“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.” – Deuteronomy 6: 6-7

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In my regular reading/study of God’s written Word, I encounter words or phrases that pester me, like an annoying gnat buzzing around my head. Typically, I’ll swipe at them and move on. At some point, though, I’ll need to pull out the fly swatter.

Question: Is it pestering me because I just don’t like it, or because it’s begging me to take a closer look? Perhaps both. In this case, the troublesome word is Command.

As a Christian and a believer in an all-powerful, perfectly righteous God, why would I find His commands troublesome? Easy enough. Maybe it’s because, as a rebellious, self-righteous, sinful creature, I don’t like being commanded what to do.

But that’s not where it starts. Some form of the word “command” appears over 130 times in the New Testament. Some studies identify Jesus as giving over 300 commands recorded in the Gospels. In Greek, about 25 words are translated in various New Testament Bible translations as some form of Command.

Is this what we should expect in a relationship with the living God that it would all be about us being ordered around and obeying commands?

Jesus’ Use of Command

As someone who has spent some time looking closely at Jesus’s character, I have struggled to imagine Him being so dominant, controlling and dictatorial. Certainly, he operated with Kingdom authority – commanding storms to cease and demons to depart.

However, given Jesus’s character, I am not sure the translation from the Greek to Command is always accurate. When He is teaching or directing others, the word command does not always seem to fit. When Jesus addresses his disciples, the crowds, or those being healed, is he really like General Patton barking out orders and commanding His troops?

For instance, take a look at Matthew 15:35 (NKJV), “So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.” The Greek here for Commanded is Parangeilas – meaning to notify, command, charge, entreat solemnly. So, the use of “Command” is a reasonable translation. But, in context, it doesn’t seem quite right.

My wife is Greek, and we recently attended a large birthday party for her cousin, Maria. At one point the Greek priest got up to say a few kind words about her. People were mulling around and chatting so he called out, “Kátse káto! Kátse káto!” meaning “Sit down.” The priest did not command everyone to sit down. He “charged”, “entreated”, or “asked,” everyone to “sit down.” Given Jesus’ character, I believe that it’s unlikely Jesus ordered everyone to sit down, but much like the Greek priest he urged everyone to sit and listen.

(Kátse káto is a Greek expression we use when our young kids (now Grandkids) are out of their chairs at dinner time – “Kátse káto!” The kids laugh and repeat it back in their best Japanese accent)

This is just an example of what I see as an overuse of the Greek translations as Command. Did Jesus really demand that the people sit? Charging or entreating the people to sit seems more likely.

Or, in Matthew 8:18, “And when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side.” The Greek word used here is Ekeleusen, meaning to command, order, direct, and bid – from a primary kello, meaning ‘hail’; to incite by word or order. Once again, the use of command is a fair translation but does it fit in context with Jesus’ character? Did Jesus really order his Disciples around like that? I’m guessing it was more of a bidding or direction like, “Come on. Let’s go.”

Did Jesus Order People Around?

Jesus led by love and the Word of God. It was the Holy Spirit shining through Him that compelled those to follow Him not by heavy-handed authority. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Jesus acknowledges all authority was given to him (Matthew 28:18), but he acted on it by humble obedience displaying the full Fruit of the Spirit.

What about the Ten Commandments?

Perhaps the clearest use of “Command” in the New Testament is the reference to God’s original Commandments. In John 15:10-12 Jesus says, “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. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

Jesus refers to His Father’s Commandments saying His commandments are the same as His Father’s. He then gives what I see as His one additional “Commandment.” In other words, He is saying, You know my Father’s Commandments, now this is my Commandment.”

The Greek used here for commandments is Entolē, meaning an ordinance, injunction, command, or law. It comes from entellomai, meaning an Authoritative Prescription. I really love that definition! I’ll come back to this later.

What about the Great Command? Err, I Mean the Great Commission?

Matthew 28:18-20 says, “Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” The Greek word used here is Eneteilamēn: To give orders (injunctions, instructions, commands)

This is well known as the Great Commission but very often what Jesus “Commissioned” the Disciples to do is referred to as Commands. Yet, Jesus was called “Rabbi” by both His Disciples and His opponents. In reading the four Gospels, one sees that the main function of His ministry beyond Salvation was to teach. The Rabbi in Jesus’ day did not command his students he taught/instructed them. Based on Jesus’ character and the relationship he had with the Apostles, Instructions or Charges would seem more accurate than Commands.

Command Vs Charge?

It is interesting to note how often people take The Great Commission and start talking about Jesus’ Commands. A Commission is a Charge. There is a distinction to be made between Commands and Charges. The difference between Charge and Command is significant. While both words imply authority, they have different connotations and are used in different contexts.

When someone is commissioned into Christian service by a church community, we are agreeing with God’s calling/charge to the ministry, recognizing their adequate preparation for the ministry and committing our support. We are not commanding/ordering them to go.

Both Charge and Command imply authority, but charge is more associated with giving instructions, while command is more associated with having control or power over something or someone. It is important to consider the context when making the translation.

What’s the Point?

The point is that I hear many Bible teachers and preachers referring to Jesus and New Testament writers as giving Commands to their audience when there may be something else going on.

So, it is my humble opinion that some of the New Testament translations and descriptions of New Testament instruction by Bible teachers and preachers are not always accurate when referring to them as Commands.

In some cases, the use of “Command” devalues the free will and grace elements of God’s love. It seems to me that the use of “Command” makes it almost easier to authoritatively order people around rather than implore them while taking the time to explain why it is good, right, and true to follow God’s instruction.

More often, in the epistles, the accurate tone of these charges seems more in line with the posture of begging. These directives come from love, not coercion. The use of Command comes across to me as a cudgel and a threat. I don’t believe that is the tone intended in many cases.

How Did the New Testament Writers Most Often Address Their Audience?

Most often the New Testament writers exhorted, implored, beseeched, pleaded, begged and urged as well as corrected and rebuked the readers of their letters to faithfulness and obedience. These humble leaders knew they could not browbeat and strong-arm the saints into obedience. Their example as Christ imitators was to plead with them to follow their example by the power of the Holy Spirit. (At the end of this post are samples of these scripture pleadings)

An Authoritative Prescription

But what about 1 Corinthians 14:37, where Paul writes, “If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments (Entolē) of the Lord?” Is this not proof that we are being commanded to follow these instructions?

As mentioned before, the word Entolē comes from Entellomai, meaning an injunction or an authoritative prescription. This would be something like an expert doctor prescribing a treatment. The doctor knows what is good for you and necessary to save your life but cannot order you to take it. Yet, if you don’t, you will die.

I am not a Greek language expert, but if these translations of the Greek “Command” are accurate, then the commands are not just to dictate and force God’s will upon us but because the boundaries are being set for our own good and welfare. They are established as an expression/demonstration of His perfect love for us. Now, we can fully love God because, through Jesus, He demonstrated how He first loved us. 1 John 4:19, “We love Him because He first loved us.”

Not only that, but in the middle of the John 5:10-12 verses about the commandments Jesus says in verse 11, “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” Wow! His words and commands/instructions are about His joy being our joy! They are not intended to burden us but to set us free.

God Has Every Right to Command Us

God, as the Supreme Being and Creator of all that is good, has every right to order His creation to do His bidding. Perhaps the use of “Command” is correct more often than I think. In some ways, I wish it was. How often have I wished God would just command me to do something I keep failing at? “God, just make me do it!” The fact is He doesn’t.

As an example, when Jesus walked on water it says in Matthew 14:28, “And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command(keleuson) me to come to You on the water.” But, in verse 29, what does Jesus do? He simply says, “Come”(Elthe). Peter wanted Jesus to compel/order him to come, but Jesus did not force him. It was up to Peter to take the step of faith. God’s design is for us to be co-laborers in our life on earth. Why? That we might share this life in a deep, working relationship with the Living God.

1 Corinthians 3:9 – “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.”

Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

Once again, I could be wrong, but I’m not sure that the use of “Command” is always the spirit of God’s word. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 confirms the purpose of recorded scripture with no reference to it being something that we are being ordered to do. It says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction (training, discipline) in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” It is not just about being ordered to do His bidding.

Don’t get me wrong, if God orders, “Jump!” our only question should be, “How high?” God can just order us around, and we should simply comply. But God’s desire is for His love to compel us to grow in our relationship with Him to become the finished work of Jesus Christ (James 1:4, “. . . that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”)

So, what compels us to follow Jesus’ instructions? 2 Corinthians 5:14 says, “For the love of Christ compels us.” And what is required of us? Micah 6:8 says, “He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require (seek/ask) of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?”

Our Chief Priest

Is Jesus our Commander in Chief? No. He is our Chief Priest who sits on the throne of grace. He is described in Hebrews 4:14-16: “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Without dictating and commanding, Paul sums up the Christ-like approach to addressing the brethren so well in Colossians 1:9-10, “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;”

As I write this today, it is Greek Easter, so I proclaim, Christos Anesti! Alēthōs Anëstē! – Jesus our Great High Priest, the Son of God is alive!

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Just a sample of Epistle Pleadings:

• Romans 12:1 – I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
• 1 Corinthians 4:16 – Therefore I urge you, imitate me.
• 2 Corinthians 8:4 – imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
• Philippians 4:2 – I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.
• 1 Peter 2:11 – Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,
• 1 Thessalonians 4:1 – Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God;
• 1 Timothy 6:13 – I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate,
• Titus 3:14 – And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.
• Hebrews 13:19 – But I especially urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.
• Romans 12:8 – he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
• 2 Corinthians 9:5 – “Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren . . .”
• 1 Thessalonians 4:1 – Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God;
• 2 Timothy 4:2 – Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
• Titus 2:15 – Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.
• Jude 1:3 – . . . I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.