Six Teachings of Jesus and How to Practice Them Today

Core teachings of Jesus include loving God and your neighbor, treating others with care, forgiving, serving humbly, praying sincerely, and trusting God. The Gospels connect these teachings with daily life. Reading them alongside a concrete situation can help you decide what faithful action looks like today.

The six teachings below are a starting point, rather than a complete summary of everything Jesus taught. Each includes a Gospel reference and an ordinary example you can adapt. Read the full passage before deciding how to apply it to a complicated situation.

1. Love God and your neighbor

Read: Matthew 22:34–40.

Asked about the greatest commandment, Jesus names love for God with the whole person and love for one’s neighbor. These two commitments belong together. The passage gives a central orientation for Christian life: attention to God expressed in genuine concern for others.

Loving your neighbor becomes practical when you notice a person’s actual need. A neighbor recovering from an illness may appreciate a grocery run more than a long message. A colleague who has been interrupted may need someone to make room for their contribution.

Try it today: ask one person, “What would be helpful this week?” Listen to the answer and offer something you can realistically do. Care becomes more dependable when you avoid promising more than you can provide.

2. Treat others as you would want to be treated

Read: Matthew 7:12.

Often called the Golden Rule, this teaching asks you to consider how you act toward other people. It invites initiative: offer the honesty, patience, fairness, and respect you would hope to receive.

Suppose a customer-service worker makes a mistake with your order. You can explain the problem clearly while speaking to them as a person. Or, before sharing an embarrassing story about a friend, consider whether you would want someone to share the same kind of detail about you.

Try it today: before one difficult message or conversation, read your words from the other person’s position. Keep what is truthful and necessary; remove what only humiliates or scores a point.

3. Practice forgiveness without keeping a tally

Read: Matthew 18:21–35.

When Peter asks how often he should forgive, Jesus answers with a number that challenges a narrow limit, then tells a parable about receiving and withholding mercy. The passage asks readers to consider how the forgiveness they receive should shape the mercy they offer.

In everyday disagreements, a first step may be refusing to use an old mistake as a weapon in every new argument. You can address the present problem without reopening every past offense.

Forgiveness can take time. It does not require pretending harm was acceptable or immediately restoring trust. Where harm is ongoing, protecting safety and keeping appropriate boundaries matters.

Try it today: identify one resentment to bring honestly into prayer. Ask what a responsible next step might be, without pressuring yourself or another person into a rushed reconciliation.

4. Serve with humility

Read: John 13:1–17.

Jesus washes his disciples’ feet and explains that he has given them an example to follow. The scene puts humble service at the center of leadership and discipleship. Attention shifts from status to the willingness to care.

You might practice this by doing an overlooked task at home, helping a new colleague understand a process, or making an event accessible to someone who would otherwise struggle to participate. Useful service begins by noticing rather than assuming.

Try it today: do one necessary task without drawing attention to your effort. If you are already stretched, choose something small. Service can be generous and sustainable at the same time.

5. Pray sincerely

Read: Matthew 6:5–13.

Jesus warns against making prayer a display for other people and gives his disciples a pattern in the Lord’s Prayer. It includes worship, God’s will, daily needs, forgiveness, and help in temptation.

You can begin privately with the need you actually have. If you are worried about an argument, ask for patience and clear speech. If someone has been kind, give thanks. Prayer has room for both ordinary details and larger concerns.

Try it today: spend a few minutes in honest prayer before reaching for impressive wording. Our guide to daily devotion to Jesus can help you build a rhythm around this practice.

6. Bring tomorrow’s worries back to today

Read: Matthew 6:25–34.

Jesus points to God’s care and asks his listeners to attend to God’s kingdom rather than allowing tomorrow’s concerns to consume the present. Applying the passage can include distinguishing useful planning from repeatedly rehearsing outcomes you cannot control.

Try it today: write down one worry and one responsible action. Prepare for the meeting, ask for advice, or arrange the appointment. Then bring the unresolved part into prayer. For more support, read about trusting God in difficult times.

Choose one teaching to practice this week. Notice the situations that make it difficult, and return to the passage for reflection. Our article on how following Jesus changes everyday choices explores that process further.

Questions about the teachings of Jesus

What did Jesus call the greatest commandment?

In Matthew 22:34–40, Jesus names wholehearted love for God and places love for one’s neighbor alongside it. He presents these as central to understanding the law and prophets.

Where should I start reading Jesus’ teachings?

Matthew 5–7, often called the Sermon on the Mount, is a useful starting place. Read a short section at a time, paying attention to the examples and the surrounding message.

How can I apply a teaching without oversimplifying it?

Read the whole passage, consider who Jesus is addressing, and ask how its main point relates to your situation. For difficult questions, discuss the passage with a trusted pastor or study group.