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What Jesus commanded: How to live your life

The commands of Jesus, as I have often heard them preached and taught throughout my life, are often focused on two key passages in Scripture: The Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20) and the Great Commandment (Matt. 22:37-40).

The Great Commission is often quoted as the primary focus of all that Jesus commanded. The command is given following the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

Priority is often placed on the actions in the commission: making disciples and baptizing, often thought of as evangelism and discipleship. The third action is not always emphasized: “Teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you" (Matt. 28:20 NIV).

The action of “teaching them to obey” is a longer and more challenging process of teaching, training, imitating, mentoring and coaching, all folded into the process of discipleship and spiritual maturity. The best context for this is an interpersonal relationship between a mature follower of Jesus and a newcomer to the faith.

Discipleship is the precursor to Christian leadership. How can leaders lead in the Kingdom if they haven’t mastered how to follow Jesus?

The second major command is the Great Commandment. Jesus was tested by the religious establishment, teachers of the Mosaic Law. Two major truths jump out in Matthew 22:37-40. First, I see the simplicity of Jesus’ commands: Love the Lord your God and love your neighbor as yourself. It’s simple.

The equally astonishing principle Jesus teaches here is that all the teachings of the Mosaic Law and the teachings of the Old Testament prophets depend on or hang on these two commandments. The cumulative teaching of all the prophets, major and minor prophets, depend on these two commandments: Love God; love your neighbor.

The commands vertically define a proper relationship with God and horizontally define our relationship with other people.

When you engage the teachings of Jesus and begin to apply them to your life, you will join the global conversation that poses this question: What is the best way to live life on the planet?

Questions for Reflection:

• How does the teaching of Jesus to love God and love our neighbor intersect with our lives, our families, our faith community, our local church, or Christian ministry?
• How can we live out the kingdom life today?