---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Jesus' commandment never wishes to…"
description: "\"Jesus' commandment never wishes to destroy life, but rather to preserve, strengthen, and heal life.\" — Dietrich Bonhoeffer"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edf/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_commandments_jesus-commandment-never-wishes-to-destro_892073.jpg"
---

#  Jesus' commandment never wishes to destroy life, but…

![“Jesus' commandment never wishes to destroy life, but rather to preserve, strengthen, and heal life.” quote by Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edf/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_commandments_jesus-commandment-never-wishes-to-destro_892073.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edf/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_commandments_jesus-commandment-never-wishes-to-destro_892073.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edf/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_commandments_jesus-commandment-never-wishes-to-destro_892073.jpg)

> “Jesus' commandment never wishes to destroy life, but rather to preserve, strengthen, and heal life.”

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The commandment aims to protect and heal life, not destroy it, emphasizing compassion and restoration.

**In simple terms:** The commandment protects and heals life.

Key Takeaway

Practice compassion and support for others.

Themes

ethics compassion faith healing

Mood

thoughtful inspirational

Type

spiritual ethical

When to use this quote

- counseling
- community service
- faith practice
- conflict resolution

Key Concepts

theology human dignity moral duty

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we apply this principle in modern conflicts?
- What does healing life look like in practice?

A Different Perspective

Interpretations can vary across cultures.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Commandment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commandment/) [Commandments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commandments/) [Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/)

## Related quotes

> [Saying you're a Christian shouldn't turn people off. You should love people well and that's Jesus' first commandment!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-kershaw/saying-you-re-a-christian-shouldn-t-turn-people-off-you-should-love/)

[Clayton Kershaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-kershaw/)

> [I think, a lot of things get wrestled around with Christianity in this day and age about what it means, what it stands for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-kershaw/i-think-a-lot-of-things-get-wrestled-around-with-christianity-in-this/)

[Clayton Kershaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-kershaw/)

> [Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/whoever-tries-to-keep-their-life-will-lose-it-and-whoever-loses-their/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I feel the only thing you can do about life is to preserve it, by art if you're an artist, by children if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-larkin/i-feel-the-only-thing-you-can-do-about-life-is-to-preserve-it-by-art/)

[Philip Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-larkin/)

> [My mission in life is to preserve craftsmanship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waris-ahluwalia/my-mission-in-life-is-to-preserve-craftsmanship/)

[Waris Ahluwalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waris-ahluwalia/)

> [If I were to speak your kind of language, I would say that man's only moral commandment is: Thou shalt think. But a 'moral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/if-i-were-to-speak-your-kind-of-language-i-would-say-that-man-s-only/)

[Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/)

> [Regardless of nationality, all men are brothers. God is "our Father who art in heaven." The commandment "Thou shalt not kill" is unconditional and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-salmon/regardless-of-nationality-all-men-are-brothers-god-is-our-father-who/)

Ben Salmon

> [You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus/you-must-love-the-lord-your-god-with-all-your-heart-all-your-soul-and/)

[Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus/)

> [Now we must remark, that there are two parts in the Commandment-the first forbids the erection of a graven image, or any likeness; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/now-we-must-remark-that-there-are-two-parts-in-the-commandment-the/)

[John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/)

> [Loving your neighbour as much as yourself is practically bloody impossible? You might as well have a commandment that states,'Thou shalt fly'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/loving-your-neighbour-as-much-as-yourself-is-practically-bloody/)

[John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/)

> [“It is highly significant, perplexing to say the least, that we have been bound for thousands of years to a commandment that hardly anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller-the-drama-of-the-gifted-child/it-is-highly-significant-perplexing-to-say-the-least-that-we-have/)

[Alice MIller, The Drama of the gifted child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller-the-drama-of-the-gifted-child/)

> [The second commandment that Jesus referred to was not to love others instead of ourselves, but to love them as ourselves. Before we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-warner/the-second-commandment-that-jesus-referred-to-was-not-to-love-others/)

Jim Warner

> [The second commandment is "Thou shall not construct any graven images." Is this really the pinnacle of what we can achieve morally? The second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/the-second-commandment-is-thou-shall-not-construct-any-graven-images/)

[Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/)

> [But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-morell/but-take-diligent-heed-to-do-the-commandment-and-the-law-which-moses/)

Thomas Morell

> [Here is your government at work. A congressman from Colorado said he wants to draft a rule that would make it unethical to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/here-is-your-government-at-work-a-congressman-from-colorado-said-he/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

## More by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

> [So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self- satisfied; in fact, he can easily become dangerous, as it does not take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/so-the-fool-as-distinct-from-the-scoundrel-is-completely-self/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/why-do-christians-sing-when-they-are-together-the-reason-is-quite/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [What we shall need is not geniuses, or cynics, or misanthropes, or clever tacticians, but plain, honest, straghtforward men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/what-we-shall-need-is-not-geniuses-or-cynics-or-misanthropes-or/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [...Gratitude transforms the torment of memory of good things now gone into silent joy. One bears what was lovely in the past not as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/gratitude-transforms-the-torment-of-memory-of-good-things-now-gone/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [Only he who believes is obedient and only he who is obedient believes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/only-he-who-believes-is-obedient-and-only-he-who-is-obedient-believes/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [Who can really be faithful in great things if he has not learned to be faithful in the things of daily life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/who-can-really-be-faithful-in-great-things-if-he-has-not-learned-to/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [“The church can only defend its own space by fighting, not for space, but for the salvation of the world. Otherwise the church becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-church-can-only-defend-its-own-space-by-fighting-not-for-space/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [There remains an experience of incomparable value . . . to see the great events of world history from below; from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/there-remains-an-experience-of-incomparable-value-to-see-the-great/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [“To endure the cross is not a tragedy; it is the suffering which is the fruit of an exclusive allegiance to Jesus Christ. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/to-endure-the-cross-is-not-a-tragedy-it-is-the-suffering-which-is-the/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [“There is only one church, the church of faith ruled by the word of Jesus Christ alone. This is the true catholic church that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/there-is-only-one-church-the-church-of-faith-ruled-by-the-word-of/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [“As Christians, we needn’t be at all ashamed of some impatience, longing, opposition to what is unnatural, and our full share of desire for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/as-christians-we-needn-t-be-at-all-ashamed-of-some-impatience-longing/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [Those who love their dream of a Christian community more than the Christian community itself become destroyers of that Christian community even though their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/those-who-love-their-dream-of-a-christian-community-more-than-the/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [“From now on there can be no more wars of faith. The only way to overcome our enemy is by loving him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/from-now-on-there-can-be-no-more-wars-of-faith-the-only-way-to/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [“The scriptures do not present us with a series of Christian types to be imitated according to choice; they preach to us in every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-scriptures-do-not-present-us-with-a-series-of-christian-types-to/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [We are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice, we are to drive a spoke into the wheel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/we-are-not-to-simply-bandage-the-wounds-of-victims-beneath-the-wheels/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

[Explore all 711 Dietrich Bonhoeffer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

## More Commandment quotes

> [“Eve is a figure for the soul that each human should love. The commandment to be fruitful and multiply did not originally refer to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-greenblatt/eve-is-a-figure-for-the-soul-that-each-human-should-love-the/)

[Stephen Greenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-greenblatt/)

> [“The leader’s commandment is made up of pledges to solve local and global problems, and not to create more problems to add to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/the-leader-s-commandment-is-made-up-of-pledges-to-solve-local-and/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [Here is your government at work. A congressman from Colorado said he wants to draft a rule that would make it unethical to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/here-is-your-government-at-work-a-congressman-from-colorado-said-he/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [“I had broken the most basic commandment of our culture: Thou shalt pretend there is nothing wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/i-had-broken-the-most-basic-commandment-of-our-culture-thou-shalt/)

[Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/)

> [But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-morell/but-take-diligent-heed-to-do-the-commandment-and-the-law-which-moses/)

Thomas Morell

> [The second commandment is "Thou shall not construct any graven images." Is this really the pinnacle of what we can achieve morally? The second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/the-second-commandment-is-thou-shall-not-construct-any-graven-images/)

[Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/)

> [The second commandment that Jesus referred to was not to love others instead of ourselves, but to love them as ourselves. Before we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-warner/the-second-commandment-that-jesus-referred-to-was-not-to-love-others/)

Jim Warner

> [“The eleventh commandment of art: thou shalt not be boring.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-m-driscoll/the-eleventh-commandment-of-art-thou-shalt-not-be-boring/)

[W.M. Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-m-driscoll/)

> [“128. Matthew 22:36-37 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-jackson/128-matthew-22-36-37-love-the-lord-your-god-with-all-your-heart-and/)

Lois Jackson

> [Righteous marriage is a commandment and an essential step in the process of creating a loving family relationship that can be perpetuated beyond the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-bednar/righteous-marriage-is-a-commandment-and-an-essential-step-in-the/)

[David A. Bednar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-bednar/)

> [“It is highly significant, perplexing to say the least, that we have been bound for thousands of years to a commandment that hardly anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller-the-drama-of-the-gifted-child/it-is-highly-significant-perplexing-to-say-the-least-that-we-have/)

[Alice MIller, The Drama of the gifted child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller-the-drama-of-the-gifted-child/)

> [Loving your neighbour as much as yourself is practically bloody impossible? You might as well have a commandment that states,'Thou shalt fly'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/loving-your-neighbour-as-much-as-yourself-is-practically-bloody/)

[John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/)

> [Now we must remark, that there are two parts in the Commandment-the first forbids the erection of a graven image, or any likeness; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/now-we-must-remark-that-there-are-two-parts-in-the-commandment-the/)

[John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/)

> [Your very eyes. How they have always been for me the command to obey, the inviolable and beautiful commandment. No, no, I'm not telling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-walser/your-very-eyes-how-they-have-always-been-for-me-the-command-to-obey/)

[Robert Walser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-walser/)

> [“Superficially, the Fourth Commandment can be regarded as a kind of life insurance for old people, which was perhaps necessary in biblical times but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller-the-drama-of-the-gifted-child/superficially-the-fourth-commandment-can-be-regarded-as-a-kind-of/)

[Alice MIller, The Drama of the gifted child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller-the-drama-of-the-gifted-child/)

[Browse all 211 Commandment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commandment/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Jesus' commandment never wishes to destroy life, but rather to preserve, strengthen, and heal life.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Dietrich Bonhoeffer"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/jesus-commandment-never-wishes-to-destroy-life-but-rather-to-preserve/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Commandment"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/jesus-commandment-never-wishes-to-destroy-life-but-rather-to-preserve/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edf/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_commandments_jesus-commandment-never-wishes-to-destro_892073.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edf/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_commandments_jesus-commandment-never-wishes-to-destro_892073.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edf/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_commandments_jesus-commandment-never-wishes-to-destro_892073.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Jesus' commandment never wishes to destroy life, but rather to preserve, strengthen, and heal life.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Dietrich Bonhoeffer",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Jesus' commandment never wishes to destroy...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/jesus-commandment-never-wishes-to-destroy-life-but-rather-to-preserve/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/jesus-commandment-never-wishes-to-destroy-life-but-rather-to-preserve/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
