Teaching All the King's Laws
The Great Commission Imperative as Key to Human Flourishing
In an era where selective interpretation of the Bible often prevails, the call of King Jesus to embrace the entirety of his teachings stands as a timeless imperative, a prerequisite for true human flourishing. Towards the end of his time on earth, Jesus, commissioning the apostles, gave this clear directive (Matthew 28:19–20):
“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” (ESV).
This commission is not a suggestion, but an all-encompassing command, underscoring that partial adherence dilutes the transformative power of His message. To flourish—spiritually, relationally, and societally—the nations, or humanity, must engage with every facet of Christ's instructions, even those that challenge contemporary norms.
This truth is found also in the Sermon on the Mount’s parable of the two builders. Jesus illustrates that hearing his words alone is insufficient. One must also do them to build a life on rock-solid foundation. He states (Matthew 7:24–27):
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
The wise builder withstands storms because his actions align fully with Jesus’ teachings. He has internalized them, through obedience. In contrast, the foolish one, who hears but does not obey, sees his house crumble under adversity.
Such an approach aligns brilliantly with the Mosaic covenant in the Old Testament, where obedience to the full law was foundational to Israel’s success. Consider Joshua, on the brink of conquering the Promised Land. God commands him (Joshua 1:7–8):
“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. 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.”
Joshua’s mandate was constant meditation on all of the Law, coupled with total observance. His success was dependent upon this. Obedience ensured not just military victory, but also holistic prosperity for the nation. Similarly, Psalm 1 paints a vivid picture of the blessed man, who is committed to knowing all of God’s Law and obeying it all (Psalm 1:2–3):
“…his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.”
The blessed man’s thriving comes from delighting in and meditating on God’s law “day and night.” Limited engagement with God’s instructions yields limited fruit – yes, even barrenness – while only full obedience brings the vitality and fruitfulness that God longs for all people everywhere to experience.
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