A Short List of Jesus’ Commands & Directives

The disciples — and believers today — often struggled to grasp the power behind Jesus’ commands.

When He told them to feed the multitudes, to cross the lake, or to heal the sick, their hearts were sometimes hardened. We know from their reaction (fear on the lake, grumbling about “bread”) that they often failed to understand what Jesus meant. Too often, they fixed their eyes on external circumstances rather than the One who issued the command.

Yet when Jesus, or God, speaks a word, it is done.

Jesus’ commands carried the same creative force that spoke light into existence and life into dust. God told Moses to speak to the rock, and water would flow. Moses obeyed the first time, but later struck the rock instead—an act of disobedience that revealed how even the smallest deviation from God’s word carries consequences. (Moses’ alteration of God’s command kept Moses out of the Promised Land.)

Satan too knows the power of Jesus’ words. When the devil tempted Jesus to turn stone into bread, Satan understood that by a single word from Jesus, matter itself could be transformed. And Jesus, as if to prove this point — perhaps to poke the devil in the chest — did this exact thing as his first miracle: turning water into wine.

So it is with us.

Unless He Himself rescinded it, every command Jesus gave still stands. He has commissioned us to obey, to teach, and to do all that He commanded—trusting that His word, once spoken, still works through us. If he said it, it remains binding. Here are some, but not all, of the commands Jesus gives us. If we love Him, we will obey and do as He did.

I. The Call to Repentance, Faith, and Discipleship

1. Repent.
2. Believe the good news.
   (Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:15; Luke 13:3, 5)
3. Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Me.
   (Matthew 16:24; Matthew 4:19; 8:22; 9:9; 19:21; Mark 8:34; 1:17; 2:14; 10:21; Luke 9:23, Luke 5:27; 9:23; 18:22; John 1:43; 21:19, 22)
4. Believe in Me.
5. Have God’s faith (or faith in God).
   (John 6:29; 14:1; Mark 11:22; John 12:36; John 20:27)
6. Be baptized (implied command to disciples and converts).
   (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16)

II. Commands Concerning Love and Relationships

6. Love the Lord your God.
7. Love your neighbor as yourself.
   (Matthew 22:37–39; Mark 12:30–31; Luke 10:27)
8. Do to others as you would have them do to you.
   (Matthew 7:12; Luke 6:31)
9. Love one another (fellow believers) as I have loved you.
   (John 13:34; 15:12, 17)
10. Love your enemies.
11. Bless those who curse you.
12. Pray for those who persecute you.
    (Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:27–28)
13. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
    (Luke 6:36; Matthew 5:7)
14. Forgive others.
    (Matthew 6:14–15; Mark 11:25; Luke 6:37)
15. Be reconciled to your brother (others).
    (Matthew 5:23–24)
16. Judge not.
17. Condemn not.
    (Matthew 7:1; Luke 6:37)
18. Honor marriage.
19. Let your “Yes” be “Yes.”
    (Matthew 5:32, 37; 19:6–9)

III. Life of Humility, Service, and Giving

15. Be servant of all.
    (Mark 9:35; 10:43–44; Matthew 20:26–27; Luke 22:26)
16. Give to all who ask.
    (Luke 6:38; Matthew 10:8)
17. Give in secret.
    (Matthew 6:3–4)
18. Sell your possessions and give to the poor.
    (Luke 12:33; 18:22; Matthew 19:21; Mark 10:21)
19. Do not store up treasures on earth.
20. Store up treasures in heaven.
    (Matthew 6:19–20; Luke 12:33)
21. Seek first the Kingdom of God.
22. Seek His righteousness (Jesus is our righteousness).
    (Matthew 6:33; Luke 12:31)
23. Wash one another’s feet (serve each other).
    (John 13:14–15)

IV. Commands About Prayer, Fasting, and Faith

22. Pray to your Father in secret.
    (Matthew 6:6)
23. Declare God’s kingdom come.
24. Declare God’s will be done.
25. Confess your sins to your Father.
26. Forgive others.
27. Ask your Father for your daily needs.
    (Matthew 6:9–13; Luke 11:2–4 , Mark 11:25)
28. Ask your Father and keep asking.
29. Seek and keep seeking.
30. Knock and keep knocking (persistence pays).
    (Matthew 7:7–8; Luke 11:9–10)
31. Always pray and do not give up.
    (Luke 18:1)
32. Believe you have received when you ask.
    (Mark 11:24; Matthew 21:22; John 14:13–14; 16:23–24)
33. Watch that you are not led into temptation.
34. Pray that you are not led into temptation.
    (Matthew 26:41; Mark 14:38; Luke 22:40, 46)
35. When you fast, anoint your head and wash your face.
    (Matthew 6:17)

V. Commands About Conduct and Character

30. Let your light shine before others.
    (Matthew 5:16; Luke 8:16)
31. Be salt. Be light.
    (Matthew 5:13–16; Mark 9:50; Luke 14:34–35)
32. Be perfect (complete) as your Father is perfect.
    (Matthew 5:48; Luke 6:36)
33. Beware of hypocrisy.
34. Do not practice righteousness to be seen (spirit of pride).
    (Matthew 6:1–2; Luke 12:1)
35. Do not worry about your life.
    (Matthew 6:25–34; Luke 12:22–31)
36. Be ready for Jesus. Keep your lamps burning (with His Holy Spirit).
    (Luke 12:35–36; Matthew 25:1–13)
37. Take heed and watch for Jesus (he IS coming).
    (Matthew 24:42; 25:13; Mark 13:33–37; Luke 21:36)
38. Enter the kingdom of God through the narrow gate.
    (Matthew 7:13–14; Luke 13:24)
39. Beware of false prophets, preacher, and teachers (verify teaching with God’s word).
    (Matthew 7:15; 24:4–5; Mark 13:5; Luke 21:8)
40. Do not fear.
    (Matthew 10:26, 28, 31; Luke 12:4–7; John 14:1, 27)
41. Take courage.
42. Be cheerful.
    (Matthew 14:27; Mark 6:50; John 16:33)
43. Be faithful unto death.
    (Luke 12:4; 21:19; Matthew 24:13)
44. Rejoice when persecuted.
45. Be glad when persecuted.
    (Matthew 5:12; Luke 6:23)
46. Render to governments what is theirs.
47. Render to God what is God’s.
    (Matthew 22:21; Mark 12:17; Luke 20:25)

VI. Commands Concerning Healing and Ministry

44. Preach the Gospel of the Kingdom.
    (Matthew 10:7; Mark 16:15; Luke 9:2)
45. Lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.
    (Mark 16:18)
46. Heal the sick.
47. Cleanse the lepers (those who are contagious or have skin diseases).
48. Raise the dead.
49. Cast out demons.
    (Matthew 10:8; Luke 9:1–2; 10:9; Mark 16:17–18)
50. Freely you have received Jesus’ power and authority; freely give.
    (Matthew 10:8, Luke 9:1-5)
51. Your faith (in Jesus) has made you well. (directive of release and faith)
    (Mark 5:34; 10:52; Luke 7:50; 17:19; 18:42)
52. Rise from your bed of sickness.
53. Take up your bed (or make your bed).
54. Walk. 
    (Matthew 9:6; Mark 2:11; Luke 5:24; John 5:8)
55. Stretch out your hand.
    (Matthew 12:13; Mark 3:5; Luke 6:10)
56. Go, show yourself to the priest (Or others. Demonstrate your faith in Jesus’ healing for you with action.)
    (Matthew 8:4; Mark 1:44; Luke 5:14; 17:14)
57. Give them something to eat. (If Jesus says give, He has already blessed and provided.)
    (Mark 6:37; Matthew 14:16; Luke 9:13; John 6:5–11)
58. Get into the boat.
59. Go to the other side. (Implied directive. If Jesus sends, He has already made a way.)
    (Matthew 8:18; 14:22; Mark 4:35; 6:45; John 6:16–17)
60. Cast your net for a catch. (If Jesus commands, He has already provided.)
    (Luke 5:4–6; John 21:6)
61. Feed My sheep.
    (John 21:15–17)
62. Receive the Holy Spirit.
    (John 20:22; Luke 24:49)
63. Go into all the world and make disciples.
    (Matthew 28:19–20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:47–49; John 20:21)

VII. Commands About Endurance, Watchfulness, and Return

59. Watch, for you do not know the hour.
    (Matthew 24:42; 25:13; Mark 13:33; Luke 21:36)
60. Be ready. The Son of Man comes at an hour you do not expect.
    (Matthew 24:44; Luke 12:40)
61. Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.
    (John 14:1)
62. Abide in Me, and I in you.
    (John 15:4–7, 9–10)
63. Bear fruit that remains.
    (John 15:16)
64. Remember Me (in Communion).
    (Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24 – post-Gospel echo)

VIII. Miscellaneous & Personal Directives

65. Render unto Caesar / Pay what you owe.
    (Matthew 22:21; Mark 12:17; Luke 20:25)
66. Let the children come to Me.
    (Matthew 19:14; Mark 10:14; Luke 18:16)
67. Take this and eat; this is My body … do this in remembrance of Me.
    (Matthew 26:26; Mark 14:22; Luke 22:19; implied remembrance from Isaiah 53:5)
68. Go and sin no more.
    (John 8:11; 5:14)
69. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
    (John 14:27)
70. Go home to your friends and tell them what the Lord has done for you.
    (Mark 5:19; Luke 8:39)
71. Come away by yourselves and rest.
    (Mark 6:31)
72. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me.
    (Matthew 11:29)
73. Do this until I return (Occupy till I come).
    (Luke 19:13)

IX. Great Commission Summary

74. Go, make disciples, teaching them to obey all I have commanded you.
    (Matthew 28:19–20; Mark 16:15–18; Luke 24:47–49; John 20:21)

Jesus never spoke idle words. Every command He gave—whether to love, forgive, heal, or proclaim—carried the full authority of heaven. His words were not suggestions but divine commissions meant to continue through His followers. Though time and culture may change, His instructions have not. Until He returns, every disciple is charged to obey, teach, and act upon all that He commanded. These are not relics of history but living orders for a living Church.

And by His authority, we are called to do these things—and even greater works—in His name, by His power, and for the glory of God.