Welcome back to the Hope Bible School verse-by-verse Bible study of 1 John. This is Jeff M Newman. Get a new lesson every other week on Monday at 12:00 PM Eastern.
In Lesson 23 we studied part 1 of “The Commandments of Jesus.” Now we are going to dive into part 2.
I encourage you to listen to the lessons over and over again.
Study the commandments of Jesus in depth.
Ask God to help you to understand the commandments and to give you the strength to obey them.
Let’s begin.
Be willing to make personal sacrifices for Jesus.
Matthew 19:29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for the sake of My name will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. (Mark 10:29-31)
Change yourself and become like little children. Approach God with childlike humility, trust, and openness
Matthew 18:2-4 Jesus invited a little child to stand among them. 3 “Truly I tell you,” He said, “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Mark 10:15)
Come to Jesus and believe in Him.
John 6:35 Jesus answered, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst.
John 7:37-38 On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.’ ”
Come to Jesus if you are weary and burdened.
Matthew 11:28 Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Come to the Father through Jesus.
John 14:6-7 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 7 If you had known Me, you would know My Father as well. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.”
Come to the wedding banquet. God is inviting you to experience abundant blessings that He has prepared for you.
Matthew 22:4 Again, he sent other servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner. My oxen and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’
Consider how the lilies of the field grow. Don’t worry about clothes or material possessions. God will provide for you.
Matthew 6:28 And why do you worry about clothes? Consider how the lilies of the field grow: They do not labor or spin.
Continue in Jesus' word, live according to it, and be set free.
John 8:30-32 As Jesus spoke these things, many believed in Him. 31 So He said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Count the cost of following Jesus. Understand that you will have to give up everything to become His disciple.
Luke 14:28-33 (NLT) “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? 29 Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. 30 They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’ 31 “Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him? 32 And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away. 33 So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.
Do good on the Sabbath.
Matthew 12:12 How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” (Luke 13:15-16, Luke 14:3)
Don't abandon your first love. Repent and do what you did when you first believed in Jesus.
Revelation 2:4-5 But I have this against you: You have abandoned your first love. 5 Therefore, keep in mind how far you have fallen. Repent and perform the deeds you did at first. But if you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
Don't cause the little ones who believe in Jesus to stumble. Examine your actions and avoid behaviors or attitudes that could hinder the spiritual journey of another.
Matthew 18:6 But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. (Mark 9:42, Luke 17:2)
Don't be angry with a brother or sister or call them a fool. Control your anger.
Matthew 5:22 (NIV) But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
Don't be alarmed by wars and rumors of wars. Trust in God’s plan for the end times. Trust that He is in control.
Mark 13:7 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come. (Luke 21:9, Matthew 24:6, Mark 13:7)
Don't be a hypocrite, judge yourself first, before judging others.
Matthew 7:1-5 “Do not judge so that you will not be judged. 2 “For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. 3 “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 “Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? 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. (Luke 6:37-42)
Don't be ashamed of Jesus and His words.
Mark 8:38 (NIV) If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” (Luke 9:26)
Don't be deceived by people claiming to be Jesus. Be discerning and rely on the scriptures
Luke 21:8 Jesus answered, “See to it that you are not deceived. For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. (Matthew 24:5, Mark 13:6)
Don't be lukewarm. Have a wholehearted devotion to Christ.
Revelation 3:15-16 I know your deeds; you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were one or the other! 16 So because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to vomit you out of My mouth!
Don't blaspheme against the Holy Spirit. Recognize and respond to the work of the Holy Spirit in your life.
Mark 3:28-29 Truly I tell you, the sons of men will be forgiven all sins and blasphemies, as many as they utter. 29 But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of eternal sin.”(Luke 12:10, Matthew 12:31)
Don't disregard the commandment of God to keep the commandment of men. Don’t replace true devotion to God with external rituals and traditions
Mark 7:5-8 So the Pharisees and scribes questioned Jesus: “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders? Instead, they eat with defiled hands.” 6 Jesus answered them, “Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. 7 They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’ 8 You have disregarded the commandment of God to keep the tradition of men.”
Don't do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others. Do your good deeds for God alone and for His approval above all else.
Matthew 6:1 (NLT) Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven.
Don't fall away. Remain steadfast even when you experience difficult circumstances or have doubts.
Matthew 11:4-6 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. 6 Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me.” (Luke 7:32)
John 16:1 “I have told you these things so that you will not fall away.
Don't forfeit your soul. Prioritize your eternal relationship with God over worldly possessions and pursuits.
Mark 8:36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?
Don't hold to the teachings of Balam, the Nicolaitans, or Jezebel. These teachings encourage you to compromise your faith and commit sexual immortality. If you do, repent and follow the teachings of Christ.
Revelation 2:14-16 But I have a few things against you, because some of you hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block before the Israelites so they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality. 15 In the same way, some of you also hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent! Otherwise I will come to you shortly and wage war against them with the sword of My mouth.
Revelation 2:20 But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads My servants to be sexually immoral and to eat food sacrificed to idols. 21 Even though I have given her time to repent of her immorality, she is unwilling.
Don’t judge others and don’t condemn. But forgiving and be generous.
Luke 6:37-38 Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.
Don't let your heart be troubled. Don’t be afraid. Find peace in Jesus.
John 14:1-4 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe in Me as well. 2 In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.
Don't look back. Have an unwavering commitment to Christ. Don’t turn back to your old ways.
Luke 9:62 (NIV) Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
Don't look down on any of these little ones. Treat all believers with respect and love, especially those that are vulnerable and young in their faith.
Matthew 18:10 See that you do not look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of My Father in heaven.
Don't look lustfully at women and commit adultery in your heart. Be pure in your actions, thoughts, and desires.
Matthew 5:27-28 You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Don't practice your righteousness in front others in order to be seen by them. Focus on pleasing God rather than seeking recognition from others.
Matthew 6:1-4 Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 So when you give to the needy, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Don't remain in darkness. Come out of the darkness and into the light through faith in Christ.
John 12:46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should remain in darkness.
Don't resist an evil person or retaliate. Turn the other cheek. Respond to evil with love, mercy, forgiveness, and reconciliation.
Matthew 5:38-39 You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also; (Luke 6:29-30)
Don't serve both God and money. Prioritize your commitment to God’s kingdom.
Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. (Luke 16:13)
Don't store up for yourselves treasures on earth. Store up treasures in heaven.
Matthew 6:19-21 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Luke 12:13-21)
Luke 12:32-34 Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves with purses that will not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Don't swear at all. Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes',’ and your ‘No’, ‘No.’ Keep your word. Be truthful and have integrity with your words.
Matthew 5:33-37 Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ 34 But I tell you not to swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 Nor should you swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. 37 Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ Anything more comes from the evil one.
Don't give holy things to dogs. Don't throw your pearls before swine. Invest your time and energy with people that are receptive to God’s teachings.
Matthew 7:6 Do not give dogs what is holy; do not throw your pearls before swine. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.
Don't murder, commit adultery, steal, or bear false witness. Honor your father and mother and love your neighbor as yourself.
Matthew 19:18 “Which ones?” the man asked. Jesus answered, “ ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, 19 honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Don't practice lawlessness. Live a righteous life. Align your life with God’s will.
Matthew 13:41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will weed out of His kingdom every cause of sin and all who practice lawlessness.
Don't test the Lord. Trust in God’s provision and faithfulness.
Luke 4:12 But Jesus answered, “It also says, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Don't think that Jesus came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. He came to bring to completion and fulfill the requirements of the law and the prophecies concerning the Messiah.
Matthew 5:17-18 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. 18 For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
Don't turn the Father's house into a marketplace. Don’t misuse God’s house and prioritize material gain over spiritual devotion.
John 2:16 To those selling doves He said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn My Father’s house into a marketplace!”
Don't worry about your life, about what you will eat or drink, about your body, about what you will wear, or about what will happen tomorrow. Prioritize God’s kingdom and righteousness. Trust that He will provide for you.
Matthew 6:25-34 Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns—and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 28 And why do you worry about clothes? Consider how the lilies of the field grow: They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own. (Luke 12:22-31)
Don't be worried and upset about many things, instead sit at the Lord's feet and listen to Him.
Luke 10:38-42 As they traveled along, Jesus entered a village where a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. 39 She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to His message. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations to be made. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me!” 41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord replied, “you are worried and upset about many things. 42 But only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Don't worry about tomorrow. Live in the moment and trust in God’s provision.
Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.
Don't worry what you will say if you are arrested for proclaiming the kingdom of heaven. Trust in the Holy Spirit's guidance and presence when facing difficult situations or persecution.
Matthew 10:19-20 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Do the will of the Father.
John 4:34 Jesus explained, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.
Matthew 7:21-23 (NIV) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Matthew 12:50 For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”
Do the works Jesus does.
John 14:12 Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I am doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Matthew 7:9-12 (NIV) “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. (Luke 6:31)
Drink the living water Jesus offers.
John 4:13-14 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again. 14 But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life.”
John 7:37-38 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”
Eat the bread of life.
John 6:47-51 Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. 50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
Enter through the narrow gate that leads to life.
Matthew 7:13-14 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.
John 10:6-10 Jesus spoke to them using this illustration, but they did not understand what He was telling them. 7 So He said to them again, “Truly, truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before Me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate. If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness.
Fast secretly. Don’t do outward spiritual activities in order in order to seek attention and praise of others.
Matthew 6:16-18 When you fast, do not be somber like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that your fasting will not be obvious to men, but only to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Fear God and not man.
Matthew 10:28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. (Luke 12:5)
Feed Jesus’ lambs. Shepherd His sheep.
John 21:15-16 When they had finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus replied, “Feed My lambs.” 16 Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus told him, “Shepherd My sheep.”
Feed the hungry, cloth the naked, give a drink to those who are thirsty, take in a stranger, visit the sick, and visit those in prison.
Matthew 25:31-46 When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in, 36 I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 When did we see You sick or in prison and visit You?’ 40 And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’ 41 Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, I was naked and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ 44 And they too will reply, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 Then the King will answer, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me.’ 46 And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
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Listen to these lessons over and over again. Let God’s Word penetrate you deeply, do what God is asking you to do, and help others to obey His will.
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Thank you and God bless you!
~ Jeff M Newman
(Photo by Ramon Kagie on Unsplash. St. Maarten. Berean Study Bible.)
Lesson 24 - The Commandments of Jesus - Part 2