1. Commandments about the Commandments

The commandment that occurs most often in the Bible is the commandment to obey all of the commandments. It's repeated 50 times in the Hebrew Scriptures, and although it is never unambiguously stated in the New Testament, it is never explicitly denied there either.

Jesus (sometimes) encouraged his followers to obey all of the commandments.

Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or tittle shall nowise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:18-19

It is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail. Luke 16:17

One came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him ... if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. Luke 19:16-17

And even Paul seemed to agree with Jesus on this (sometimes).

The doers of the law shall be justified. Romans 2:13

Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. Romans 3:31

Most of the time, however, Jesus and Paul ignored the commandments and taught their followers to do likewise. (For more on this, see Are the laws of the Old Testament still binding?)

But whatever Jesus and Paul may have thought about it, the God of the Bible is clear enough. All of the commandments are to be followed exactly as they are written, by everyone, always, and forever. They are "an everlasting covenant," binding for "a thousand generations."

God felt so strongly about this, in fact, that he promised to curse anyone who broke the commandments by, among many other things, having their wives raped and forcing them to eat their own children. (See Leviticus 26:14-41 and Deuteronomy 28:15-68 for God's complete list of curses.)

So don't say I didn't warn you.

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(Numbered P and N links are to the positive and negative commandments on Maimonides's list.)

Wear the commandments on your hand.

It shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand. Exodus 13:9a

It shall be for a token upon thine hand. Exodus 13:16a

Thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand. Deuteronomy 6:8a

Bind them for a sign upon your hand. Deuteronomy 11:18a

Maimonides

P13: The phylactery of the arm - Dt 6:8

Phylacteries (or tephillin) are small black leather boxes that are worn on the "weaker" arm (left for right handed people, right for lefties). They contain scrolls upon which a few verses from the Torah are written.

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Wear the commandments between your eyes.

It shall be ... a memorial between thine eyes. Exodus 13:9b

It shall be ... for frontlets between thine eyes. Exodus 13:16b

Thou shalt bind them ... as frontlets between thine eyes. Deuteronomy 6:8b

Bind them ... as frontlets between your eyes. Deuteronomy 11:18b

Maimonides

P12: The phylactery of the head - Dt 6:8

These are like the arm phylactery except they are worn on above the forehead (not between the eyes as it says in the Torah).

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Obey all of the commandments.

Ye shall keep my statutes. Leviticus 19:19

Therefore shall ye observe all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them. Leviticus 19:37

Ye shall keep my statutes, and do them. Leviticus 20:8

Ye shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them. Leviticus 20:22

Therefore shall ye keep my commandments and do them. Leviticus 22:31

Ye shall keep my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them. Leviticus 25:18

Ye shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your God hath commanded you. Deuteronomy 5:32

Keep all his statutes and his commandments. Deuteronomy 6:2

Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee. Deuteronomy 6:17

The LORD commanded us to do all these statutes. Deuteronomy 6:24

It shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us. Deuteronomy 6:25

Keep his commandments to a thousand generations ... Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do them. Deuteronomy 7:9-11

All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do. Deuteronomy 8:1

Thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God. Deuteronomy 8:6

Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day. Deuteronomy 8:11

Keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good. Deuteronomy 10:13

Keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, alway. Deuteronomy 11:1

Hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day. Deuteronomy 11:13

Ye shall observe to do all the statutes and judgments which I set before you this day. Deuteronomy 11:32

These are the statutes and judgments, which ye shall observe to do in the land, which the LORD God of thy fathers giveth thee to possess it, all the days that ye live upon the earth. Deuteronomy 12:1

Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the LORD thy God. Deuteronomy 12:28

What thing soever I command you, observe to do it. Deuteronomy 12:32

Keep his commandments. Deuteronomy 13:4

Carefully hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all these commandments which I command thee this day. Deuteronomy 15:5

Thou shalt keep all these commandments to do them. Deuteronomy 19:9

This day the Lord thy God hath commanded thee to do these statutes and judgments: thou shalt therefore keep and do them with all thine heart, and with all thy soul. Deuteronomy 26:16

Keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and to hearken unto his voice. Deuteronomy 26:17

And the Lord hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments. Deuteronomy 26:18

Keep all the commandments which I command you this day. Deuteronomy 27:1

Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the LORD thy God, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I command thee this day. Deuteronomy 27:10

Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen. Deuteronomy 27:26

If thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes ... all these curses shall come upon thee .... Deuteronomy 28:15-68

Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them. Deuteronomy 29:9

Do all his commandments which I command thee this day. Deuteronomy 30:8

I command thee this day ... to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments. Deuteronomy 30:16

Observe to do all the words of this law. Deuteronomy 31:12

Do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee. Joshua 1:7

Observe to do according to all that is written therein. Joshua 1:8

Do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you ... to keep his commandments. Joshua 22:5

Keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers. 2 Kings 17:13

Be ye mindful always of his covenant; the word which he commanded to a thousand generations ... an everlasting covenant. 1 Chronicles 16:15-17

Do according to all that is written in the law of the LORD, which he commanded Israel. 1 Chronicles 16:40

Keep and seek for all the commandments of the LORD your God. 1 Chronicles 28:8

Take heed to their way to walk in my law. 2 Chronicles 6:16

Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done. Ezra 7:23

Walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes. Nehemiah 10:29

Let thine heart keep my commandments. Proverbs 3:1

Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. Ecclesiastes 12:13

Walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you. Jeremiah 7:23

Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant ... do them, according to all which I command you. Jeremiah 11:3-4

Walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them. Ezekiel 20:19

Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:18-19

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Teach the commandments to your children.

Thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children. Deuteronomy 6:7

Ye shall teach them your children. Deuteronomy 11:19

And to all the children of Israel.

Teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses. Leviticus 10:11

Maimonides

P11: Study the Torah - Dt 6:7

Dt 6:7 says to teach the commandments to your children, not to study the Torah.

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Don't add any commandments.

Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you. Deuteronomy 4:2a

Thou shalt not add thereto. Deuteronomy 12:32

Maimonides

N313: Don't add to the written or oral law - Dt 13:1

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Don't delete any commandments.

Ye shall not ... diminish ought from it [the commandments]. Deuteronomy 4:2b

Thou shalt not ... diminish from it. Deuteronomy 12:32

Maimonides

N314: Don't detract from the written or oral law - Dt 13:1

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Keep the commandments in your heart.

These words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart. Deuteronomy 6:6

Lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul. Deuteronomy 11:18

Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day ... all the words of this law. Deuteronomy 32:46

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Talk about the commandments.

Talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. Deuteronomy 6:7

Speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. Deuteronomy 11:19

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth. Joshua 1:8

Maimonides

P10: Read the Shema - Dt 6:7

Dt 6:7 says to teach and talk about the commandments. It doesn't say to read particular verses (the Shema) twice a day.

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Write the commandments on your doorposts and gates.

Thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates. Deuteronomy 6:9

Thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates. Deuteronomy 11:20

Maimonides

P15: The mezuzah - Dt 6:9

A mezuzah is a case with a piece of parchment inscribed with a few verses from the Torah. It is placed on the front door of Jewish homes, and on other doors in the house (except kitchens, storerooms, and bathrooms.)

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Don't change the commandments.

(By going aside to the right hand or the left.)

Thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left. Deuteronomy 28:14

Observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left. Joshua 1:7

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Every seven years, read the commandments to all the people in a place that God will choose.

At the end of every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles, When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing. Deuteromony 31:10-11

Maimonides

P16: The assembly during the Feast of Tabernacles - Dt 31:12

Only a few verses from Deuteronomy are read, not the entire law, as required by Dt 31:12.

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Put the commandments in the ark of the covenant.

Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God. Deuteromony 31:26

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Command your children to obey all of the commandments.

Command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law. Deuteronomy 32:46b

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Meditate on the commandments day and night.

This book of the law ... thou shalt meditate therein day and night. Joshua 1:8

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Seek all of the commandments.

Seek for all the commandments of the LORD your God. 1 Chronicles 28:8

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Don't forget the commandments.

Forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments. Proverbs 3:1