Chapter 1: Promises for Obeying Jesus’ Commands

Two thousand years ago as Jesus was about to leave the earth physically, the atmosphere had to be both sad and tense. The apostles had not been looking forward to that day of saying goodbye to Him. Jesus training of the 12 apostles was completed and Jesus said His very last teaching to the apostles; seen below in Matthew 28: 18-19. As you would surmise those last words are very important to Jesus. He told the Apostles to go out to the other nations, share the gospel of Jesus and baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Then, He said, disciple them by teaching them to obey all that He commanded them during His 3 years of teaching and training.

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.” (Matthew 28:18-20, emphasis added)

What does Jesus promise if we obey His commands?

Having shared the truth about the commands of Jesus over the years I have found it very difficult to motivate someone to actually study the commands, much less obey them. It could be that the word “command” has a negative connotation. Whatever, the reason, just the fact that Jesus says, “if you love Me you will keep my commands” should be motivation enough, but usually it is not. So, the following is some additional bible incentives for someone to make the effort to know and obey Jesus’ commands:

Incentive #1

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash. (Matthew 7:24-27)

Incentive #2

If you love Me, keep My commands. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see Me anymore, but you will see Me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will

realize that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them. (John 14:15-21)

Incentive #3

Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death. (John 8:5)

Incentive #4

You are my friends if you do what I command. (John 15:14) Incentive #5

We know that we have come to know him if we keep His commands. Whoever says, “I know Him,” but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys His word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did. (1 John 2:3-6)

Incentive #6

Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep His commands and do what pleases Him. And this is His command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as He commanded us. The one who keeps God’s commands lives in Him, and He in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us. (1 John 3:21-24)

Incentive #7

Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. (2 John 1:9)

Incentive #8

Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:19)

Incentive #9

If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s

commands and remain in his love. (John 15:10)

The Commands of Jesus (1-10)

Command 1

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes

from the mouth of God.’ (Matthew 4:4)

Command 2

Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” (Matthew 4:7)

Command 3

Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.” (Matthew 4:10)

Command 4

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

(Matthew 4:17)

Command 5

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” (Matthew 4:19)

Command 6

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. (Matthew 5:11-12)

Command 7

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)

Command 8

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:17)

Command 9

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. (Matthew 5:23)

Command 10

Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. (Matthew 5:25)