38 Commands of Jesus We Should Take to Heart

Jesus told the disciples, “If you love me, keep my commands” (John 14:15). It’s safe to assume that He would say the same thing to His followers today. But what kind of things did Jesus ask of His followers?

We pulled together 38 of Jesus’ commands, focusing on the ones with universal application for all of His followers. These Scriptures can be a great jumping off point for prayer, memorization and meditation. For other powerful quotes by Jesus, read this.

1. Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near (Matthew 4:17)

From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

2. Come and follow Me (Matthew 4:19)

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”

3. Rejoice when you’re persecuted in My name (Matthew 5:11–12)

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

4. Let your light shine before all people (Matthew 5:16)

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

5. Be reconciled to one another (Matthew 5:23–24)

“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.”

6. Take sin very seriously (Matthew 5:29–30)

“If your right eye causes you to stumble, 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 stumble, 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.”

7. Keep your word (Matthew 5:37)

“All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”

8. Turn the other cheek (Matthew 5:39)

“But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.”

9. Go above and beyond (Matthew 5:40–42)

“And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”

10. Love your enemies (Matthew 5:43–44)

 “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,”

11. Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48)

“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

12. Focus on spiritual disciplines for the right reasons (Matthew 6:1–18)

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

 “This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

 your kingdom come,

your will be done,

    on earth as it is in heaven.

 Give us today our daily bread.

 And forgive us our debts,

    as we also have forgiven our debtors.

 And lead us not into temptation,

    but deliver us from the evil one.’

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

13. Put your efforts in the right place (Matthew 6:19–21)

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

14. Seek God’s kingdom first of all (Matthew 6:33)

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

15. Do not worry about tomorrow (Matthew 6:34)

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

16. Use right judgment (Matthew 7:1–5)

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

17. Practice discretion (Matthew 7:6)

“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”

18. Ask, seek, and knock (Matthew 7:7–8)

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” 

19. Treat others as you would like to be treated (Matthew 7:12)

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”

20. Choose the narrow path to life (Matthew 7:13–14)

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

21. Look out for false prophets (Matthew 7:15–20)

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.”

22. Pray for kingdom laborers (Matthew 9:37–38)

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

23. Be on your guard (Matthew 10:16–17)

“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues.”

24. Do not fear persecutors (Matthew 10:26–31)

“So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

25. Take My yoke upon you (Matthew 11:28–30)

“Come to me, all you who are weary and 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.”

26. Do not despise the little ones (Matthew 18:10)

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.”

27. How to deal with offenders (Matthew 18:15–17)

“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.”

28. Practice forgiveness (Matthew 18:21–22)

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

29. Lead through service (Matthew 20:25–28)

Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

30. Love God with all your heart, mind, and soul (Matthew 22:37–38)

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.”

31. Love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39)

And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

32. Stay alert and keep watch (Matthew 24:42–44)

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.  But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

33. Make disciples of all the nations (Matthew 28:18–20)

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

34. Deny yourself (Luke 9:23–24)

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.”

35. Watch out for greed (Luke 12:15)

Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

36. Give to those who can’t reciprocate (Luke 14:12–14)

Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

37. You must be born again (John 3:7)

You should not be surprised at my saying, “You must be born again.”

38. If you love Me, keep my commandments (John 14:15)

“If you love me, keep my commands.”

Learn more about Jesus

If you’re interested in learning more about the life and teachings of Jesus, check out Jesus Film Project’s^®watch page. There you’ll find the JESUS film, the Life of Jesus, Lumo – The Gospel of Matthew and more! These resources can inspire and help you as you love and serve Jesus in your everyday life.