Law or Commands?
“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””
In this final commissioning of his disciples, Jesus says to teach new followers to obey all of his commands. I know someone who has counted Jesus’ commands and he has found around 200 of them. Do these commands make up a new body of law that we must obey?
I have always found it interesting that the word ‘obey’ is sometimes translated ‘observe’ or ‘keep’. There appears to be some nuance to this. Might it be that the difference between laws and commands is our perception of them?
I think of laws in terms of restraint. Laws force us to do what the lawmaker wants done. Laws also keep us from harming one another. Laws are external and impersonal.
But commands seem to be more about organization. Assumed is a common vision, mission, and passion. Like plays on a football field, every player has the same objective but different assignments. Obeying/observing their assignment is essential to success. The same is true on a battlefield. A commanding officer gives orders, not to impose a moral code, but to accomplish a mission. “Here’s how we must work together.”
As followers of Jesus, we share vision, mission, and passion with Him. In some 200 ways, Jesus is showing us our role — the ways we must work together with Him to accomplish the mission. Jesus says: “A new commandment I give you: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, so also you are to love one another.” (John 13:34) He says the greatest commandment is: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40) Even the original Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) can be seen as externally applied laws, or as ways to participate with God as his people.
How do we perceive Jesus’ commands? As outsiders who see them as constraints — laws? Or as insiders who see them as gifts of shared vision, mission, and passion — assignments for participation? Obedience to (observance of) God’s commands isn’t optional, but our perception of them will change our disposition toward them.
