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 24 we studied part 2 of “The Commandments of Jesus.” Now we are going to dive into part 3.
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.
Follow Jesus.
Matthew 4:19 (NIV) “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” (Mark 1:17)
Matthew 8:18-22 When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. 19 Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 20 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” 21 Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 22 But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”
Matthew 19:28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
John 8:12 Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 10:26-27 But because you are not My sheep, you refuse to believe. 27 My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.
John 12:26 If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, My servant will be as well. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.
Forgive those who sin against you.
Matthew 6:14-15 (NIV) For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Matthew 18:21-22 (NLT) Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” 22 “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!
Matthew 18:32-35 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
Luke 6:37 Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Luke 17:4 (NIV) Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”
Gather with others and pray in the name of Jesus.
Matthew 18:19-20 Again, I tell you truly that if two of you on the earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather together in My name, there am I with them.”
Give sacrificially and generously to the Lord.
Mark 12:41-44 As Jesus was sitting opposite the treasury, He watched the crowd putting money into it. And many rich people put in large amounts. 42 Then one poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amounted to a small fraction of a denarius. 43 Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more than all the others into the treasury. 44 For they all contributed out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.” (Luke 21:1-4)
Give to everyone who asks you.
Luke 6:30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what is yours, do not demand it back.
Give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow Jesus.
Luke 9:23-24 (NLT) Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. 24 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. (Matthew 10:38, Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34)
Give up everything and be completely committed to Jesus.
Luke 14:31-33 “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.
Go and bear fruit that will remain, pray in Jesus’ name, and love one another.
John 15:16-17 You did not choose Me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will remain—so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you. 17 This is My command to you: Love one another.
Go and sin no more.
John 8:10-11 Then Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?” 11 “No one, Lord,” she answered. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Now go and sin no more.”
Go into all the world and preach the gospel.
Mark 16:15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark 13:10)
Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be p reached in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
Go the second mile. When you are mistreated, respond with generosity and kindness.
Matthew 5:41 (NIV) If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.
Gouge out or cut off whatever causes you to sin. This is not promoting self-mutilation, but rather taking radical measures to maintain purity and prevent the serious consequences of sin.
Matthew 5:29-30 If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to depart into hell. (Mark 9:43-48, Matthew 18:8-9)
Guard yourselves against every form of greed.
Luke 12:15 And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.”
Hate your life in this world and lose it for Jesus and the gospel. Have an eternal perspective.
John 12:25 (NIV) Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. (Matthew 10:39, Luke 9:24, Matthew 16:25)
Mark 8:35 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.
Have faith and believe.
Matthew 15:28 “O woman,” Jesus answered, “your faith is great! Let it be done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
Matthew 17:19-20 Afterward the disciples came to Jesus privately and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 20 “Because you have so little faith,” He answered. “For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Luke 17:6, Matthew 21:21-22, Mark 11:22-24)
Mark 9:23 “If You can?” echoed Jesus. “All things are possible to him who believes!”
Matthew 21:22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” (Mark 11:24)
Have peace in Jesus, take courage, be of good cheer, because Jesus has overcome the world.
John 16:33 I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!”
Have salt among yourselves and be at peace with one another. Know that you will go through spiritual refinement when you follow Jesus.
Mark 9:49-50 For everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good, but if the salt loses its saltiness, with what will you season it? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
Hear Jesus' voice, open the door, and spend time with Him.
Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me.
Hear the word of God, cling to it, understand it, carry it out, and produce a crop.
Matthew 7:24-25 Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because its foundation was on the rock.
Matthew 11:15 He who has ears, let him hear. (Mark 4:23, Mark 7:16, Matthew 13:9, Matthew 13:43, Luke 14:35)
Luke 8:21 But He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear the word of God and carry it out.” (Mark 3:35)
Luke 8:15 But the seeds on good soil are those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, cling to it, and by persevering produce a crop.
Luke 11:28 But He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
Mark 4:20 Still others are like the seeds sown on good soil. They hear the word, receive it, and produce a crop—thirtyfold, sixtyfold, or a hundredfold.” (Matthew 13:23)
Help sinners turn to the Lord. This will bring great joy to God.
Luke 15:8-10 Or what woman who has ten silver coins and loses one of them does not light a lamp, sweep her house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls together her friends and neighbors to say, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”
Honor the Son of God.
John 5:22-23 Furthermore, the Father judges no one, but has assigned all judgment to the Son, 23 so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
Honor your father and mother.
Matthew 15:4 For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’
Honor marriage. Respect and preserve the unity that God has established in marriage.
Matthew 19:4-6 Jesus answered, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? 6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.” (Mark 10:5-9) (Mark 10:5-12)
Luke 16:18 Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Humble yourself before the lord.
Matthew 23:11-12 The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Luke 14:7-11 When Jesus noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, He told them a parable: 8 “When you are invited to a wedding banquet, do not sit in the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited. 9 Then the host who invited both of you will come and tell you, ‘Give this man your seat.’ And in humiliation, you will have to take the last place. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit in the last place, so that your host will come and tell you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in front of everyone at the table with you. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Hunger and thirst for righteousness.
Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. (Luke 6:21)
If another believer sins against you, go privately to them, and point out the offense. If they don’t listen bring one or two others to discuss the offense. Then, take your case to the church.
Matthew 18:15-17 (NLT) “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. 16 But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. 17 If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.
Invite people to the wedding banquet. In order words, invite people to have a relationship with Jesus.
Matthew 22:9 Go therefore to the crossroads and invite to the banquet as many as you can find.’
Keep Jesus' commandments. Keep Jesus' word. Obey His teaching. Repent.
John 8:51 (NIV) Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.”
John 14:15 If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
John 14:21 (NIV) Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him.”
John 14:23-24 (NIV) Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
John 17:6-8 I have revealed Your name to those You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours; You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. 7 Now they know that everything You have given Me comes from You. 8 For I have given them the words You gave Me, and they have received them. They knew with certainty that I came from You, and they believed that You sent Me.
Revelation 3:3 Remember, then, what you have received and heard. Keep it and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know the hour when I will come upon you.
Keep watch, be on guard, stay alert, pray for strength to escape, and be ready for the Lord's return.
Matthew 24:42-44 Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the homeowner had known in which watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 For this reason, you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect. (Luke 12:40)
Mark 13:32-37 No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on your guard and stay alert! For you do not know when the appointed time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey who left his house, put each servant in charge of his own task, and instructed the doorkeeper to keep watch. 35 Therefore keep watch, because you do not know when the master of the house will return—whether in the evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or in the morning. 36 Otherwise, he may arrive without notice and find you sleeping. 37 And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Keep watch!”
Luke 12:35-38 Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning. 36 Then you will be like servants waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds on watch when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve and will have them recline at the table, and he himself will come and wait on them. 38 Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night and finds them alert, those servants will be blessed.
Luke 21:34-36 But watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life—and that day will spring upon you suddenly like a snare. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of all the earth. 36 So keep watch at all times, and pray that you may have the strength to escape all that is about to happen and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Know the scriptures and the power of God.
Matthew 22:29 Jesus answered, “You are mistaken because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. (Mark 12:24)
Learn what this means, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.”
Matthew 9:13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 12:7)
Learn from Jesus.
Matthew 11:28-30 Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Learn the lesson of the fig tree. Recognize the signs of His second coming and be ready.
Matthew 24:32-35 Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branches become tender and sprout leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you will know that He is near, right at the door. 34 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away. (Luke 21:29-33)
Let God's Word sanctify you and be set apart from the world.
John 17:15-19 I am not asking that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I have also sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify Myself, so that they too may be sanctified by the truth.
Let Jesus lead you and become more and more like Him.
Luke 6:39-40 Jesus also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.
Let little children come to Jesus and do not hinder them. Receive the kingdom of God like a little child.
Mark 10:13-16 Now people were bringing the little children to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them, and the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and told them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And He took the children in His arms, placed His hands on them, and blessed them. (Matthew 19:14, Luke 9:48)
Let the Spirit of Truth guide you into all truth.
John 16:13-15 However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you. 15 Everything that belongs to the Father is Mine. That is why I said that the Spirit will take from what is Mine and disclose it to you.
Let your light shine before others. Do not hide your faith in God. Live in a way that reflects the commandments of Jesus and brings glory to God.
Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV) “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Luke 8:16-17)
Let your 'Yes' be 'Yes' and your 'No,' 'No.’ Keep your word. Have integrity and honesty with your speech.
Matthew 5:37 Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ Anything more comes from the evil one.
Listen to the voice of Jesus.
John 18:37 “Then You are a king!” Pilate said. “You say that I am a king,” Jesus answered. “For this reason I was born and have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to My voice.”
Look at the birds of the air. Trust that your heavenly Father will take care of you.
Matthew 6:26 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?
Lose your life for Jesus' sake. Surrender your life to Jesus and prioritize your commitment to Him above all else.
Matthew 10:39 (NIV) Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. (Matthew 16:25, Mark 8:35, Luke 9:24, Luke 17:33, John 12:25)
Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind.
Matthew 22:37 Jesus declared, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. (Mark 12:30, Luke 10:27)
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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.
If you have any prayer requests or praise reports, please share them in the comments. Also, please share a comment about what God is teaching you, any questions you have, or how you have been encouraged by the lesson.
Thank you and God bless you!
~ Jeff M Newman
(Photo by Samuel Ferrara on Unsplash. Weisshorn, Randa, Switzerland. Berean Study Bible.)
Lesson 25 - The Commandments of Jesus - Part 3