Deuteronomy Chapter 6
1 Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the ordinances, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that you might do them in the land that you go over to possess;
2 that you might fear the LORD your God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you-you, your son, and your son's son, all the days of your life; and that your days may be prolonged.
3 Hear therefore, Israel, and observe to do it, that it may be well with you, and that you may increase mightily, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised to you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.
4 Hear, Israel: the LORD is our God. The LORD is one.
5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.
6 These words, which I command you today, shall be on your heart;
7 and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up.
8 You shall bind them for a sign on your hand, and they shall be for frontlets between your eyes.
9 You shall write them on the door posts of your house and on your gates.
10 It shall be, when the LORD your God brings you into the land which he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you, great and goodly cities which you didn't build,
11 and houses full of all good things which you didn't fill, and cisterns dug out which you didn't dig, vineyards and olive trees which you didn't plant, and you shall eat and be full;
12 then beware lest you forget the LORD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
13 You shall fear the LORD your God; and you shall serve him, and shall swear by his name.
14 You shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the peoples who are around you,
15 for the LORD your God amongst you is a jealous God, lest the anger of the LORD your God be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the face of the earth.
16 You shall not tempt the LORD your God, as you tempted him in Massah.
17 You shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he has commanded you.
18 You shall do that which is right and good in the LORD's sight, that it may be well with you and that you may go in and possess the good land which the LORD swore to your fathers,
19 to thrust out all your enemies from before you, as the LORD has spoken.
20 When your son asks you in time to come, saying, "What do the testimonies, the statutes, and the ordinances, which the LORD our God has commanded you mean?"
21 then you shall tell your son, "We were Pharaoh's slaves in Egypt. The LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand;
22 and the LORD showed great and awesome signs and wonders on Egypt, on Pharaoh, and on all his house, before our eyes;
23 and he brought us out from there, that he might bring us in, to give us the land which he swore to our fathers.
24 The LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as we are today.
25 It shall be righteousness to us, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he has commanded us."
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Deuteronomy Chapter 6 Guide
The appeal of Moses was now elaborated in a great statement on the deepest value of the commandment and the corresponding responsibilities of the people. Observe the peculiar form of the opening statement, "Now this is the commandment, the statutes, and the judgments." The very form suggested the unification of plurality and evidently was intended to do so, for it led to the statement, "Jehovah our God is one Jehovah." Here Jehovah was used as name and as title, its supreme value, of course, being that it postulated existence and revealed an attitude of grace.
Immediately following this announcement of the sublime and allÂinclusive principle of the unity of Jehovah, Moses dealt with the resulting responsibilities. First, personal love for God and His commandments was insisted upon. Second, the family was in mind, for the children were to be diligently taught these things. Third, these words were to be the subject of conversation in all the activities of life, sitting in the house, walking by the way, lying down, or arising. Moreover, they were to be kept in mind by outward manifestation, bound upon the hand, and between the eyes; written upon the door posts, and upon gates.
The great lawgiver proceeded to make certain applications of these responsibilities of the life they would live when they had come into possession of the land. Three perils would then threaten them. The first would be the peril of prosperity. Moses charged them not to forget their relationship to God. The second would be the peril of adversity. They were not to tempt the Lord as they had at Massah (Exodus 17:1-16). There they had committed the sin of murmuring and strife because of their difficulties. The third peril would be the neglect to keep their relation to God alive in the minds of their children He charged them, therefore, to take time to teach the children.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
Deuteronomy Chapter 6 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- A persuasive to obedience. -- (1-3)
- An exhortation to obedience. -- (4, 5)
- Obedience taught. -- (6-16)
- General precepts, Instructions to be given to their children. -- (17-25)
Verses 1-3
In this and the like passages, the "commandments" seem to denote the moral law, the "statues" the ceremonial law, and the "judgments" the law by which the judges decided. Moses taught the people all that, and that only, which God commanded him to teach. Thus Christ's ministers are to teach his churches all he has commanded, neither more nor less, Mt 28:20. The fear of God in the heart will be the most powerful principle of obedience. It is highly desirable that not we only, but our children, and our children's children, may fear the Lord. Religion and righteousness advance and secure the prosperity of any people.
Verses 4, 5
Here is a brief summary of religion, containing the first principles of faith and obedience. Jehovah our God is the only living and true God; he only is God, and he is but One God. Let us not desire to have any other. The three-fold mention of the Divine names, and the plural number of the word translated God, seem plainly to intimate a Trinity of persons, even in this express declaration of the unity of the Godhead. Happy those who have this one Lord for their God. It is better to have one fountain than a thousand cisterns; one all-sufficient God than a thousand insufficient friends. This is the first and great commandment of God's law, that we love him; and that we do all parts of our duty to him from a principle of love; My son, give me thine heart. We are to love God with all our heart, and soul, and might. That is, 1. With a sincere love; not in word and tongue only, but inwardly in truth.
Verses 6-16
Here are means for maintaining and keeping up religion in our hearts and houses.
- Meditation. God's words must be laid up in our hearts, that our thoughts may be daily employed about them.
- The religious education of children. Often repeat these things to them. Be careful and exact in teaching thy children. Teach these truths to all who are any way under thy care.
- Pious discourse. Thou shalt talk of these things with due reverence and seriousness, for the benefit not only of thy children, but of thy servants, thy friends and companions. Take all occasions to discourse with those about thee, not of matters of doubtful disputation, but of the plain truths and laws of God, and the things that belong to our peace.
- Frequent reading of the word. God appointed them to write sentences of the law upon their walls, and in scrolls of parchment to be worn about their wrists. This seems to have been binding in the letter of it to the Jews, as it is to us in the intent of it; which is, that we should by all means make the word of God familiar to us; that we may have it ready to use upon all occasions, to restrain us from sin, and direct us in duty. We must never be ashamed to own our religion, nor to own ourselves under its check and government. Here is a caution not to forget God in a day of prosperity and plenty. When they came easily by the gift, they would be apt to grow secure, and unmindful of the Giver. Therefore be careful, when thou liest safe and soft, lest thou forget the Lord. When the world smiles, we are apt to make court to it, and expect our happiness in it, and so we forget Him who is our only portion and rest. There is need of great care and caution at such a time. Then beware; being warned of your danger, stand upon your guard. Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God; neither by despairing of his power and goodness, while we keep in the way of our duty; nor by presuming upon it, when we turn aside out of that way.
Verses 17-25
Moses gives charge to keep God's commandments. Negligence will ruin us; but we cannot be saved without diligence. It is our interest, as well as our duty, to be religious. It will be our life. Godliness has the promise of the continuance and comfort of the life that now is, as far as it is for God's glory. It will be our righteousness. It is only through the Mediator we can be righteous before God. The knowledge of the spirituality and excellency of the holy law of God, is suited to show sinful man his need of a Saviour, and to prepare his heart to welcome a free salvation. The gospel honours the law, not only in the perfect obedience of the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ; but in that it is a plan for bringing back apostate rebels and enemies, by repentance, faith, forgiveness, and renewing grace, to love God above all things, even in this world; and in the world above, to love him perfectly, even as angels love him.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.