The Commandments of Jesus

Jesus said, "If you love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15). But in order to keep Jesus' commandments, we must first familiarize ourselves with them and then allow God to write them into our hearts and minds so that we may faithfully follow them.

The Commandments of Jesus are interwoven throughout the four gospels and the book of Revelation. We have made an effort to combine his commandments into what has wound up being 144 individual commandments along with their accompanying proof texts. We have also broadly categorized the commandments for general reference. Others may combine, divide, and categorize differently, but here's a good start on the commandments of Jesus:

Quick Links to Jesus' Commandments by Category:

• Believe Jesus
• Follow Jesus
• Have Faith
• Love
• Hate Evil
• Anger
• Lust
• Oaths
• Retaliation
• Divorce and Remarriage
• Obey
• Be Forgiving
• Be Meek
• Be Self-Sacrificing
• Do Good Works
• Be Wise
• Remain Faithful
• Do Not Be Afraid
• Endure to the End

   Believe Jesus

• Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.  — John 14:11
• I said therefore to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins. — John 8:24

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   Follow Jesus

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• If anyone serves me, let him follow me. Where I am, there will my servant also be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.  — John 12:26; John 21:19, 22
• I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life. — John 8:12
• Acknowlege Jesus publicly before men. — Luke 12:8-12; Matthew 10:32
• If anyone comes to me, and doesn't disregard his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he can't be my disciple. — Luke 14:26
• Whoever doesn't bear his own cross, and come after me, can't be my disciple. — Luke 14:27
• Whoever of you who doesn't renounce all that he has, he can't be my disciple. — Luke 14:33
• No one can serve two masters. You cannot serve both God and money. — Luke 16:13
• Follow me, I will make you into fishers for men.. — Mark 1:17; Luke 5:27-28; John 21:19, 22; Matthew 4:19
• Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. — Mark 8:34; Matthew 16:24
• Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. — Matthew 11:28-30
• He who is not with me is against me, and he who doesn't gather with me, scatters. — Matthew 12:30
• Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one teacher, the Christ. — Matthew 23:10
• Don't you be called 'Rabbi,' for one is your teacher, the Christ, and all of you are brothers. — Matthew 23:8
• Pray like this:
  Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.
  Let your Kingdom come.
  Let your will be done, as in heaven, so on earth.
  Give us today our daily bread.
  Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.
  Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
  For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever.
  Amen. — Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4
• Strive to enter God's Kingdom through the narrow gate. The gate is small and the road is narrow. Few ever find it or pass through. — Matthew 7:13-14; Luke 13:24

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   Have Faith and Trust

• If you shall ask anything in my name, I will do it.  — John 14:14
• Whatever you may ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.  — John 16:23
• Whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received them, and you shall have them. — Mark 11:24
• If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes. — Mark 9:23
• Rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven. — Luke 10:20
• Pray to the Lord of the harvest that he will send out workers into his harvest fields. — Matthew 9:38; Luke 10:2
• Do not be anxious or afraid, invest yourself in God's kingdom and trust in Him. — Luke 12:22-34; Matthew 10:26, 28, 31
• Even a small amount of true faith is exceedingly powerful. — Luke 17:6
• Again, assuredly I tell you, that if two of you will agree on earth concerning anything that they will ask, it will be done for them by my Father who is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the middle of them. — Matthew 18:19-20

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   Love

• This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you. — John 15:12
• Love your enemies, speak well of those who curse you, do good things to those who hate you and pray on behalf of the ones who are railing at you and persecuting you. — Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:27-30, 35
• Don't judge according to appearance, but judge righteously. — John 7:24
• When you make a feast, ask the poor, the maimed, the lame, or the blind; you will be blessed. They don't have the resources to repay you, but you will be repaid in the resurrection of the righteous. — Luke 14:13-14
• Rejoice when the lost are found--when sinners repent. — Luke 15
• Do not tempt others to sin. — Luke 17:1
• Become compassionate, just-as your Father is also compassionate. — Luke 6:36
• Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children. — Mark 10:13-16; Matthew 19:13-15; Luke 18:15-17
• What God yoked together, let man not separate. — Mark 10:9
• Love the Lord your God from your whole heart and from your whole soul and from your whole mind and from your whole strength. This is the first and the greatest commandment. — Mark 12:30; Matthew 22:37; Deuteronomy 6:5
• Love your neighbor as yourself. This is second only to the greatest commandment, of which two there are none as important. — Mark 12:31; Matthew 22:39; Leviticus 19:18
• Whoever accepts one of such children in my name, accepts me, and whoever accepts me, does not accept me, but the one who sent me. — Mark 9:37
• If you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone hung around your neck. — Mark 9:42; Matthew 18:6
• Whoever gives one of these little ones just a cup of cold water to drink in the name of a disciple, most certainly I tell you he will in no way lose his reward. — Matthew 10:42; Mark 9:41
• Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him that a huge millstone should be hung around his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depths of the sea.  — Matthew 18:6
• Haven't you read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, 'For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh?' So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, don't let man tear apart. — Matthew 19:4-6
• Call no one your 'father' on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. — Matthew 23:9
• I was a stranger, and you didn't take me in; naked, and you didn't clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn't visit me.' "Then they will also answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn't help you?' "Then he will answer them, saying, 'Most certainly I tell you, because you didn't do it to one of the least of these, you didn't do it to me.' These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." — Matthew 25:43-46
• It is written: You must worship the Lord your God, and you must serve Him only. — Matthew 4:10
• Whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is put away commits adultery. — Matthew 5:32, 19:9; Luke 16:18
• Treat others the same as you would like to be treated—this is the Law and the Prophets. — Matthew 7:12
• Do not judge one another hypocritically. — Matthew 7:1-5; Luke 6:37, 41-42

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   Hate Evil

• Don't make my Father's house a marketplace. — John 2:16
• Examine the light in you. — Luke 11:33-36
• Repent or perish. — Luke 13:1-5
• Beware of the yeast (teachings) of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. — Luke 12:1; Matthew 16:5-12
• Beware of, and be on your guard against becoming greedy. — Luke 12:13-21
• Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. — Luke 14:11, 18:9-14; Matthew 23:12

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   Anger

• Everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause will be in danger of the judgment; and whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' will be in danger of the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of Gehenna. — Matthew 5:22

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   Lust

• Everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. — Matthew 5:28

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   Oaths

• Again you have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, 'You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the Lord your vows,' but I tell you, don't swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God; nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can't make one hair white or black. But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes' and your 'No' be 'No.' Whatever is more than these is of the evil one. — Matthew 5:33-37

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   Retaliation

• You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' But I tell you, don't resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. If anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and don't turn away him who desires to borrow from you. — Matthew 5:39-42; Luke 6:30, 35, 38

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   Divorce and Remarriage

• If a man divorces his wife and marries another, he commits adultery. If a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery... and everyone who marries her who has been divorced from a husband, is committing adultery. — Mark 10:11-12; Matthew 5:32, 19:9; Luke 16:18

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   Obey

• If you love me, keep my commandments.  — John 14:15
• If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and remain in his love.  — John 15:10
• Blessed are those who hear the word of God, and keep it. — Luke 11:28
• Stay ready for Jesus' return and make sure you are doing what he commanded when he comes back. — Luke 12:35-48
• Fear only God. — Luke 12:4-7; Matthew 10:26, 28, 31
• The law is more permanent than heaven or earth. — Luke 16:17
• Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, but to God what is God's. — Luke 20:25; Mark 12:17; Matthew 22:21
• Observe the Lord's Supper — Luke 22:14-20; Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25
• Anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, but is guilty of an eternal sin. — Mark 3:29; Matthew 12:31-32
• Whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother. — Matthew 12:50
• This Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.  — Matthew 24:14
• Wherever this Good News is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of as a memorial of her. — Matthew 26:6-13
• Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. — Matthew 28:19-20
• Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near! — Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:15
• Repent, and believe in the Good News, for God's Kingdom is at hand! — Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:15
• Whoever, therefore, shall break one of these least commandments, and teach others to do so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.  — Matthew 5:19
• Do the will of our heavenly Father if you wish to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. — Matthew 7:21
• Hear and obey Jesus' teachings. — Matthew 7:24-27

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   Be Forgiving

• If a believer sins, rebuke him; then if he repents, forgive him, and do so as often as he asks forgiveness. — Luke 17:3-4
• Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father, who is in heaven, may also forgive you your transgressions.  — Mark 11:25
• If your brother sins against you, go, show him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained back your brother. But if he doesn't listen, take one or two more with you, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the assembly. If he refuses to hear the assembly also, let him be to you as a Gentile or a tax collector. — Matthew 18:15-17
• If your brother sins against you, not just seven times, but, until seventy times seven, continue to forgive him from your heart for his misdeeds. — Matthew 18:21-22, 35
• Forgive men their trespasses and your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  — Matthew 6:14

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   Be Meek

• Even when we have done all that we are commanded, we should consider ourselves unworthy servants who have only done our duty. — Luke 17:10
• To enter God's kingdom, we must be humble, open, and unpretentious. — Luke 18:15-17: Mark 10:13-16; Matthew 18:3-4, 19:13-15
• If anyone wishes to be first, he will be last of all and servant of all. — Mark 9:35
• The following of you should rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven: the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the gentle, those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and those who have been persecuted for righteousness' sake. Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake. — Matthew 5:3-12
• Fast in secret. — Matthew 6:16-18
• Give to the needy in secret. — Matthew 6:2-4
• Pray to your Father in secret. — Matthew 6:6
• When praying, don't be repetitive or use wordy speech. — Matthew 6:7

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   Be Self-Sacrificing

• He who loves his life will lose it. He who hates his life in this world will keep it to eternal life.  — Matthew 10:39; John 12:25
• There is no one who has left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children, for God's Kingdom's sake, who will not receive many times more in this time, as well as receiving eternal life in the world to come. — Luke 18:29-30; Matthew 19:29
• Whoever wants to save his life will lose it; and whoever will lose his life for my sake and the sake of the Good News will save it. — Mark 8:35; Matthew 16:25
• If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It's better to enter eternal life with only one hand than to go into the unquenchable fires of Gehenna with two hands. — Mark 9:43; Matthew 18:8
• If your foot offends you, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life lame, rather than having your two feet, and to be cast into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire. — Mark 9:45; Matthew 18:8
• If your eye causes you to stumble, cast it out. It is better for you to enter into God's Kingdom with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna of fire,  — Mark 9:47; Matthew 18:9
• He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me isn't worthy of me.  — Matthew 10:37
• He who doesn't take his cross and follow after me, isn't worthy of me. — Matthew 10:38

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   Do Good Works

• Feed and tend my lambs and sheep. — John 21:15-17
• Work for the food which remains to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. — John 6:27
• Do the work of God, believe in him whom he has sent. — John 6:29
• Bear good fruit or be destroyed. — Luke 13:6-9
• I tell you that every idle word that men speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. — Matthew 12:36-37
• I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. — Matthew 9:13

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   Be Wise

• Use your worldly resources to help others and make friends. Your generosity will store up a reward for you in heaven. — Luke 16:9
• Do not be misled. Many will come in Jesus' name, saying they are the Messiah and that the end is near. Do not follow them. Do not be afraid when you hear of wars and disturbances. Many such things will happen, but that doesn't mean it is the end. — Luke 21:8-9; Matthew 10:26, 28, 31
• Beware of those who claim to be Godly, but are arrogant, pretentious, and hypocritical. — Mark 12:38-40; Matthew 23:1-39; Luke 20:46-47
• If anyone tells you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'Look, there!' don't believe it. For there will arise false christs and false prophets, and will show signs and wonders, that they may lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones. But you watch. "Behold, I have told you all things beforehand. — Mark 13:21-23; Matthew 24:23-25
• Stay alert. Keep watching for the signs of Jesus return, for no one knows when that will be. — Mark 13:24-37; Matthew 24:36-51, 25:13
• Beware, that no one misleads you. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he!' and they will lead many astray.  — Mark 13:5-6; Matthew 24:4-5
• Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves. — Mark 7:15-20
• Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees. — Mark 8:15; Matthew 16:6
• He who is not against you is working on your behalf. — Mark 9:40
• Be as wise as snakes and as gentle as doves. — Matthew 10:16
• What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in the ear, proclaim on the housetops. — Matthew 10:27
• Not all men can receive this saying, but those to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother's womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men; and there are eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heaven's sake. He who is able to receive it, let him receive it. — Matthew 19:11-12
• It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. — Matthew 19:24
• If therefore they tell you, 'Behold, he is in the wilderness,' don't go out; 'Behold, he is in the inner rooms,' don't believe it. For as the lightning flashes from the east, and is seen even to the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. — Matthew 24:26-27
• It is written: Man must not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. — Matthew 4:4
• It is also written: You must not tempt the Lord your God. — Matthew 4:7
• Lay up treasures in heaven. — Matthew 6:20
• Don't give what is holy to unholy people and don't give pearls to swine. — Matthew 7:6

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   Remain Faithful

• He who remains in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.  — John 15:5
• If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you. — John 15:7
• Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love. — John 15:9-10
• You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only. — Luke 4:8; Matthew 4:10
• If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and let him drink. — John 7:37
• If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free. — John 8:31
• Most certainly, I tell you, if a person keeps my word, he will never see death. — John 8:51
• To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given. But from those who are unfaithful, even what little they have will be taken away — Luke 19:26; Matthew 25:29
• Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, with what will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another. — Mark 9:50; Matthew 5:13; Luke 14:34-35
• Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. The cowardly, unbelieving, sinners, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their part is in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death. — Revelation 21:8; 22:15

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   Do Not Be Afraid

• When they lead you away and deliver you up, don't be anxious beforehand, or premeditate what you will say, but say whatever will be given you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.  — Mark 13:11; Matthew 10:19-20
• You will hear of wars and rumors of wars; nation rising up against nation, kingdom against kingdom; earthquakes in various places, famines and all sorts of troubles. But do not be troubled, this is just the beginning of birth pains. These things must happen, but the end is not yet. — Mark 13:7-8; Matthew 24:6-8
• Watch yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils. You will be beaten in synagogues. You will stand before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them. The Good News must first be preached to all the nations. — Mark 13:9-10; Matthew 10:17-18
• Whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man also will be ashamed of him, when he comes in his Father's glory, with the holy angels. — Mark 8:38
• Do not fear those who treat you badly. — Matthew 10:26, 28, 31
• Don't be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.  — Matthew 10:26, 28, 31
• Let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. — Matthew 5:16
• Don't be anxious over your life or tomorrow. Seek first God's Kingdom, and his righteousness; God knows what you need and all things will be given to you.  — Matthew 6:31-34

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   Endure to the End

• Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. Children will rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death. You will be hated by all men for my name's sake, but he who endures to the end, the same will be saved. — Mark 13:12-13; Matthew 10:21-22, 24:13
• Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you. — Matthew 7:7; Luke 11:8-10, 18:1-8
• The one who overcomes will receive eternal life and great rewards. — Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26-28, 3:5, 12, 21, 21:7

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