In the Bible, a “command” refers to a divine instruction or directive given by God, often intended to guide moral behavior and spiritual practice (e.g., the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20). These commands are seen as authoritative and binding, meant to be followed by believers as a demonstration of their faith and obedience to God.
Scripture
1 And God spoke all these words, saying,
2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
3 “You shall have no other gods before me.
4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me,
6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7 You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.
8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work,
10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates.
11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
13 “You shall not murder.”
14 “You shall not commit adultery.”
15 “You shall not steal.”
16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”
17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”
Biblical Definition of “Command”
The concept of a “command” in the Bible encompasses not only directives from God but also reflects His character and the nature of the relationship between Him and humanity. Commands are often viewed as expressions of divine love and wisdom, intended to direct believers toward a life of righteousness, harmony, and fulfillment. For instance, in Deuteronomy 10:12-13, it articulates that the Lord requires His people to “fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” This illustrates that commands are not simply rules to be obeyed; they encapsulate a holistic approach to living in accordance with God’s will, fostering not only individual moral behavior but also communal responsibility.
Moreover, in the New Testament, the significance of commands evolves into a fulfillment of the law through love, as underscored in John 14:15 where Jesus states, “If you love me, keep my commands.” Here, the emphasis shifts from mere adherence to a set of guidelines to a relational aspect of obedience rooted in love and faith. This transformative understanding indicates that commands are not just about duty but are pathways to deeper intimacy with God and expressions of a believer’s faith in action. The apostle Paul echoes this sentiment in Romans 13:10, where he asserts that “Love is the fulfillment of the law.” In essence, biblical commands guide believers toward a life that reflects God’s heart, promotes justice, and nurtures communal well-being.
Throughout the biblical narrative, the concept of a “command” also engages with the themes of authority and covenant. In various instances, commands serve as part of the covenantal agreements between God and His people, establishing expectations and privileges. For instance, the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai signifies a profound moment where God outlines His commands to the Israelites, which not only delineates moral and ethical standards but also solidifies their identity as His chosen people. This framework underscores that commandments are fundamentally tied to God’s sovereignty; they are not arbitrary edicts but rather integral to the identity and destiny of the community that follows them.
Additionally, the emphasis on the heart and inward disposition in relation to commands reflects a dynamic relationship between divine expectations and personal transformation. Prophets such as Jeremiah articulate this profound understanding, where the promise of a new covenant suggests a shift from external compliance to internal motivation. Commands are depicted less as burdensome impositions and more as expressions of a heart aligned with God’s desires. This underlines the biblical vision of obedience as a nuanced dance between divine command and human response, urging believers to seek a deep-rooted commitment that transcends mere rule-following toward becoming agents of God’s love and purpose in the world. Thus, the exploration of commands in scripture is intricately woven into the theological threads of grace, justice, and the transformative power of divine love in the believer’s life.
Divine Authority and Sovereignty
In the biblical context, a “command” often signifies the authority of God over creation and humanity. It reflects the belief that God’s will is supreme and must be followed. Commands are seen as expressions of divine sovereignty, where adherence to these commands is not merely a matter of obedience but a recognition of God’s ultimate power and wisdom. This understanding emphasizes the relationship between the Creator and His creation, highlighting the importance of submission to divine authority.
Moral and Ethical Guidance
Commands in the Bible also serve as moral and ethical guidelines for human behavior. They are intended to instruct individuals on how to live righteously and justly, promoting a society that reflects God’s character. These commands often encompass principles of love, justice, and integrity, guiding believers in their interactions with others. This aspect underscores the role of biblical commands in shaping moral consciousness and fostering community values.
Covenant Relationship
Another significant meaning of “command” in the Bible relates to the covenant relationship between God and His people. Commands are often seen as stipulations within a covenant, outlining the expectations and responsibilities of both parties. In this context, following God’s commands is a way to maintain the covenant relationship, demonstrating faithfulness and commitment. This understanding highlights the relational aspect of biblical commands, where obedience is not just about rules but about nurturing a deeper connection with God.
How to Strengthen Faith through Divine Guidance and Morality
Strengthening your faith is a deeply personal journey, and one of the most profound ways to do this is by seeking divine guidance through prayer and scripture. When you immerse yourself in the Word of God, you not only gain wisdom but also a clearer understanding of His will for your life. Reflecting on passages that speak to morality—like the Sermon on the Mount—can help you align your actions with Christ’s teachings, fostering a sense of purpose and direction. Remember, faith is not just about belief; it’s about living out that belief in your daily choices. Surround yourself with a community of fellow believers who can encourage you and hold you accountable, and don’t hesitate to ask God for clarity in moments of doubt. As you strive to embody His teachings, you’ll find that your faith grows stronger, rooted in the love and guidance that only He can provide.
Bible References to the Definition of “Command”:
Deuteronomy 5:6-21: 6 “‘I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
7 “‘You shall have no other gods before me.
8 “‘You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
9 You shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,
10 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
11 You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.
12 “‘Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you.
13 Six days you shall labor and do all your work,
14 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter or your male servant or your female servant, or your ox or your donkey or any of your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates, that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you.
15 You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm.
16 “‘Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
17 “‘You shall not murder.
18 And you shall not commit adultery.
19 And you shall not steal.
20 ‘You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
21 And you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. And you shall not desire your neighbor’s house, his field, or his male servant, or his female servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.
Joshua 1:7-9: 7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.
8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Psalm 119:1-8: 1 Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord!
2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart.
3 They do not walk in the way of the wicked.
4 You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently.
5 Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes!
6 Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
7 I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous rules.
8 I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me!
Proverbs 6:20-23: 20 My son, keep your father’s commandment,
and forsake not your mother’s teaching.
21 Bind them on your heart always;
tie them around your neck.
22 When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you.
23 For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,
Matthew 22:36-40: 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”
37 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.”
38 This is the great and first commandment.
39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.
John 14:15-21: 15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,
17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”
19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.
20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.
21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.
John 15:9-17: 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.
10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.
11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”
13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.
15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
Romans 13:8-10: 8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
1 Corinthians 7:10-11: 10 To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband.
11 (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.
1 John 2:3-6: 3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.
4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,
5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:
6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
1 John 3:21-24: 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God;
22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
23 And 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.
24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
1 John 5:1-3: 1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.
2 John 1:4-6: 4 I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father.
5 And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another.
6 And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.
Reverend Ogunlade is a seasoned Church Minister with over three decades of experience in guiding and nurturing congregations. With profound wisdom and a serene approach, Reverend Ogunlade has carried out various pastoral duties, including delivering uplifting sermons, conducting religious ceremonies, and offering sage counsel to individuals seeking spiritual guidance. Their commitment to fostering harmony and righteousness within their community is exemplified through their compassionate nature, making them a beloved and trusted figure among the congregation.