OBEDIENCE IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE: 31 BIBLE VERSES ABOUT OBEDIENCE

Partial obedience to God is absolute rebellion. Christians, for some strange reason, believe that obedience to God is optional. Nothing could be further from the truth. There are dozens of bible verses about obedience, none of which are optional or mild suggestions.

God, the Creator of heaven and earth, is our King. Kings don’t operate in democracies. We don’t get a vote on how He runs His Kingdom. When we “sign up” we are expected to fall in line with His expectations.

Soldiers are not debating with their drill sergeant in boot camp. Navy Seals don’t question the orders of their captain when behind enemy lines. If we’re part of the Lord’s Army then we must do what He says, when He says, how He says, and do it for as long as He commands.

Here are at least 31 bible verses about obedience that should help us all.

If You Love Me Keep My Commandments

A relationship with Jesus is not “goo-goo eyes” and “soaking” worship. Certainly, there are times when we are lost in Him but there is more to it than that.

John 14:15 If you love me, keep my commands.

Jesus was crystal clear to His disciples in this situation. The proof that we love Him is in our obedience.

I John 2:3 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands.

I John 2:4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.

John, in his first epistle, equated “knowing Jesus” to keeping His commands. It’s simply insufficient to say, “I know Jesus, He’s my homeboy!” No, we must obey Him!

I John 3:24 The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

I John 5:3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome.

II John 1:6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

Revelation 14:12 This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus.

Acts 17:30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.

Obedience is Better Than Sacrifice

Everything that we have was provided by God. Sacrifices are not typically looked upon favorably. However, obedience to Him is expected in every circumstance. We can’t disobey in exchange for a larger offering to the church.

No, son God demands obedience, not larger offerings.

Have you ever wondered what size of an offering is proper? What about tithing? Here’s an article that I wrote about tithes in the book of Malachi and another about offerings.

I Samuel 15:22 So Samuel said: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.

Judges 3:4 And they were left, that He might test Israel by them, to know whether they would obey the commandments of the Lord, which He had commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.

Hosea 9:17 My God will cast them away Because they did not obey Him, and they shall be wanderers among the nations.

Job 36:11 If they obey and serve Him, They shall spend their days in prosperity, And their years in pleasures.

Jeremiah 11:8 Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but everyone followed the dictates of his evil heart; therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but which they have not done.

Bible Verses About Obedience

I’m amazed that Jesus learned obedience by the things which He suffered. If He needed to learn how much more do we?

Hebrews 5:7-8 Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.

2 Corinthians 10:4-6 For the weapons of our warfare are not [a]carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

Romans 6:16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves, slaves, to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death or of obedience leading to righteousness?

Proverbs 30:17 The eye that mocks his father, and scorns obedience to his mother, The ravens of the valley will pick it out, And the young eagles will eat it.

Blessing and Cursings — Deuteronomy 28

I do not ascribe to believers submitting themselves to Old Testament requirements of the law. That’s been settled once and for all by Jesus. However, Paul indicated that we should use them as examples and learn from their victories and defeats.

Deuteronomy 28:1-2 Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you because you obey the voice of the Lord your God:

Deuteronomy 28:3 You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.

Deuteronomy 28:6 You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.

Blessings are better than the alternatives.

Deuteronomy 28:15 However, if you do not obey the Lord your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come on you and overtake you:

Deuteronomy 28:45 All these curses will come on you. They will pursue you and overtake you until you are destroyed because you did not obey the Lord your God and observe the commands and decrees he gave you.

Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law. It’s important to understand Bible verses, like that, in context. Here’s an article I wrote that will shed some light on verses taken out of context.

Scriptures About Obedience

I’ve discovered nearly 200 scriptures about obedience in the Bible. It’s an important subject that would be discussed from the pulpit on Sundays. We often mess it up by going down the rabbit hole of legalism or cheap grace.

God help us.

Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

I Peter 4:17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

Ezra 7:26 Whoever will not obey the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be strictly executed on him, whether for death or for banishment or for confiscation of his goods or for imprisonment.

Exodus 19:5 Now, therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine.

Take some time and dig deep into the subject of obedience. There is no need to wait for a pastor or your favorite YouTube/Podcast preacher to mention it — they probably won’t.

If it’s important to God…well you know.

Stand Firm and Contend for the Faith!