v1: The words are addressed to all Israel, demanding obedience from each one. There was a necessary commitment, to learn and obey what God had said. The Ten Commandments, given here again, were the central part of the Covenant that God made with the people (v2).
v3: Moses insisted that the covenant was as applicable to the second generation as to the first.
v4: God had spoken; there was authority and righteousness.
v5: The people were afraid of the appearance of God, Ex 20.18-21, and Moses received the words for them.
- The commandments reveal God's holiness, Ps 119.137-138;
- The commandments provide a standard of righteousness, Ps 19.9
- The commandments expose and identify sin, Rom 7.7.
v6: God delivers; this is the motivation for obedience; see Ex 20.2.
v7: God has total authority; He can therefore demand total obedience and absolute surrender. In a man this would be tyrannical; in God this is right.
v8-10: God is jealous, and tolerates no rivals. This follows the teaching of ch 4. Disobedience here is serious, and is judged, v9. But those who love God receive mercy,
v11: The Name of God is a precious thing, as it declares who He is. We are thus to avoid blasphemy (Lev 24), and hypocrisy (Rom 2.21-24); we are to be careful in all our speaking (Ps 141.3; Matt 12.36). Our words should be true, edifying others, and reflecting the character of God.
v12-15: The fourth commandment was the longest. The institution of the Sabbath went back to creation (Gen 2.1-3); it was a day of rest and worship, Ex 23.12, and a distinctive mark of the Israelite people, Ex 31.16,16.
The Sabbath day also provided rest for slaves (v14), and was a reminder of the deliverance of God (v15).
In the New Testament, acts of mercy were permitted (Matt 12.1-4), and worship of God (Matt 12.5; see Num 28.9). By the first century, the Jewish people had surrounded God's provision of the Sabbath with all manner of rules and burdens, which the Lord Jesus Christ criticised.
v16: Honour your parents. God had created the family, and this was the unit upon which Israelite society was based. The stability and continuity of the family was therefore something important. See Gen 1.27-28; 2.24; Ex 21.17; Lev 25.25; Deut 21.18-21; Luke 2.51; Eph 6.1-4; Col 3.20-21.
Honour for parents includes reverence (Lev 20.9), obedience (Prov 4.1), gratitude (Mark 7.9-13). The Lord promised to bless those who obeyed this commandment; this was the only commandment with a specific blessing.
v17: The command not to murder reflects the sanctity of life.
v18: The command not to commit adultery reflects the sanctity of marriage. The fifth commandment encourages family life, and this commandment warns against anything that threatens true family life. Since marriage is of divine origin, anything that attacks marriage is serious; Job 31.9-12; Lev 20.10. There were serious consequences (Matt 5.27-29; 19.9). The N.T. commands a proper attitude to sex (1 Cor 7.1-2; Eph 5.22,25,28). Scripture lists many who fell in this area, and they stand as a warning to us.
v19: The command not to steal reflects a proper respect for others, and for what belongs to them.
v20: We should speak truth; as in v11; 19.16-20. It is not insignificant that liars are condemned (Rev 21.8); we should avoid lies, perjury, slander, hearsay, deceit, exaggeration, gossip; they all undermine relationships and reputations. Rather we should promote truth; Num 23.19; Ps 51.4; Ps 119.160; Prov 12.22; John 1.14,17; 14.6; Eph 4.29-32; 5.1; 6.14.
Often fewer words are better, Prov 10.19; Ps 141.3. In the multitude of our words, sin is not missing.
v21: Covetousness is a sign of a materialistic society, not necessarily a rich society. It also reflects personal dissatisfaction, since a person's well-being becomes wrapped up in what they have, rather than who they are; it also reflects a low esteem of spiritual things. It is akin to idolatry, Eph 5.5.
v22: He added no more - finality and sufficiency.
- He wrote them - permanence and authority.
- He gave them - communicated to encourage obedience. See Heb 12.18-19.
v23-27: The people responded with fear, amazed that God should speak with them, and that they did not die. In their fear, the people needed Moses to go near to God, and receive the words for them. They would obey everything!
v27: In their fear, the people needed Moses to go near to God, and receive the words for them. They would obey everything!
v28: The Lord approved of their reverence.
v29: The Lord knows the hearts of men, that the reverence of one day would not last. Soon, words of loyalty would be replaced by rebellion. In the gospels, "Hosanna" was soon replaced by "crucify". Yet there would be great blessings in real obedience.
v31: The emphasis is that the Israelites should obey the law in Canaan, see also 4.40; 6.1. This did not allow a lower standard before they entered the land, since disobedience was treated seriously, 9.16.
The inheritance of the land was certain, and was God's gift of grace, 9.4-5; once in the land, the people had a responsibility to display the character of God, as a testimony to other nations.