Things Jesus Commands Us Today
The Teachings of Jesus Christ: A Guide for Daily Christian Living
The teachings of Jesus Christ are not merely historical words. They show believers how to love, forgive, pray, serve, obey God, follow Christ, and live with eternal purpose.
Jesus did not simply call people to believe that He existed. He called people to follow Him.
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus taught His disciples how a life surrendered to God should look. His teachings address our priorities, relationships, prayer life, treatment of others, attitude toward possessions, response to wrongdoing, service to people in need, obedience to God, and responsibility to share the Gospel.
Christianity is therefore not only about knowing biblical information. The teachings of Jesus are meant to influence the way believers actually live.
1. Seek God's Kingdom First
Jesus teaches believers to place God above every other priority in life.
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Matthew 6:33 KJV
Seeking God's Kingdom first means that our relationship with Him should not become something we fit into our lives only when it is convenient. God should influence the way we make decisions, use our time, treat people, handle money, respond to temptation, and pursue our goals.
Jesus gave this teaching in a passage dealing with worry about the necessities of life. His instruction redirects our attention from anxiety toward trust in God.
Seeking God first does not mean ignoring responsibilities. It means refusing to allow fear, possessions, ambition, status, or worldly distractions to take the place that belongs to God.
What This Looks Like Today
Before making major decisions, believers should consider whether the choice agrees with Scripture, honors God, and supports the kind of life Christ has called them to live.
2. Love One Another
Love stands at the center of Jesus' teaching. His followers are called to demonstrate a kind of love that reflects His own character.
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”
John 13:34 KJV
Biblical love involves patience, compassion, truth, kindness, sacrifice, mercy, and forgiveness. It is deeper than simply feeling affection toward someone.
Jesus did not limit love to people who agree with us, treat us well, or make life easy. Christian love should be visible in the way we speak, respond to conflict, help those who are struggling, forgive those who have wronged us, and care for one another.
Love also does not require believers to approve of everything another person does. Biblical love can tell the truth while still treating people with dignity and compassion.
What This Looks Like Today
Ask whether your words, reactions, online conversations, family relationships, and treatment of difficult people reflect the love Christ has shown toward you.
3. Care for the Poor and Needy
Jesus repeatedly taught compassion toward people who are hungry, vulnerable, overlooked, or in need.
“For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:”
Matthew 25:35 KJV
In Matthew 25, Jesus describes acts of compassion that are practical. The hungry are fed. The thirsty receive something to drink. Strangers are welcomed. Those in need are not simply noticed, they are helped.
This reminds believers that compassion should become action whenever we are able to help responsibly.
Helping people in need does not always require wealth. A person may be able to give food, clothing, time, transportation, encouragement, useful information, practical assistance, or support to a trustworthy organization helping others.
What This Looks Like Today
Faith should make us more aware of people around us. Ask God to show you where your resources, time, abilities, or influence can genuinely help someone in need.
4. Pray and Do Not Give Up
Jesus lived a life of prayer and taught His followers to remain persistent in seeking God.
“And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”
Luke 18:1 KJV
Prayer keeps believers dependent upon God instead of relying entirely upon their own wisdom and strength.
Jesus also taught that prayer should be sincere. Prayer is not a performance designed to make other people think we are spiritual. It is communication with God.
Persistent prayer does not mean attempting to pressure God. It means continuing to seek Him rather than abandoning faith when circumstances do not change immediately.
Prayer and Action Belong Together
We can pray for wisdom while studying a situation, pray for employment while submitting applications, pray for reconciliation while practicing humility, and pray for direction while obeying what Scripture has already made clear.
5. Forgive Others
Forgiveness is one of the clearest and most challenging teachings of Jesus.
“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:”
Matthew 6:14 KJV
Forgiveness does not mean pretending wrongdoing never occurred. It does not require calling evil good or repeatedly allowing someone to harm you.
Forgiveness means refusing to make bitterness and personal vengeance the ruler of your heart. Believers can forgive while still creating healthy boundaries, seeking accountability, reporting criminal behavior, or distancing themselves from dangerous situations.
Jesus' teaching on forgiveness reminds us that people who have received mercy from God should also become people who are willing to extend mercy.
What This Looks Like Today
Forgiveness may be a process, especially after serious hurt. Begin by refusing to feed hatred, surrendering vengeance to God, and asking Him to help your heart heal without compromising wisdom or personal safety.
6. Treat Others the Way You Want to Be Treated
Jesus gave a simple principle that can shape relationships, communication, leadership, ministry, business, and everyday decisions.
“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”
Matthew 7:12 KJV
This teaching requires believers to think beyond themselves. Before speaking or acting, we can ask whether we would want to be treated the same way.
Would we want someone to lie about us? Humiliate us publicly? Ignore us when we need help? Break their promises to us? Judge us unfairly? If not, Jesus teaches us to consider the same standard when dealing with others.
The Golden Rule encourages empathy and personal responsibility. It challenges believers to consider not only what they are legally permitted to do, but what reflects the character of Christ.
7. Do Not Live for the Praise of People
Jesus warned against doing spiritual things simply to be noticed, admired, or praised by others.
“Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.”
Matthew 6:1 KJV
A person can perform something that looks righteous outwardly while having the wrong motive inwardly.
Giving, praying, serving, preaching, worshiping, and helping others should come from sincere devotion rather than a constant desire for recognition.
This teaching remains especially important in a world where good deeds, personal achievements, religious activity, and even private moments can quickly become public content.
A Heart Check
Ask yourself: Would I still do this if nobody applauded me, reposted it, thanked me, or knew that I had done it?
8. Build Your Life on Obedience
Jesus compared the person who hears and obeys His words to someone who builds a house upon a rock.
“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:”
Matthew 7:24 KJV
Hearing Scripture is important, but Jesus places emphasis on doing what He taught.
A person can know many Bible verses, attend church regularly, listen to sermons, read Christian books, and still resist applying God's Word personally.
Obedience creates stability because it moves biblical truth from information into everyday life.
What This Looks Like Today
When Scripture exposes an attitude, habit, relationship pattern, or decision that needs to change, discipleship means responding instead of merely agreeing with the verse.
9. Deny Yourself and Follow Jesus
Discipleship requires surrender. Jesus never presented following Him as simply adding religion to an otherwise unchanged life.
“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
Matthew 16:24 KJV
Self-denial does not mean believing that we have no value. It means that our desires do not have greater authority than Christ.
Following Jesus will sometimes require saying no to something we personally want because it conflicts with God's Word or pulls our hearts away from Him.
Discipleship touches our relationships, ambitions, habits, priorities, entertainment, speech, use of money, treatment of others, and private decisions.
Following Jesus Costs Something
Christianity is not built around the question, “What do I want to do?” The deeper question is, “What does Christ require of me?”
10. Share the Gospel
Jesus commanded His followers to carry the message of salvation beyond themselves.
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”
Matthew 28:19 KJV
This command, commonly called the Great Commission, reminds believers that Christianity is not meant to stop with us.
Sharing the Gospel can happen through preaching, teaching, conversations, testimony, written resources, missions, ministry, online outreach, and personal relationships.
The goal is not simply to win arguments or force conversations. Christians are called to faithfully share the truth about Jesus Christ and help people understand what it means to become His disciples.
What This Looks Like Today
Be prepared to explain what you believe, point people toward Scripture, share what Christ has done in your life, and treat people with patience and respect while doing so.
Living What Jesus Taught
Following Jesus is not only about believing certain truths. Genuine discipleship affects how we live, speak, forgive, serve, pray, give, love, respond to conflict, and make decisions.
The teachings of Jesus are interconnected. Seeking God first affects our priorities. Loving others affects our relationships. Prayer keeps us dependent upon God. Forgiveness protects us from becoming consumed by bitterness. Obedience gives our faith a firm foundation. Evangelism turns our attention toward people who still need to hear the Gospel.
Christian growth does not mean instantly becoming perfect. It means continuing to submit our lives to Christ, allowing Scripture to correct us, and becoming increasingly willing to obey what God teaches.
Jesus Teaches His Followers To:
- Put God's Kingdom first.
- Love one another.
- Care for people in need.
- Remain faithful in prayer.
- Forgive others.
- Treat people with consideration and dignity.
- Serve God sincerely rather than seeking human praise.
- Build their lives upon obedience.
- Deny themselves and follow Christ.
- Share the Gospel with others.
The teachings of Jesus are not merely words to admire. They are truths believers are called to live.
Do Not Only Hear His Words
Live them.
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
John 14:15 KJV
The teachings of Jesus continue to guide believers into a life of faith, obedience, love, service, spiritual maturity, and a closer relationship with God.