the commands of jesus in matthew

I recently read the gospel of Matthew. At the end of the gospel I was reminded of the importance of the Great Commission, particularly the aspect of Jesus telling his disciples to make disciples, teaching them to observe (obey) all that he commanded. As I meditated on this I thought I should study Matthew to find out what Jesus commanded his disciples. My intent for the study was to find out Jesus’ commands so that I could do the things he commanded and teach others to do them too.

Below are the commands I discovered. These commands are out of context. To better understand them you should read them in their context. I divided the commands into two groups, commands directed at the disciples in general and commands directed to specific individuals in specific circumstances. In total I found 78 general commands and 16 specific commands. There may be more than this depending how you break them down. You will notice that some of the general commands are specific to Jesus ministry among the Jews (the disciples were sent only to Israel) and also the progression of his ministry (the disciples were commanded not to tell people that Jesus was the Christ). These commands changed after Jesus rose from the dead. The Great Commission is Jesus’ final command, in it he tells his disciples to go to the nations (the Gentiles) and to teach people about him. Jesus’ final command trumps his previous commands.

Note: The definition I used for command is “to direct with authority; give orders to.” The translation I used is English Standard Version.


Jesus’ Commands to the general disciple

Matthew 4:17 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Matthew 4:19 “And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him."

Matthew 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

Matthew 5:17 “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.”

Matthew 5:23 “So if you are offering your gift at the alter and there remember that you brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the alter and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift."

Matthew 5:25 “Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be put in prison.”

Matthew 5:29 “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell."

Matthew 5:30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.”

Matthew 5:34 “But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair with or black. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.”

Matthew 5:39 “But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, to with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.”

Matthew 4:44 “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.”

Matthew 6:2 “when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others.”

Matthew 6:3 “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. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

Matthew 6:6 “But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."

Matthew 6:7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”

Matthew 6:9 “Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hollowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day 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 evil.”

Matthew 6:16 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites…”

Matthew 6:17 “But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

Matthew 6:19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in an steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

Matthew 6:25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on.”

Matthew 6:31 “Therefore do not be anxious, saying ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Matthew 6:34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Matthew 7:1 “Judge not, that you be not judged.”

Matthew 7:5 “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”

Matthew 7:6 “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.”

Matthew 7:7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”

Matthew 7:12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

Matthew 7:13 “Enter by the narrow gate.”

Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”

Matthew 9:13 “Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Matthew 9:37 “Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Matthew 10:5 “These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of Samaritans, but go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

Matthew 10:7 “And proclaim as you go, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’

Matthew 10:8 “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received with out paying; give without pay."

Matthew 10:9 “Acquire no gold nor silver nor copper for your belts, no bag for your journey, nor two tunics nor sandals nor staff, for the laborer deserves his food.”

Matthew 10:11 “And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. As you enter the house, greet it. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.”

Matthew 10:14 “And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.”

Matthew 10:16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”

Matthew 10:17 “Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles.”

Matthew 10:19 “When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.”

Matthew 10:23 “When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”

Matthew 10:26 “So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.”

Mathew 10:27 “What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.”

Matthew 10:28 “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”

Matthew 10:31 “Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

Matthew 10:34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.”

Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Matthew 12:15 “And many followed him, and he healed them all and ordered them not to make him known.”

Matthew 14:27 “But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”

Matthew 16:6 “Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

Matthew 16:20 “Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.”

Matthew16:24 “Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

Matthew 17:9 “And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.”

Matthew 18:3 “Truly I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 18:8 “And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire.”

Matthew 18:9 “And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.”

Matthew 18:10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.”

Matthew 18:15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.”

Matthew 18:22 “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.”

Matthew 19:14 “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 20:26 “It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Matthew 22:21 “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

Matthew 22:36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment."

Matthew 22:39 “And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Matthew 23:3 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so practice and observe whatever they tell you – but do not what they do.”

Matthew 23:8 “But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant.”

Matthew 23:26 “You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.”

Matthew 24:20 “Pray that you flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath.”

Matthew 24:23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it.”

Matthew 24:26 “So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it.”

Matthew 24:42 “Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.”

Matthew 24:44 “Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

Matthew 25:13 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

Matthew 26:26 “Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

Matthew 26:41 “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Matthew 28:18-20 “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”


Jesus’ Commands to a specific individual or being in a specific circumstance

Matthew 8:13 “And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.”

Matthew 8:32 “And he said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the pigs…”

Matthew 9:6 “But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” – he then said to then said to the paralytic – “Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And he rose and went home.”

Matthew 9:9 “As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.”

Matthew 9:24 “he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.”

Matthew 9:30 “And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, “See that no one knows about it.”

Matthew 11:4 “And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see…”

Matthew 12:13 “Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other.”

Matthew 14:28 “And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and come to Jesus.”

Matthew 17:27 “However, not to give offense to them, go to the seas and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.”

Matthew 19:17-21 “If you would enter life, keep the commandments… “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”… “Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go sell what you posses and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

Matthew 21:1 “then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me.”

Matthew 21:19 “And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once.”

Matthew 26:18 “He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.”

Matthew 28:10 “Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”