The NT sets out the commands of God and Jesus Christ for the church.
Commands made by God
Matthew 22:36–40 parallel Mark 12:28–31 See also Matthew 15:3 parallel Mark 7:9; Mark 7:8; Acts 13:46–47, Acts 17:30; Romans 1:32; 1 Timothy 1:1; Titus 1:3; 1 John 3:23, 1 John 4:21; 2 John 1:4
“Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in the Law?” Jesus declared, “‘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 second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Commands made by Jesus Christ
In the Gospels
John 13:34 See also Matthew 8:26–27 parallels Mark 4:39–41, Luke 8:24–25; Matthew 28:19–20; Mark 1:25–27 parallel Luke 4:35–36; Mark 5:43 parallel Luke 8:56; Mark 9:25; John 15:12, John 15:17
A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another.
In the rest of the NT
1 Corinthians 9:14 See also Acts 10:42; 1 Corinthians 7:10–11, 1 Corinthians 14:37; 1 Thessalonians 4:2, 1 Thessalonians 4:16; 2 Peter 3:2 “the command” (see 2 Peter 2:21) here refers to Christianity considered as a body of ethical teaching
In the same way, the Lord has prescribed that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.
Commands made by the apostles
1 John 2:7–8 They received the command to love at the beginning of their Christian experience. See also Acts 10:48, Acts 16:4 The Greek word translated “decisions” literally means “decrees”; Acts 16:18; 2 Thessalonians 3:4, 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 2 Thessalonians 3:11–121TI 2 Thessalonians 1:3–5, 1 Timothy 4:11, 1 Timothy 6:17–18 1 Timothy 6:13–14
Beloved, I am not writing to you a new commandment, but an old one, which you have had from the beginning. This commandment is the message you have heard. Then again, I am also writing to you a new commandment, which is true in Him and also in you. For the darkness is fading and the true light is already shining.
Obedience to the NT commands
Obedience is a requirement
1 John 2:3–4 See also Matthew 5:19 “these commandments” probably refers to the OT law as fulfilled by Jesus Christ (see Matthew 5:17–18); Matthew 19:17; Luke 17:10; John 15:10; 1 Corinthians 7:19; 2 Peter 2:21; 1 John 3:21–24; 2 John 1:5–6; Revelation 14:12
By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments. If anyone says, “I know Him,” but does not keep His commandments, he is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
Obedience is an expression of love and faithfulness
John 14:21 See also John 14:15, John 15:14; 1 John 5:2–3; Revelation 12:17
Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him.”
Commands given by secular authorities
Matthew 8:9 parallel Luke 7:8 the Roman centurion; Matthew 14:9–10 parallel Mark 6:27 Herod orders the beheading of John the Baptist; Matthew 27:64–65; Luke 2:1; Acts 12:19, Acts 16:22–24, Acts 18:2 Claudius ordered all the Jews to leave Rome; Acts 21:34, Acts 23:10, Acts 23:35, Acts 25:6, Acts 25:17, Acts 25:21, Acts 25:23
Commands given by religious authorities
John 11:57; Acts 4:15, Acts 5:28, Acts 5:40, Acts 23:2–3
Commands that came through Moses referred to in the NT
Hebrews 9:19–20 See also Matthew 8:4 parallel Mark 1:44; Matthew 19:7–8 parallel Mark 10:3–4; John 8:5; Romans 7:8–13; Hebrews 12:18–21
For when Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people, saying, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.”
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.