Devotion: “Teach All That I Have Commanded You”
Scripture Reading:
“Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.”
— Matthew 28:20 (RSV)
Personal Reflection:
Jesus didn’t simply say, “Teach them some things,” or “Teach what’s convenient.” He said, “Teach them to observe all that I have commanded you.” That’s a bold, all-encompassing statement. And to understand it rightly, we must see Jesus through the lens of His Jewish heritage—as a Rabbi speaking to Jewish disciples, rooted in the Torah, the Prophets, and the writings.
He wasn’t discarding the Law of Moses—He was rightly interpreting it. As we’ve seen in Matthew 5:17, Jesus didn’t come to abolishthe Law but to fulfill it. In Jewish thought, to “abolish the Law” meant to misinterpret it, and to “fulfill” it meant to teach it properlyand live it out faithfully.
So, when Jesus said to teach everything He commanded, He meant to teach the life He modeled and explained: a life of loving God wholeheartedly and loving others sacrificially—not only in action but in motive. It’s not just about external obedience, but internal transformation. This is the Way of Jesus—the way of the Kingdom.
“The whole sermon on the mount is nothing but a commentary upon the law written in the hearts of all.” – John Wesley
Contemplation:
Are you living the life Jesus taught—not just on the outside, but from the heart?
We are commanded to love God with all our heart (our emotions, mind, and will), soul(our daily, moment-by-moment life), and strength (our energy and effort). That doesn’t leave much room for passivity or half-hearted faith. And then He calls us to love others the way He has loved us—sacrificially, unconditionally, truthfully.
That’s not easy. But it is possible when we abide in Him. The teachings of Jesus were not a new religion—they were a clarificationof what God had always desired: obedience from the heart, expressed through a life of love, justice, mercy, and truth.
“To follow Jesus means to follow His way of life. He didn’t just teach commandments; He embodied them.” — Anonymous
Prayer:
Lord Jesus,
Thank You for not only commanding us, but showing us how to live through Your perfect example. Thank You that You didn’t abolish God’s law but fulfilled it in love, truth, and sacrifice. Help me to teach others—not just with words, but with my life.
Give me a heart that longs to obey You in everything. Let my soul be aligned with Your Word, and let my strength be used to walk out Your truth daily. Help me not just to knowwhat You commanded, but to observe it in action.
Lord, today I commit again to be Your disciple—to follow the Way, the Truth, and the Life. You’ve given me the gift of another day; I give it back to You in obedience. Strengthen me by Your Spirit to “just do it.”
In Your name I pray,
Amen.
Today’s Challenge:
Pick one command of Jesus—perhaps from the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7)—and meditate on it. Ask God how you can observe it, not just understand it. Then take one specific step today to walk it out. Let your life teach His truth.
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