts.
He is to all His disciples what the sun is to the planets; around Him they
revolve and from Him derive their life and unity. They are united one to
another by the bonds that unite them to Christ.
IV. REALISES THE HIGHEST GOOD.
1. Spiritual fruitfulness. "Ordainedyou," appointed you, "that ye bring forth
fruit." The fruit involves two things —
(1)The highest excellence ofcharacter.
(2)The highestusefulness of life. Rendering others the highest service.
2. Successfulprayer. "Whatsoeverye shall ask," etc.
(D. Thomas, D. D.)
Christians bound to love one another
J. Brown, D. D.
I. THE DUTY.
1. Mutual love. There is a love which all men owe to all men. "Thou shalt love
thy neighbour as thyself: but the love which is the subject of our Lord's
precept, is obviously much more comprehensive in its elements, and much less
extensive in its range, than this. It is the love of which none but a disciple can
be either the object or the subject. Its component elements are esteem,
complacency, benevolence, and its appropriate manifestations, — highly
valuing eachothers'Christian gifts and graces, — delighting in such
associationwith eachother as naturally calls forth into exercise all that is
peculiarly Christian in the character, — defending eachother's Christian
reputation when attacked, — sympathising with eachother's Christian joys

and sorrows, — promoting eachother's personalChristian holiness and
comfort. — and cordially cooperating with eachother in enterprises
calculatedto promote the common Christian cause, the cause of God's glory,
and man's improve ment and happiness.
2. Love like that of our Lord. "As I have loved you."
(1)Discriminative.
(2)Sincere.
(3)Spontaneous.
(4)Fervent and copious.
(5)Disinterested.
(6)Active.
(7)Self-sacrificing.
(8)Considerate and wise.
(9)Generouslyconfiding and kindly forbearing.
(10)Constant.
(11)Enduring.
(12)Holy and spiritual.
(13)Universal.
II. THE MOTIVES.
1. The commandment of Christ. There is no duty which the apostles, more
frequently, or more authoritively, enjoin. To enable us to form some estimate
of the force of this motive we have only to propose and answerthe question,
Who is this who speaketh? This is a commandment which Christ claims as His
own, in a peculiar sense;and it is addressedto a class who stand in a peculiar
relation to Him.

2. The example of Christ. How did Christ love —(1) He was just about to give
them the greatestproofof friendship which can be given. "Greaterlove hath
no man than this," etc.(2)He had made them the objects of His peculiar
complacentregard, as persons who were really desirous of doing whatever He
commanded them. "Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoeverI command
you."(3) He had treated them as "friends," by unfolding to them, so far as
they were capable of apprehending it, the whole truth respecting the
wonderful communication He had come from heaven to earth to make, and
the wonderful work He had come from heaven to earth to perform — the
economyof salvation. "Henceforth I callyou not servants," etc.(4)He had
selectedthem, and appointed them to a great, important, salutary work, their
successin which was assuredby all necessaryassistancein it being securedin
answerto believing prayer. "Ye have not chosenMe," etc.
(J. Brown, D. D.)
The Cross the means of perpetuating Christian love
The fire of charity is never extinguished, but will always be rekindled by the
woodof the cross.
( St. Ignatius.)
The oneness ofthe branches
A. Maclaren, D. D.
The union betweenChrist and His disciples has been setforth in the parable
of the vine. We now turn to the union betweenthe disciples, which is the
consequencesoftheir common union to the Lord. There are four things
suggested.
I. THE OBLIGATION.
1. The two ideas of commandment and love do not go well together. You
cannot pump up love to order, and if you try you generally produce

sentimental hypocrisy, hollow and unreal. Still we can do a greatdeal for the
cultivation and strengthening of any emotion. We can castourselves into the
attitude which is favourable or unfavourable to it. We canlook at the subjects
which will create it or at those which will cheek it.
2. This is an obligation —(1) BecauseHe commands it. He puts Himself here
in the position.(2)Because suchan attitude is the only fitting expressionof the
mutual relation of Christian men, through their common relation to the vine.
Howeverunlike any two Christian people are in character, culture,
circumstances, the bond that knits those who have the same relations to Jesus
Christ is far deeper, more real, and ought to be far closer, than the bond that
knits them to the men or women to whom they are likestin all these other
respects, andto whom they are unlike in this one centralone. Let all
secondarygrounds of union and of separationbe relegatedto their proper
subordinate place; and let us recognize this, that the children of one father are
brethren. And do not let it be said, that "brethren" in the Church means a
greatdeal less than brothers in the world.
II. THE SUFFICIENCYOF LOVE.
1. Our Lord has been speaking in a former verse about the keeping of His
commandments. Now He gathers them all up into one: the all comprehensive
simplification of duty — love.
2. If the heart be right all else will be right; and if there be a deficiencyof love
nothing will be right. You cannothelp anybody except on condition of having
an honest and benevolent regardtowards him. You may pitch him benefits,
and you will neither getnor deserve thanks for them; you may try to teach
him, and your words will be hopeless and profitless. As we read Corinthians
13 — the lyric praise of charity — all kinds of blessing and sweetnessand
gladness come out of this.
3. And Jesus Christ, leaving the little flock of His followers in the world, gave
them no other instruction for their mutual relationship? He did not talk to
them about institutions and organizations, about orders of the ministry and
sacraments, orChurch polity. His one commandment was "Love one

another," and that will make you wise. Love one another and you will shape
yourselves into the right forms.
III. THE PATTERN OF LOVE. "As I have loved you. Greaterlove hath no
man than this," etc.
1. Christ sets Himself forward here, as He does in all aspects ofhuman
conduct and character, as being the realized ideal of them all. Reflectupon the
strangenessofa man thus calmly saying to the whole world, "I am the
embodiment of all that love ought to be." The pattern that He proposes is
more august than appears at first sight. A verse or two before our Lord had
said, "As the Fatherhath loved Me so I have loved you." Now He says, "Love
one another as I have loved you."
2. But then our Lord here sets forth the very central point of His work, even
His death upon the cross forus, as being the pattern to which our poor
affectionought to aspire, and after which it must tend to be conformed. That
is to say, the heart of the love that He commands is self-sacrifice,reaching to
death if death be needful. And no man loves as Christ would have Him love
who does not bear in his heart affection which has so conquered selfishness
that, if need be, he is ready to die. It is a solemn obligation, which many well
make us tremble, that is laid on us in these words, "As I have loved you."
Calvary was less than twenty-four hours off, and He says to us, "That is your
pattern!"
3. Remember, too, that the restrictionwhich here seems to be castaround the
flow of His love is not a restriction in reality, but rather a deepening of it. The
"friends" for whom He dies are the same persons as the Apostle, in his sweet
variation upon these words, has called by the opposite name when he says that
He died for His "enemies."There is an old wild ballad that tells of how a
knight found, coiling round a tree in a dismal forest, a loathly dragon
breathing out poison; and how, undeterred by its hideousness and foulness, he
casthis arms round it and kissedit on the mouth. Three times he did it
undisgusted, and at the third the shape changed into a fair lady, and he won
his bride. Christ "kisseswith the kisses ofHis mouth" His enemies, and makes
them His friends because He loves them. "If He had never died for His

enemies," says one of the old fathers, "He would never have possessedHis
friends." And so He teaches us, that the wayby which we are to meet even
alienation and hostility is by pouring upon it the treasures ofan unselfish, self-
sacrificing affectionwhich will conquer at the last.
IV. THE MOTIVE. "As I have loved you." The novelty of Christian morality
lies here, that in its law there is a self-fulfilling force. We have not to look to
one place for the knowledge ofour duty, and somewhere else forthe strength
to do it, but both are given to us in the one thing, the gift of the dying Christ
and His immortal love.
(A. Maclaren, D. D.)
Love the means of unity
A. Maclaren, D. D.
In the early spring, when the wheatis green and young, and scarcelyappears
above the ground, it springs in the lines in which it was sown, parted from one
another and distinctly showing their separation, and the furrows. But, when
the full corn in the ear waves onthe autumn plain, all the lines and
separations have disappeared, and there is one unbroken tract of sunny
fruitfulness. And so when the life in Christ is low and feeble, His servants may
be separatedand drawn up in rigid lines of denominations, and churches, and
sects;but as they grow the lines disappear. If to the churches of England
today there came a sudden accessionofknowledge ofChrist, and of union
with Him, the first thing that would go would be the wretchedbarriers that
separate us from one another. Forif we have the life of Christ in any mature
measure in ourselves, we shall certainly bare grownup above the fences
behind which we beganto grow, and shall be able to reachout to all that love
the Lord Jesus Christ, and feel with thankfulness that we are one in Him.
(A. Maclaren, D. D.)

STUDYLIGHTRESOURCES
Adam Clarke Commentary
That ye love one another - See on John 13:34;(note). So deeply was thus
commandment engravedon the heart of this evangelistthat St. Jerome says,
lib. iii. c. 6, Com. ad Galat., that in his extreme old age, when he used to be
carried to the public assemblies ofthe believers, his constantsaying was, Little
children, love one another. His disciples, weariedat last with the constant
repetition of the same words, askedhim, Why he constantlysaid the same
thing? "Because(saidhe) it is the commandment of the Lord, and the
observationof it alone is sufficient." Quia praeceptum Domini est, et, si solum
fiat, sufficit.
Albert Barnes'Notes onthe Whole Bible
This is my commandment - The speciallaw of Christianity, calledhence “the
new commandment.” See the notes at John 13:34.
As I have loved you - That is, with the same tender affection, willing to endure
trials, to practice self-denials, and, if need be, to lay down your lives for each
other, 1 John 3:16.
Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible
This is my commandment, that ye love one another, evenas I have loved you.
This is identical with John 13:34, which see. Although not so designatedhere,
it is the "new commandment."

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible
This is my commandment, that ye love one another,.... Christ had been before
speaking ofhis commandments; and he mentions this as the principal one,
and to which all the rest may be reduced; for as the precepts of the second
table of the moral law may be briefly comprehended in this one duty, love to
our neighbour, so all the duties of Christianity, relative to one another, are
reducible to this, by love to serve eachother. This was the commandment
which lay uppermost on Christ's heart, and which he knew, if attended to, the
rest could not fail of being observed. The argument by which, and the manner
in which, he presses it, is as before:
as I have loved you; than which nothing canbe more strong and forcible; see
John 13:34.
John Lightfoot's Commentary on the Gospels
12. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
[That ye love one another.] "Every sabbath they added that blessing towards
that course of priests who, having performed their service the last week, were
gone off. Let him who dwells in this house plant among you brotherhood, love,
peace, and friendship."
Our Saviour once and againrepeats that command, "Love one another":he
calls it 'a new commandment,' chapter 13:34:for their traditions had in a
greatmeasure put that command of loving one another out of date; and that
particularly by very impious vows they would be making. We have a little hint
of it, Matthew 15:5, and more in the treatise Nedarim. See also Matthew 5:43,
"Thou shalt hate thine enemy": this rule obtained in the Jewishschools. And
upon that precept, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself," let us see the
mighty charitable Gloss in Chetubb. "Thoushalt love thy neighbour as
thyself," that is, decree him to an easydeath: namely, when he is adjudged by
the Sanhedrim to die.

When you considerthe frequent repetition of this precept, "Love one
another," consideralso that passage, Matthew 10:34, "Icame not to send
peace, but a sword":and then having reflectedon those horrid seditions and
mutual slaughters, wherewiththe Jewishnation, raging with itself in most
bloody discords and intestine broils, was, evenby itself, wastedand
overwhelmed, you will more clearlysee the necessityand reasonableness of
this command of loving one another, as also the greattruth of that expression,
"By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to
another."
Robertson's WordPictures in the New Testament
That ye love one another (ινα αγαπατε αλληλους — hina agapāte allēlous).
Non-final use of ινα — hina introducing a subject clause in apposition with
εντολη — entolē (commandment) and the present active subjunctive of
αγαπαω — agapaō “thatye keepon loving one another.” See John13:34.
Vincent's Word Studies
My commandment ( ἡ ἐντολὴ ἡ ἐμὴ )
The commandment which is mine.
That ye love ( ἵνα )
Indicating not merely the nature of the commandment, but its purport.
Wesley's ExplanatoryNotes
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
Your joy will be full, if ye so love one another.
The Fourfold Gospel
This is my commandment, that ye love one another, evenas I have loved you1.

This is my commandment, that ye love one another, evenas I have loved you.
Jesus gives as his supreme commandment, this law of love. The disciples are to
love "one another" as intensely as Jesus lovedthem.
Calvin's Commentary on the Bible
12.This is my commandment. Since it is proper that we regulate our life
according to the commandment of Christ, it is necessary, first of all, that we
should understand what it is that he wills or commands He now therefore
repeats what he had formerly said, that it is his will, above all things, that
believers should cherish mutual love among themselves. True, the love and
reverence for God comes first in order, but as the true proof of it is love
toward our neighbors, he dwells chiefly on this point. Besides, as he formerly
held himself out for a pattern in maintaining the generaldoctrine, so he now
holds himself out for a pattern in a particular instance;for he loved all his
people, that they may love eachother. Of the reasonwhy he lays down no
express rule, in this passage, aboutloving unbelievers, we have spokenunder
the former chapter.
Ver. 12. "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved
you."
Comp. John 13:34. This is the normal relationof the branches to one another,
which has as its condition the normal relation of eachone to the vine. So
Hengstenberg finds in John 15:1-11 the resume of the first part of the
summary of the law, and in John 15:12-17, thatof the second.
In John 15:13-16, Jesus raisesthe mutual love of His own to its full height by
giving as a model for it that which He has had for them. These four verses are

the commentary on the word as in the words: "As I have loved you." And
first, John 15:13 : the point to which His love has carried devotion—death;
then, John 15:14-15 : the characterof full intimacy which He has given to this
relation of love; it was the confidence of the friend rather than the authority
of the master; finally, John 15:16 : the free initiative with which He has
Himself laid the foundation of this relation. The meaning of this whole
development is this: "When therefore you ask yourselves what limits are to be
setto your mutual love, begin by asking yourselves, whatlimits, in these
various points, that love which I have had for you has setfor itself!" Or: "And
when you would know what it is to love, look at me!" (Gess).
John Trapp Complete Commentary
12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
Ver. 12. This is my commandment] Love is the complement of the law and the
supplement of the gospel.
Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible
John 15:12. This is my commandment,— "As I told you before, ch. John
13:34.—the chief of all the commandments which I enjoin you, whether as
apostles orprivate Christians, is, that ye love one another.—Ido not mean
after the hypocritical manner of the world, who often love in word, and in
tongue, while nothing is more remote from their heart;—but in the sincere,
tender, constant, manner of my love to you." Our Lord was thus earnestin
pressing them to mutual love, not only because the greatdesignof his gospelis
to promote mutual love, but because this grace, exercisedby the apostles
among themselves, and towards all mankind, was one greatmeans of making

their preaching successful;just as the immense love of Christ to men will
always have a greatinfluence in drawing them to him. "They who are sensible
of the greatimportance of this precept (says Dr. Heylin,) will not think the
repetition of it here tautology."
Expository Notes with PracticalObservations onthe New Testament
Our Lord had often in this farewellsermon of his to his dear disciples, pressed
upon them the duty of loving one another, chap. 13 and 14. And yet here he
inforces it from his ownexample: As I have loved you, so love you one
another; that is, as truly and as sincerelyfor the manner, though not in the
same proportion and degree.
Learn hence, That for the disciples of Christ to love one another upon such
grounds, and in such a way as he loved them, is that which his heart greatly
desires, and is very much set upon.
2. That Christ's love unto believers is both an obligation unto mutual love, and
also a pattern and example for it. This is my commandment, that ye love one
another, as I have loved you.
Greek TestamentCriticalExegeticalCommentary
12.]That He may shew them that it is no rigid code of keeping
commandments in the legalsense, John15:11 is inserted, and now the
commandment (as including all others) is againexplained (see ch. John 13:34)
to be, mutual love,—andthat, after His example of Love to them.
Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae
DISCOURSE:1695
LOVE TO THE BRETHREN
John 15:12. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have
loved you.

THE law and the Gospelare in perfectunison with eachother: the law, as a
covenant, sends us to the Gospel, that we may obtain mercy with God; and the
Gospelsends us back again to the law, as a rule of life, that, by obeying its
commands, we may honour and glorify our God. The loving our neighbour as
ourselves was enjoinedby the law, and indeed was a summary of all the duties
of the secondtable [Note:Compare Leviticus 19:18. with Romans 13:8-10 and
Galatians 5:14.]. Our blessedLord, enjoining the same duty from new
considerations, calls it “a new commandment,” and emphatically his
commandment; that so we may be led to examine it with stricter attention,
and to regard it with deeperreverence:he says, in effect, Labour constantlyto
fulfil that old commandment of the law; and, that you may never want either
a directory to guide, or a motive to animate you in your exertions, take my
love to you as the reasonand pattern of your love to eachother.
To elucidate his words, we shall shew,
I. How Christ has loved us—
We must, of course, contentourselves with a few hints only of a subject, which
has a height and depth, and length and breadth that cannever be
comprehended, never explored. Considerthen the love of Christ to us:
1. How free!
[Who ever did any thing to procure it? It exerted itself towards us long before
we had any existence in the world. Who can do any thing now to merit it? We
deserve to forfeit it every day and hour; but to earn an interest in it is beyond
the powerof man. We have nothing of our own but sin; and that would be a
strange price to pay for the love of Christ. Indeed, if we deny the freeness of
his grace, we rob him of the brightest jewel in his crown.]
2. How tender!
[There is not one of his people, howeverweak and afflicted, whom he does not
watchover with more than parental tenderness, “carrying the lambs in his
bosom, and gently leading them that are with young.” Yes; “we have not an
High-priest who cannotbe touched with the feeling of our infirmities:” “in all
our afflictions He is afflicted:” if we are strickenby the hand of persecution,

He feels the blow [Note:Acts 9:4.]: “Whoso touchethus, toucheth the apple of
his eye.” In every possible state he sympathizes with us, as a head with the
members; and never fails to succourus with “grace sufficientfor us.”]
3. How abundant!
[If we regardedonly the temporal blessings we receive athis hands, we must
confess his love to us to be very abundant. But who can contemplate his
unwearied intercessionsatthe right hand of his Father, or the incessant
communications of his Spirit to their souls, and not stand amazed at the
exceeding riches of his grace and love? And besides all this, he is “preparing
mansions for us in his Father’s house,” and training us up daily, that we may
be counted worthy to inhabit them for ever and ever. Well is his love
representedas “passing knowledge [Note:Ephesians 3:19.]!”]
4. How costly!
[Free as his love was to us, it was not exercisedby him but at an expense that
exceeds allcalculation. Before it could operate for our advantage, he must
leave his heavenly glory, assume our fallen nature, endure the scoffs and
insults of his own creatures, and “pour out his soulunto death” as a sacrifice
for sin. And would he pay this amazing price, in order to redeemour souls
from death and hell? Yes, he undertook and executed the mighty work;and
never drew back till he could say, “It is finished.”]
From contemplating this stupendous mystery, let us proceedto inquire,
II. In what respects his love to us is a pattern for our love to eachother—
The love which the saints should hear to eachother is of a sublime nature,
very different from that which they owe to the world around them [Note: The
two are carefully distinguished from eachother. Galatians 6:10. 1 Peter2:17.].
To resemble that of Christ to us, it should be,
1. Disinterested—
[Our love to the saints should not be confined to those of the same Church or
party, nor should it have respectto any pleasure or advantage that we expect
to derive from them; for this is only a refined species ofself-love [Note:

Matthew 5:46-47.]:it should respectthem only as children of our heavenly
Father, as members of Christ our living Head, and as joint-heirs of the same
eternal glory. It should be proportioned to their piety, rather than to any
other endowments; and be occupiedin advancing their happiness, not only as
much as our own, but oftentimes in preference to our own. It was thus that the
love of Christ operatedtowards us; and it is proposed for our imitation more
especiallyin this point of view; “Mind not every one his own things, but every
one also the things of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ
Jesus [Note:Philippians 2:4-5.].”]
2. Sympathizing—
[We are all passing through a vale of tears, “born to trouble as the sparks fly
upward.” Hence we need eachother’s care and assistancethrough the whole
of our lives. The kindness of friendship is a remedy which God has put within
our reach, to enhance our joys and to alleviate our sorrows:we should
therefore enter into the concerns ofothers, and feel them as our own;
“weeping with them that weep, and rejoicing with them that rejoice.” Bythis
we are told, we shall more especiallycomply with the injunction in the text;
“Bearye one another’s burthens,” says the Apostle, “and so fulfil the law of
Christ [Note:Galatians 6:2.].”]
3. Beneficent—
[Love must not interest merely the feelings of the mind: it must exert itself in
acts correspondentto the occasions onwhich it is exercised. Is our neighbour
distressed? we must relieve him. Is he ignorant? we must instruct him. Is he
weak? we must strengthen him. Is he fallen? we must raise him up. Has he
shewnsome infirmities? we must bear with him. Has he offended us? we must
forgive him. Are there any opportunities whatever of doing him good? we
must gladly and speedily embrace them. It is in this way also that the Apostle
urges us to imitate our Lord and Saviour: “Put on, as the electof God, holy
and beloved, bowels of mercies, humbleness of mind, meekness,long-
suffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another; even as Christ
forgave you, so also do ye [Note:Colossians3:12-13.].”]
4. Self-denying—

[That love which will exert itself only in things that are easyand pleasing to
oneself, is not worthy the name of love. A truly Christian affectionwill lead
one to “condescendto men of low estate;” to visit the chambers of the sick;to
enter into the dungeon of the prisoner; to cut off some of one’s superfluities, in
order to supply the necessities ofothers;to do goodin return for evil; to
expose oneselfto the derision of a thoughtless world, in order to be
instrumental in turning some of them from the evil of their ways;and “to lay
down, if need be, even our own lives for the brethren.” This was the way in
which St. Paul manifested his love [Note: Philippians 2:17-18.];and in which
we also, after the example of our Lord, are calledto manifest ours [Note:1
John 3:16.].”]
This being the way in which our love may resemble his, we shall shew you,
III. The obligation we are under to follow that pattern—
Our blessedLord has enjoined a conformity to him in these respects,
1. As an act of obedience to him—
[He does not recommend such love as decorous and beneficial, but commands
it as a duty which he will on no accountdispense with. He stamps his own
authority upon it; intimating thereby, that he will make it a subject of
particular inquiry in the day of judgment. Indeed The decisionat the lastday
is representedas turning principally upon this point; they who for his sake
have abounded in offices of love being made exclusively the objects of his
favour, while they who have neglectedthem are marked as objects of his
indignation and abhorrence. If therefore we have any regard to his authority,
or any dread of his everlasting displeasure, we must see the importance of
following the example of his love.]
2. As an evidence of our love to him—
[Having in another place enforcedthis duty in terms similar to the text, he
adds, that the exercise ofbrotherly love is the distinctive badge of our
profession, the habit whereby all his followers must be known[Note: John
13:34-35.].”To the same effecthis loving and beloved Disciple also speaks,
declaring that our professionof love to God is mere hypocrisy without this

[Note:1 John 4:20.]; and that without this we can have no assurance, no
evidence, that we have passedfrom death unto life [Note:1 John 3:14; 1 John
3:17; 1 John 3:19.]. Shall we then at once write ‘Hypocrite’ upon our
foreheads? Shallwe be contentedto be ranked with “murderers, who
certainly have not eternallife abiding in them [Note: 1 John 3:15.]?” If not,
we must see the necessityof imitating Christ, who “has left us an example that
we should follow his steps.”]
Infer—
1. How little of true religion is there in the world!
[So far is love to the saints from being the common disposition of mankind,
that almostall are rather filled with hatred againstthem: and where candour
prevails over the enmity of the human heart so as to subdue its workings,
there yet is a total want of that disinterested, sympathizing, beneficent, and
self-denying love, which characterizes a true Christian — — —]
2. What reasonhave even the saints themselves to be ashamedbefore God!
[Let the most zealous and active Christian compare his love with that of
Christ; how poor and defective will his best efforts appear! Alas! alas!how
often are things found among professing Christians that are not only
defective, but directly contrary to love! Belovedbrethren, let us study more
carefully St. Paul’s description of love [Note:1 Corinthians 13.]: and above
all, let us contemplate more the love of Christ to us: so shall we feelits
constraining influence, and be stimulated to the exercise ofthis delightful
duty.]
Johann Albrecht Bengel's Gnomonof the New Testament
John 15:12. ἡ ἐντολὴ, commandment) Previously, in this and the preceding
chapter, He said in the Plural commandments. They all are comprised in the
one, ‘love.’— ἵνα— καθὼς)even as I have loved you: this clause is handled,
John 15:13-16. The inference of the former clause from this, viz. that ye love
one another, is deduced in John 15:17.

Matthew Poole's EnglishAnnotations on the Holy Bible
This is that which our Lord called the new commandment. John 13:34:See
Poole on "John13:34". He had before pressedthe keeping of his words,
continuing and abiding in his words, keeping his commandments, &c. Here he
tells them what was his commandment: not his only commandment, but that
which he laid a very great stress upon; a commandment most necessaryto be
pressed, because so necessaryto keepup and uphold his church in the world,
(love being the very ligament of that society), and because there was a greater
failure in obedience to this than in some others, as may be learned from our
Saviour’s correctionof the Pharisees’interpretationof that law, Matthew 5:1-
48. This he pressethto a higher degree, as he had loved them; not that it is
possible that our love to our brethren can rise up in any proportion to that
love wherewith Christ hath loved us; but to mind us to eye him, to press
forward toward this mark.
As here again doth not signify equality, but a comparison;as truly and
sincerelyas I have loved you, and pressing after the highest degree of love.
Cambridge Greek Testamentfor Schools andColleges
12. ἡ ἐντ. ἡ ἐμή. see on John 3:29. In John 15:10 He said that to keepHis
commandments was the wayto abide in His love. He now reminds them what
His commandment is (see on John 13:34). It includes all others. A day or two
before this Christ had been teaching that all the Law and the Prophets hang
on the two greatcommands, ‘love God with all thy heart’ and ‘love thy
neighbour as thyself’ (Matthew 22:37-40). S. John teaches us that the second
really implies the first (1 John 4:20). Forἵνα see onJohn 1:8 and comp. John
11:57, John 13:34, John 15:17.
Whedon's Commentary on the Bible
The commandment of mutual love, based upon his example of love, John
15:12-17.

12. As I have loved you—Very perfect indeed is that authority in the
commandment of love which is basedupon the example of him who
commands. Christ is the only preacherof absolute perfection who fully
exemplified, in his own instance, the perfectionhe preached. All true human
preaching is above the practice of even the best preacher.
Expository Notes ofDr. Thomas Constable
Jesus summarized His teaching with the command to love one another as He
had loved them (cf. John 13:34-35;1 John 3:16). This was especiallyrelevant
because ofthe disciples" earlierarguments about who of them was the
greatestand their unwillingness to washeachother"s feet.
Schaff's Popular Commentary on the New Testament
John 15:12. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, even as I
loved you. The sum of what was to be said in this part of the discourse has
been spoken. One point needs further elucidation—love. It is here enjoined
and explained anew. The singular ‘commandment’ does not differ materially
from the plural of John 15:10 (see on that verse, and comp. on chap. John
14:23-24). Jesus hadloved them with a self-sacrificing love;and because He
had so loved them He charges them to live in self-sacrificing love for one
another. The ‘I loved you’ is not to be resolvedinto ‘I have loved you.’ As at
chap. John 13:34, it is of His love brought back to their minds in His absence
that He speaks.
The Expositor's Greek Testament
John 15:12. And that they might know definitely what His commandment
(John 15:10) is, He says, αὕτη … ὑμᾶς. “This is my commandment, that ye
love one anotheras I have loved you.” Perhaps they expectedminute, detailed
instructions such as they had receivedwhen first sent out (Matthew 10).
Instead of this, love was to be their sufficient guide. καθὼς ἠγάπησα ὑμᾶς.—

His love was at once the source and the measure of theirs. In His love for them
they were to find the spring of love to one another, and were to become
transparencies through which His love would shine.
JosephBenson's Commentaryof the Old and New Testaments
John 15:12. This is my commandment — This I especiallyenjoin you, whether
as apostles or private Christians; that ye love one another — Cordially and
constantly; even, if it be possible, with as greatfervency and constancy, as I
have loved you — So as to be ready to sacrifice your lives for eachother, as I
expose and give up mine for you. It is remarkable, that no one duty is more
frequently inculcated, or more pathetically urged upon his disciples, by our
Lord, than that of mutual love. This is my commandment, he says, as if it were
the most necessaryofall the commandments. The reasonmight be, 1st, That
as under the law, the prohibition of idolatry was the commandment more
insisted on than any other, because Godforesaw the people would be prone to
that sin; so Christ, foreseeing thatthe Christian Church would be addicted to
uncharitable contentions and divisions, strife and animosity, thought proper
to lay the greateststress upon this precept. 2d, Mutual love among Christians
is a duty which both includes many other duties, and has a goodinfluence
upon all: and to this duty, Christ’s love to us all should at once direct,
animate, and urge us; he having thereby both shownus our duty in this
respect, and laid us under the most powerful obligations to perform it. Add to
this, that our Lord was thus earnestin pressing his disciples to the duty of
mutual love, not only because it was the greatdesign of his gospelto promote
it, but because this virtue exercisedby his apostles andfirst disciples among
themselves, and toward all mankind, would be one greatmeans of making
their preaching successful;just as Christ’s immense love to men will always
have a greatinfluence in drawing them to him.
E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

My commandment. My charge to you. As the Father"s charge to Me (John
15:10)so My charge to you. Compare John 13:34.
as = even as. have
loved = loved, as in John 15:9.
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. See
the notes at John 13:34-35.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
(12) This is my commandment.—Comp. Note on John 13:34. In John 15:10
keeping of His commandments was laid down as the means of abiding in His
love. He now reminds them that that which was speciallythe commandment
to them was love to one another. Love to God is proved by love to mankind.
The two greatcommandments of the law are really one. “If a man love not his
brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?”
Treasuryof Scripture Knowledge
13:34;Romans 12:10;Ephesians 5:2; 1 Thessalonians3:12;4:9; 2
Thessalonians 1:3; 1 Peter1:22; 3:8; 4:8; 1 John 2:7-10;3:11-18,23;4:21
Ver. 12. "This is My commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved
you."

This is My commandment: that is, in regardto your relation to eachother. By
ἀλλήλους the domain is indicated in which this commandment is all in all. If
we fail to bear in mind the limitation prescribedby the context, we must needs
interpret it by saying that brotherly love is only a single expressionof a
generallyrenewedand right Christian spirit, that it shows in one point the
goodness ofall, and that therefore this commandment is in a certainsense the
only one. Augustin: "Where there is love, there must be faith and hope; and
where there is brotherly love, there must be also the love of God." But the
Scripture is not wont to speak thus; it does not place thus in the background
the first and greatcommandment. We read in Romans 13 that "love is the
fulfilling of the law;" the connectionteaches us—especiallyver. 8 , "Owe no
man anything, but to love one another: he that loveth his neighbour hath
fulfilled the law"—thatthe fulfilment of the law is meant so far as it refers to
our relation to one another.
END OF STUDYLIGHT RESOURCES
RAY STEDMAN
My command is this: Love eachother as I have loved you. Greaterlove has no
one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:12-13
This sectionbegins and ends with the command of Jesus:I command you to
love one another. The fact that this is put in the imperative mode means it is
not an option in our life. It is not something we do if we feellike it. It is to be a
deliberate response to another personwhom we know to be in the family of
God, regardless ofhow we feeltoward that person.
Many people struggle at this point. They say, How can you command love?
Love is a feeling, and if you don't love somebody, you can't help it. Love is our
master; we do not master it. Those who say these things reveal that they have

a very serious misconceptionof love. Unfortunately, we are victims of
Hollywood in this respect. We think of love as a feeling we have of affection
toward another.
But love, as Jesus speaks ofit here, is far different. We can be sure of one
thing: He would never command us to do what is impossible for us to do. The
secret, ofcourse, is that we are to love, He says, as I have loved you. This kind
of love is to arise out of the same kind of relationship that He has with the
Father that made it possible for Him to love us. In this same manner, and
from the same source, we are to love one another with the same quality of
love. He loved us because Godis love, and He was indwelt by the Father. He
was in the Father, and the Father in Him. As He yielded to that relationship,
love flowedout. It could not help it--God is love. Since God is love, as we yield
to that relationship to the Son, love flows from us. And it will have the
qualities that His love has. He goes on to define for us the aspects oflove that
mark the quality of His love for us, which we also are to show to one another.
The first is given in the words, Greaterlove has no one than this, that he lay
down his life for his friends. Love lays down its life for another. We all know
how fully Jesus Himself exemplified this. His is the greatestlove that anyone
can demonstrate toward friends. Obviously this means more than simply
dying physically for them. If it meant only that, there would be very few of is
who could or would ever fulfill this, largely because we would lack the
opportunity to do so. And, of course, one could do so only once!But our Lord
is commanding us to do this repeatedly. So He means by this that we are to
give ourselves up for one another. When you go out of your way to meet a
friend's need, when you are willing to spend time with someone who is a
Christian just because that one is a Christian--not necessarilybecause youare
drawn to that person--and you are willing to go out of your way and to give
yourself up for him or her, you are laying down your life, a part of it at least,
for that person. This is what Jesus had in mind.
Lord, You have loved me with this kind of love. Now I pray that this same
love would flow through me to others in the body of Christ.

What are the commands of Christ?
49 Commands of Christ
words to live by
Jesus said, “If ye love me, keepmy commandments” (John 14:15). Keeping
the commands of Jesus begins with recognizing what they are. Following is a
collectionof 49 of Jesus’commands. As you read through them, ask God to
help you observe these words, apply them, and faithfully follow them
throughout your lifetime.
Repent
“From that time Jesus beganto preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom
of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17).
Follow Me
“And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men”
(Matthew 4:19).
Rejoice
“Blessedare ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say
all manner of evil againstyou falsely, for my sake. Rejoice,and be exceeding
glad: for greatis your reward in heaven: for so persecutedthey the prophets
which were before you” (Matthew 5:11–12).
Let Your Light Shine
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your goodworks, and
glorify your Fatherwhich is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
Honor God’s Law
“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come
to destroy, but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17).

Be Reconciled
“Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberestthat thy
brother hath aught againstthee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go
thy way; first be reconciledto thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift”
(Matthew 5:23–25).
Do Not Lust
“But I say unto you, That whosoeverlookethon a woman to lust after her
hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye
offend thee, pluck it out, and castit 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 castit from thee: for
it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that
thy whole body should be castinto hell” (Matthew 5:28–30).
Keep Your Word
“Let your communication be, Yea, yea;Nay, nay: for whatsoeveris more than
these cometh of evil” (Matthew 5:37).
Go the SecondMile
“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 whosoevershallsmite
thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue
thee at the law, and take awaythy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And
whosoevershallcompelthee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that
askeththee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away”
(Matthew 5:38–42).
Love Your Enemies
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do goodto
them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and
persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Fatherwhich is in heaven:
for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on

the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward
have ye? Do not even the publicans the same?” (Matthew 5:44–46).
Be Perfect
“If ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the
publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more
than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as
your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:46–48).
Practice SecretDisciplines
“. . . When thou doestthine alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right
hand doeth: that thine alms may be in secret:and thy Father which seethin
secrethimself shall reward thee openly. . . . When thou prayest, enter into thy
closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Fatherwhich is in
secret;and thy Father which seethin secretshall rewardthee openly. . . .
When thou fastest, anoint thine head, and washthy face;that thou appear not
unto men to fast, but unto thy Fatherwhich is in secret:and thy Father, which
seethin secret, shallreward thee openly” (Matthew 6:1–18).
Lay Up Treasures
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth
corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:but lay up for yourselves
treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where
thieves do not break through nor steal:for where your treasure is, there will
your heart be also” (Matthew 6:19–21).
Seek God’s Kingdom
“Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness;and all these things
shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).
Judge Not
“Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall
be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measuredto you again.

And why beholdestthou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest
not the beam that is in thine own eye?” (Matthew 7:1–3).
Do Not CastPearls
“Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither castye your pearls before
swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn againand rend you”
(Matthew 7:6).
Ask, Seek, Knock
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be
opened unto you: for every one that askethreceiveth;and he that seeketh
findeth; and to him that knockethit shall be opened” (Matthew 7:7–8).
Do Unto Others
“Therefore allthings whatsoeverye would that men should do to you, do ye
even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12).
Choose the Narrow Way
“Enter ye in at the strait gate:for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that
leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait
is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be
that find it” (Matthew 7:13–14).
Beware ofFalse Prophets
“Bewareoffalse prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but
inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do
men gathergrapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?” (Matthew 7:15–16).
Pray for Laborers
“The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore
the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest”
(Matthew 9:37–38).
Be Wise as Serpents

“Behold, I send you forth as sheepin the midst of wolves:be ye therefore wise
as serpents, and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16).
FearNot
“Fearnot them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but
rather fear him which is able to destroy both souland body in hell” (Matthew
10:28).
Hear God’s Voice
“He that hath ears to hear, let him hear” (Matthew 11:15).
Take My Yoke
“Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart:
and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Formy yoke is easy, and my burden is
light” (Matthew 11:28–30).
Honor Your Parents
“ForGod commanded, saying, Honor thy father and mother: and, he that
curseth father or mother, let him die the death” (Matthew 15:4).
Beware ofLeaven
“Take heedand beware of the leavenof the Pharisees andof the Sadducees”
(Matthew 16:6).
Deny Yourself
“If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross
daily, and follow me. For whosoeverwillsave his life shall lose it: but
whosoeverwilllose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. For what is a
man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast
away?” (Luke 9:23–25).
Despise NotLittle Ones

“Take heedthat ye despise not one of these little ones;for I sayunto you, That
in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in
heaven” (Matthew 18:10).
Go to Offenders
“Moreoverif thy brother shall trespass againstthee, go and tell him his fault
betweenthee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gainedthy
brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that
in the mouth of two or three witnesseseveryword may be established. And if
he neglectto hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglectto hear the
church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican” (Matthew
18:15–17).
Beware ofCovetousness
“And he saidunto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness:for a man’s
life consistethnot in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke
12:15).
Forgive Offenders
“Then came Peterto him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against
me, and I forgive him? till seventimes? Jesus saithunto him, I saynot unto
thee, Until seventimes: but, Until seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:21–22).
Honor Marriage
“And he answeredand said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made
them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause
shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they
twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh.
What therefore Godhath joined together, let not man put asunder” (Matthew
19:4–6).
Be a Servant
“. . . Whosoeverwill be greatamong you, let him be your minister; and
whosoeverwillbe chief among you, let him be your servant: even as the Son of

man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a
ransom for many” (Matthew 20:26–28).
Be a House of Prayer
“It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer . . . ” (Matthew
21:13).
Ask in Faith
“Verily I sayunto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this
which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be
thou removed, and be thou castinto the sea:it shall be done. And all things,
whatsoeverye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive” (Matthew
21:21–22).
Bring In the Poor
“Then saidhe also to him that bade him, When thou makesta dinner or a
supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy
rich neighbors; lestthey also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee.
But when thou makesta feast, callthe poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:
and thou shalt be blessed;for they cannotrecompense thee:for thou shalt be
recompensedat the resurrectionof the just” (Luke 14:12–14).
Render to Caesar
“Show me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he
saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They sayunto him,
Caesar’s. Thensaith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesarthe things
which are Caesar’s;and unto God the things that are God’s” (Matthew
22:19–21).
Love the Lord
“Jesus saidunto 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” (Matthew 22:37–38).
Love Your Neighbor

“And the second[commandment] is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor
as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets”
(Matthew 22:39–40).
Await My Return
“Watchtherefore:for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But
know this, that if the goodmanof the house had known in what watch the thief
would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to
be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not
the Sonof man cometh” (Matthew 24:42–44).
Take, Eat, and Drink
“As they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessedit, and broke 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”
(Matthew 26:26–28).
Be Born Again
“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I sayunto thee, Excepta man be born of
waterand of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which
is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again” (John 3:5–7).
Keep My Commandments
“If ye love me, keepmy commandments” (John 14:15).
Watch and Pray
“Watchand pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is
willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41).
FeedMy Sheep
“So when they had dined, Jesus saithto Simon Peter, Simon, sonof Jona,
lovestthou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest

that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feedmy lambs. He saith to him again the
secondtime, Simon, son of Jona, lovestthou me? He saith unto him, Yea,
Lord; thou knowestthat I love thee. He saith unto him, Feedmy sheep” (John
21:15–16).
Baptize My Disciples
“Go ye therefore, and teachall nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 28:19).
Receive God’s Power
“And, behold, I send the promise of my Fatherupon you: but tarry ye in the
city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with powerfrom on high” (Luke 24:49).
Make Disciples
“Go ye therefore, and teachall nations . . . teaching them to observe all things
whatsoeverI have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, evenunto
the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:19–20).
This material is adapted from the Commands of Christ PocketGuide.
"Commandments of Jesus"
The Commandments of Jesus must not be confusedwith the “Ten
Commandments” in the Old Testament.
Jesus said, "If ye love me, keepmy commandments," (John 14:15, KJV).
As you study these commandments (orders) of Jesus it will become evident
that God is not only the God of Grace, He is also the God of expectations.

Obeying the Commandments of Jesus will bring rewards. Forexample, “Ye
must be born again” (Jn 3:7), is consideredto be one of the Commandments
of Jesus. Those who obeyreceive Eternal Life!
The Old TestamentCommandments beautifully teachwhat God considers to
be sin, but they require perfection, and no person has everbeen perfect (good
enough), so it can only bring condemnation.
However, Jesus, being the "Sonof God" and therefore perfect, could and did
live up to the requirements of the Old TestamentLaw, and by doing so was
qualified to die in the place of all who would acceptHim as their Savior.
There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Rom 8:1).
Jesus paid it all!
"The GreatestCommandment"
Jesus was asked:"Teacher, whichis the greatestcommandment in the Law?"
Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your
soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And
the secondis like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the
Prophets hang on these two commandments," (Matt 22:36-40, Amp).
"The Golden Rule"
"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this
sums up the Law and the Prophets," (Matt 7:12 NIV).
Although these Commandments of Jesus are not in numerical order as are the
Ten Commandments in the Old Testament, mostBible Scholars agree that
they are most assuredlythe Commandments of Jesus.

The Commandments of Jesus
From the Four Gospels
1. "Whenyou stand praying, forgive"
"And when you stand praying, if you hold anything againstanyone, forgive
him, so that your Fatherin heaven may forgive you your sins." But if you do
not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your sins."
(Mark 11:25-26 NIV)
2. "You must be born again"
"You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again." (John
3:7 KJV)
3. "Remainin Me and I will remain in you"
When you ask Jesus into your heart and He becomes your Lord and Savior,
the Holy Spirit lives in you, and you in Him. Here Jesus uses a grapevine to
compare our relationship with Him. "Remainin me, and I will remain in you.
No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither canyou
bear fruit unless you remain in me." ( John 15:4 NIV)
4. "Let your light shine before men"

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. " In the
same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your gooddeeds
and praise your Father in heaven," (Matt 5:14;16 NIV).
5. "Settle matters quickly with your adversary"
"Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it
while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge,
and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into
prison." (Matt 5:25 NIV)
6. "Getrid of whatevercauses youto sin"
"If your right eye causes youto sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better
for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown
into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away.
It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to
go into hell." (Matt 5:29-30 NIV)
7. "Do NotSwearat All"
"But I say unto you, Swearnot 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 greatKing. Neither shalt thou swearby thy head, because thou
canstnot make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea,
yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoeveris more than these cometh of evil." (Matt 5: 34-
37, KJV)
8. "Do NotResistan Evil Person"
(Turning the other cheek.)

"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell
you, Do not resistan evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek,
turn to him the other also," (Matt5:38-39 NIV).
9. "Giving More than is Demanded"
(Going the extra mile)
"And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your
cloak as well. If someone forces youto go one mile, go with him two miles.
Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants
to borrow from you," (Matt 5:40-42 NIV).
10. "Love Your Enemies"
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that
you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil
and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous," (Matt
5:43-45 NIV).
11. "Give to PleaseGod, Notto be Seen"
"Be carefulnot to do your 'acts of righteousness'before men, to be seenby
them. If you do, you will have no rewardfrom your Father in heaven," (Matt
6:1 NIV).
12. "PrayPrivately, Not to be Seenby Men"
"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray
standing in the synagoguesand on the streetcorners to be seenby men. I tell
you the truth, they have receivedtheir reward in full. But when you pray, go
into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then

Jesus was a giver of commandments

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