Key One-Word Commands From Jesus
Jesus' teachings frequently distill complex theological and ethical principles into concise, powerful commands. Among these, the command to "Hear" (Shema) stands out as foundational, as Jesus himself identified it as the first of all commandments: "Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord" (Mark 12:29 KJV). This command, drawn from Deuteronomy 6:4-5, was a central declaration for observant Jews, recited twice daily, and emphasizes the oneness of God as the basis for loving Him completely [6]. Augustine notes that Jesus teaches the entire law and prophets depend on the two precepts of love for God and neighbor, with the "Hear, O Israel" command being primary [3].
Another significant one-word command from Jesus is "Love." When asked about the greatest commandment, Jesus combined the command to love God with all one's heart, soul, mind, and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5) with the command to love one's neighbor as oneself (Leviticus 19:18) [6]. This emphasis on love is presented as superior to all sacrifices [2]. The Apostle John later summarized God's commandments under the Gospel dispensation as a single command encompassing both faith and love, stating, "this is his commandment: that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us" (1 John 3:23 ESV). This singular commandment implies an indissoluble union between believing in Christ and loving others [5]. John the Apostle, in his later years, consistently reiterated the command to "love one another," considering it the essence of Christ's teaching for the new covenant [8].
Jesus also issued direct, authoritative commands in specific situations. For instance, when confronting an evil spirit, Jesus commanded, "Be quiet!" (Mark 1:25). This demonstrates his authority as the Son of God, with evil spirits obeying his simple word [4]. This particular instance is part of what scholars refer to as the "messianic secret," where Jesus commands demons or people not to reveal his identity [4].
The concept of "Obey" is central to Jesus' teachings. Obedience to God is commanded throughout scripture and is impossible without faith [1]. This includes obeying God's voice, His law, and Christ himself [1]. Jesus exemplified obedience, as seen in passages like Philippians 2:5-8 and Hebrews 5:8 [1]. The Heidelberg Catechism, a Reformed confession, articulates God's law beginning with the First Commandment, "You shall have no other gods before me," which inherently calls for obedience to God alone [7].
The call to "Repent" is another crucial command from Jesus. Mark 1:15 records Jesus proclaiming, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." This command signifies a change of mind and heart, a turning away from sin and towards God. In the encounter with the rich young ruler, Jesus' command to "Go, sell what you have and give to the poor" (Mark 10:21 ESV) was a specific call to repentance tailored to that man's particular attachment to wealth, revealing that he loved riches more than God, thus breaking the first commandment [10].
Finally, Jesus' commission to his apostles includes the command to "Go." This is evident in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) and in his words to his disciples, "As My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you" (John 20:21). The Augsburg Confession, a Lutheran confessional document, interprets this as a divine commandment for bishops to preach the Gospel, remit and retain sins, and administer sacraments [9]. This "Go" implies a mission to spread the message of the Gospel and make disciples.
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Obedience to God — Commanded -- De 13:4. Without faith, is impossible -- Heb 11:6. Includes Obeying his voice. -- Ex 19:5; Jer 7:23. Obeying his law. -- De 11:27; Isa 42:24. Obeying Christ. -- Ex 23:21; 2Co 10:5. Obeying the gospel. -- Ro 1:5; 6:17; 10:16,17. Keeping his commandments. -- Ec 12:13. Submission to higher powers. -- Ro 13:1. Better than sacrifice -- 1Sa 15:22. Justification obtained by that of Christ -- Ro 5:19. Christ, an example of -- Mt 3:15; Joh 15:20; Php 2:5-8; Heb 5:8. Angles engaged in -- Ps 103:20. A characteristic of saints -- 1Pe 1:14. Saints ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Love to God — Commanded -- De 11:1; Jos 22:5. The first great commandment -- Mt 22:38. With all the heart -- De 6:5; Mt 22:37. Better than all sacrifices -- Mr 12:33. Produced by The Holy Spirit. -- Ga 5:22; 2Th 3:5. The love of God to us. -- 1Jo 4:19. Answers to prayer. -- Ps 116:1. Exhibited by Christ -- Joh 14:31. A characteristic of saints -- Ps 5:11. Should produce Joy. -- Ps 5:11. Love to saints. -- 1Jo 5:1. Hatred of sin. -- Ps 97:10. Obedience to God. -- De 30:20; 1Jo 5:3. Perfected in obedience -- 1Jo 2:5. Perfected, gives boldness -- 1Jo 4:17,18. God, faith”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 5: Augustine — Anti-Pelagian — CHAP. 36.--LOVE COMMENDED BY OUR LORD HIMSELF.: Moreover, the Lord Jesus Himself teaches us that the whole law and the prophets hang upon the two precepts of love to God and love to our neighbour. Concerning these two commandments the following is written in the Gospel according to St. Mark: "And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him: Which is the first commandment of all ? And Jesus answered him: The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel! the Lord our God i”
- Mark (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Mark 1:25: 1:25 Jesus did not need to shout or utter magic words. He simply spoke with the authority of the Son of God (1:1), and the evil spirit obeyed. • Be quiet! Jesus commanded the evil spirit not to make him known. This is an instance of the “messianic secret,” an expression for passages in Mark in which Jesus commands demons or people not to reveal his identity (1:25, 34; 3:11-12; 8:30; 9:9).”
- 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 3:23: Summing up of God's commandments under the Gospel dispensation in one commandment. this is his commandment--singular: for faith and love are not separate commandments, but are indissolubly united. We cannot truly love one another without faith in Christ, nor can we truly believe in Him without love. believe--once for all; Greek aorist. on the name of his Son--on all that is revealed in the Gospel concerning Him, and on Himself in respect to His person, offices, and atoning work. as he--as Jesus gave us commandment.”
- Mark (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Mark 12:29: 12:29-31 Jesus’ reply combined two widely separated commands from the Torah. • The first, Deut 6:4-5, was probably the best known passage in the Old Testament, for it was repeated twice daily by observant Jews. It is called the Shema because it begins with the word Listen (Hebrew shema‘). The first command corresponds to the first part of the Ten Commandments (Exod 20:2-11), which deals with a person’s relationship to God. • The oneness of God is foundational to Jewish and Christian monotheism and is the basis for the command to love God with all one’s heart (think”
- Heidelberg Catechism (Reformed) “Heidelberg Catechism (Reformed, 1563), Q. What is God’s law?: Q. What is God’s law? A. God spoke all these words: THE FIRST COMMANDMENT “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me.” THE SECOND COMMANDMENT “You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of pa”
- 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 3:18: When the venerable John could no longer walk to the meetings of the Church but was borne thither by his disciples, he always uttered the same address to the Church; he reminded them of that one commandment which he had received from Christ Himself, as comprising all the rest, and forming the distinction of the new covenant, "My little children, love one another." When the brethren present, wearied of hearing the same thing so often, asked why he always repeated the same thing, he replied, "Because it is the commandment of the Lord, and if this one thin”
- Augsburg Confession (Lutheran) “Augsburg Confession (Lutheran, 1530), 5 But this is their opinion, that the power of the Keys, or the: 5 But this is their opinion, that the power of the Keys, or the power of the bishops, according to the Gospel, is a power or commandment of God, to preach the Gospel, to remit and retain sins, and to administer Sacraments. 6 For with this commandment Christ sends forth His Apostles, John 20:21 sqq.: As My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you. Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained. 7 Mark 16:15: G”
- Mark (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Mark 10:21: 10:21 Instead of having an extended discussion about what it means to truly keep the commandments, Jesus focused on the specific issue that revealed this man’s problem. He still lacked one thing: He loved riches more than he loved God, thus breaking the first and most important commandment (12:29-30; Exod 20:3; Deut 6:5). Entering the Kingdom of God requires repentance (Mark 1:15; 6:12), and Jesus helped this man to understand exactly what repentance entailed for him. He did not need, as he might have thought, to attain a higher level of personal righteousness. He ”