Deuteronomy 6: The Heart of the Law: Love, Obedience, and Remembrance
Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the Lord your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it:
That thou mightest fear the Lord thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.
Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey.
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt 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.
And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
And it shall be, when the Lord thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not,
And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;
Then beware lest thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.
Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you;
(For the Lord thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the Lord thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.
Ye shall not tempt the Lord your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.
Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee.
And thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of the Lord: that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest go in and possess the good land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers,
To cast out all thine enemies from before thee, as the Lord hath spoken.
And when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What mean the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which the Lord our God hath commanded you?
Then thou shalt say unto thy son, We were Pharaoh’s bondmen in Egypt; and the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand:
And the Lord shewed signs and wonders, great and sore, upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his household, before our eyes:
And he brought us out from thence, that he might bring us in, to give us the land which he sware unto our fathers.
And 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 it is at this day.
And 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 sits at the very heart of the Deuteronomic code, a powerful call to love, obedience, and remembrance. It's more than just a list of rules; it's an invitation to a vibrant relationship with God, woven into the fabric of daily life. This chapter, central to Jewish faith and profoundly relevant for Christians today, challenges us to consider how we truly love and obey God, and how we pass that legacy on to future generations.
The Foundation of Wisdom: Fear and Obedience (6:1-3)
Moses, knowing the key to Israel's success and longevity, emphasizes the importance of fearing the Lord. This "fear" isn't terror, but a deep reverence, respect, and awe that inspires obedience. As King Solomon would later write, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10). Moses urges the Israelites to diligently follow God's instructions, promising prosperity and multiplication as a result (Deuteronomy 6:3). This foundational principle applies to us as well: a life of blessing flows from a heart that reveres God and actively seeks to obey His commands.
The Shema: The Great Commandment (6:4-9)
These verses contain the Shema (שְׁמַע), the Hebrew word meaning "Hear" or "Listen," which begins Deuteronomy 6:4. This passage is a cornerstone of Jewish faith, recited daily and considered a declaration of God's oneness. Jesus himself identified this as the greatest and most important commandment (Matthew 22:37-39): “Listen, Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5).
This love isn't a mere emotion, but a complete devotion of one's entire being – heart, soul, and strength. It calls for a radical commitment that permeates every aspect of life. Crucially, this love for God must be modeled and transferred within the family unit. Parents are instructed to teach God's commandments and statutes regularly to their children, integrating them into the everyday rhythms of life (Deuteronomy 6:7-9).
The instruction to speak of God's word "when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up" (Deuteronomy 6:7) highlights the importance of integrating faith into the ordinary moments. While structured devotional times are valuable, they must be complemented by a godly lifestyle where God's Word informs daily decisions and actions. This intentional approach to spiritual training, welcoming God into all aspects of life, is how parents can cultivate a biblical worldview in their children, making God their point of reference. This responsibility primarily rests with the family, supported by the church, to foster gospel evangelization and disciple children.
The command to "bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be as a symbol on your forehead" (Deuteronomy 6:8) was interpreted literally by many Jews. They wrote Deuteronomy 6:4-9 on tiny scrolls, placed them in small boxes called phylacteries (tefillin) or frontlets, and tied them to their foreheads and arms. While the literal act served as a constant reminder, Jesus cautioned against using such practices for outward show (Matthew 23:5). The true intent is to internalize God's word, allowing it to shape our thoughts, actions, and identity.
Beware of Forgetfulness in Prosperity (6:10-12)
Moses warns the Israelites about the dangers of forgetting God in times of prosperity. They were about to enter a land filled with blessings they did not earn: "abundant cities...houses...cisterns...vineyards and olive groves" (Deuteronomy 6:10-11). The temptation would be to take credit for their success and forget the God who provided it all. This serves as a potent reminder for us as well. When life is easy and blessings abound, we must be especially vigilant against complacency and remember the source of our provision. Just as Moses knew the human tendency to forget God's past deliverance, we too must guard our hearts against pride and self-sufficiency.
Avoid Testing God (6:13-19)
Moses sternly warns against turning to other gods and ceasing to fear the Lord (Deuteronomy 6:13-14). Such disobedience would provoke God's anger and lead to their destruction (Deuteronomy 6:15). Israel was called to represent the one true God to the surrounding nations, and their faithfulness was crucial for upholding His glory. He reminds them, "Do not test the LORD your God as you tested him at Massah" (Deuteronomy 6:16).
Massah, meaning "Testing," was the place where Israel complained about the lack of water (Exodus 17:1-7). Despite witnessing God's miraculous provision at the Red Sea, they doubted His ability to provide for them. Moses cautions them against repeating this pattern of testing God's patience and faithfulness. Obedience, on the other hand, would bring the promised prosperity and protection (Deuteronomy 6:17-19).
Passing the Torch: Teaching Future Generations (6:20-25)
Moses returns to the crucial theme of teaching future generations. He anticipates the questions of Israelite children: "What is the meaning of these decrees, statutes, and ordinances?" (Deuteronomy 6:20). Parents are given the sacred responsibility of providing a God-glorifying answer, rooted in their history and God's redemptive acts. They were to recount their deliverance from slavery in Egypt (Deuteronomy 6:21-23) and God's gracious gift of the law, emphasizing that obedience leads to prosperity (Deuteronomy 6:24-25).
This model of parental instruction remains vital today. Christian parents must equip themselves to share the story of God's grace with their children, reminding them of His miraculous acts and exhorting them to trust and obey Him. By doing so, they pass on a legacy of faith that endures from generation to generation. Deuteronomy 6 is a call to make God the center of our lives, families, and communities, ensuring that His love and law are etched on our hearts and passed down to those who follow.
Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the Lord your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it:
That thou mightest fear the Lord thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.
Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey.
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt 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.
And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
And it shall be, when the Lord thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not,
And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;
Then beware lest thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.
Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you;
(For the Lord thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the Lord thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.
Ye shall not tempt the Lord your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.
Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee.
And thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of the Lord: that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest go in and possess the good land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers,
To cast out all thine enemies from before thee, as the Lord hath spoken.
And when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What mean the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which the Lord our God hath commanded you?
Then thou shalt say unto thy son, We were Pharaoh’s bondmen in Egypt; and the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand:
And the Lord shewed signs and wonders, great and sore, upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his household, before our eyes:
And he brought us out from thence, that he might bring us in, to give us the land which he sware unto our fathers.
And 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 it is at this day.
And 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 sits at the very heart of the Deuteronomic code, a powerful call to love, obedience, and remembrance. It's more than just a list of rules; it's an invitation to a vibrant relationship with God, woven into the fabric of daily life. This chapter, central to Jewish faith and profoundly relevant for Christians today, challenges us to consider how we truly love and obey God, and how we pass that legacy on to future generations.
The Foundation of Wisdom: Fear and Obedience (6:1-3)
Moses, knowing the key to Israel's success and longevity, emphasizes the importance of fearing the Lord. This "fear" isn't terror, but a deep reverence, respect, and awe that inspires obedience. As King Solomon would later write, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10). Moses urges the Israelites to diligently follow God's instructions, promising prosperity and multiplication as a result (Deuteronomy 6:3). This foundational principle applies to us as well: a life of blessing flows from a heart that reveres God and actively seeks to obey His commands.
The Shema: The Great Commandment (6:4-9)
These verses contain the Shema (שְׁמַע), the Hebrew word meaning "Hear" or "Listen," which begins Deuteronomy 6:4. This passage is a cornerstone of Jewish faith, recited daily and considered a declaration of God's oneness. Jesus himself identified this as the greatest and most important commandment (Matthew 22:37-39): “Listen, Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5).
This love isn't a mere emotion, but a complete devotion of one's entire being – heart, soul, and strength. It calls for a radical commitment that permeates every aspect of life. Crucially, this love for God must be modeled and transferred within the family unit. Parents are instructed to teach God's commandments and statutes regularly to their children, integrating them into the everyday rhythms of life (Deuteronomy 6:7-9).
The instruction to speak of God's word "when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up" (Deuteronomy 6:7) highlights the importance of integrating faith into the ordinary moments. While structured devotional times are valuable, they must be complemented by a godly lifestyle where God's Word informs daily decisions and actions. This intentional approach to spiritual training, welcoming God into all aspects of life, is how parents can cultivate a biblical worldview in their children, making God their point of reference. This responsibility primarily rests with the family, supported by the church, to foster gospel evangelization and disciple children.
The command to "bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be as a symbol on your forehead" (Deuteronomy 6:8) was interpreted literally by many Jews. They wrote Deuteronomy 6:4-9 on tiny scrolls, placed them in small boxes called phylacteries (tefillin) or frontlets, and tied them to their foreheads and arms. While the literal act served as a constant reminder, Jesus cautioned against using such practices for outward show (Matthew 23:5). The true intent is to internalize God's word, allowing it to shape our thoughts, actions, and identity.
Beware of Forgetfulness in Prosperity (6:10-12)
Moses warns the Israelites about the dangers of forgetting God in times of prosperity. They were about to enter a land filled with blessings they did not earn: "abundant cities...houses...cisterns...vineyards and olive groves" (Deuteronomy 6:10-11). The temptation would be to take credit for their success and forget the God who provided it all. This serves as a potent reminder for us as well. When life is easy and blessings abound, we must be especially vigilant against complacency and remember the source of our provision. Just as Moses knew the human tendency to forget God's past deliverance, we too must guard our hearts against pride and self-sufficiency.
Avoid Testing God (6:13-19)
Moses sternly warns against turning to other gods and ceasing to fear the Lord (Deuteronomy 6:13-14). Such disobedience would provoke God's anger and lead to their destruction (Deuteronomy 6:15). Israel was called to represent the one true God to the surrounding nations, and their faithfulness was crucial for upholding His glory. He reminds them, "Do not test the LORD your God as you tested him at Massah" (Deuteronomy 6:16).
Massah, meaning "Testing," was the place where Israel complained about the lack of water (Exodus 17:1-7). Despite witnessing God's miraculous provision at the Red Sea, they doubted His ability to provide for them. Moses cautions them against repeating this pattern of testing God's patience and faithfulness. Obedience, on the other hand, would bring the promised prosperity and protection (Deuteronomy 6:17-19).
Passing the Torch: Teaching Future Generations (6:20-25)
Moses returns to the crucial theme of teaching future generations. He anticipates the questions of Israelite children: "What is the meaning of these decrees, statutes, and ordinances?" (Deuteronomy 6:20). Parents are given the sacred responsibility of providing a God-glorifying answer, rooted in their history and God's redemptive acts. They were to recount their deliverance from slavery in Egypt (Deuteronomy 6:21-23) and God's gracious gift of the law, emphasizing that obedience leads to prosperity (Deuteronomy 6:24-25).
This model of parental instruction remains vital today. Christian parents must equip themselves to share the story of God's grace with their children, reminding them of His miraculous acts and exhorting them to trust and obey Him. By doing so, they pass on a legacy of faith that endures from generation to generation. Deuteronomy 6 is a call to make God the center of our lives, families, and communities, ensuring that His love and law are etched on our hearts and passed down to those who follow.