Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Deuteronomy 6:24
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.
24. Jehovah commanded us to do all these statutes ] This phrase is natural to the time and standpoint assumed throughout Deu 6:20-25, viz. those of the later generation before which the statutes will already have been published. Notice, too, how naturally Jehovah is used instead of the deuteronomic Jehovah thy God; for here we have, not Moses addressing Israel, but Moses quoting what Israel are to say to their children; so, too, Jehovah our God (thrice) is to be explained. Thus two of Steuernagel’s reasons for counting the passage as secondary (that Sg. does not elsewhere in the introductory discourses take the laws as already published and that Jehovah our God does not elsewhere occur in the Sg.) are disposed of. He has missed the standpoint of the speakers whom Moses quotes. Steuernagel’s third reason for the secondariness of the passage that it interrupts by its emphasis on obedience the Sg. course of thought, which before and after it warns against the worship of other gods is insufficient.
might preserve us alive ] Sustain the national existence which He had begun by the redemption from Egypt ( Deu 6:21). The Law is given to preserve the life born in that deed of grace. See above.
alive, as at this day ] ‘It deserves attention that this points to the composition [of the passage] as pre-exilic, for the Exile was felt as death’ (Bertholet). This would be a good argument if the words were part of Moses’ direct address to Israel, but they are spoken from the standpoint of a generation settled in Palestine.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Deu 6:24
The Lord commanded us to do all these statutes.
The moral significance of Gods laws
The doctrine of this text is that Gods laws are for the good of His subjects; that the basis of all His laws is benevolence; that their foundation is love.
I. This fact is well attested.
1. In the nature of the commands.
2. In the experience of His subjects. The loyal have ever been the happiest.
II. This fact reveals the divine character.
1. Unbounded love.
2. Complete wisdom.
3. Absolute independence.
III. This fact explains the condition of all human happiness. What is it? Not the search for it as an end. He that seeketh his life shall lose it. Obey, because it is right to obey the Infinitely Holy and the Supremely Good. (U. R. Thomas.)
Obligation, nature, and advantages of religion
I. The obligation of religion. The Lord commanded us.
1. The will of God is the proper ground of moral obligation.
2. The will of God, as made known to us, is the statement and rule of religion.
II. The particular nature of religion.
1. To fear the Lord our God–the mind constituted so as that certain affections may be produced by certain objects. The true knowledge of God will produce reverence, admiration, and dread. At first this, with a deep sense of guilt, will be the spirit of bondage unto fear. When the Spirit of adoption is received the fear is filial, reverential, producing hatred to sin.
2. To do all these statutes. Religion is to be practical and external, as well as experimental and internal.
(1) It is not talking about the Divine laws, but doing them.
(2) It is not doing what we please, but the commands of God.
(3) It is not selecting such as we prefer, but doing all these statutes.
(4) It is not doing them carelessly, but with due thought, observe.
(5) It is not doing them formally or to please man, but in reference to God Himself; before the Lord.
(6) Obedience is not to be in opposition to the covenant of mercy, but connected with it; before the Lord our God.
III. Value and advantages of religion.
1. It shall be our righteousness. Mercy comes only through merit and intercession of Christ. Is at first received only by faith. Still, He is Author of eternal salvation only to them that obey Him. For Christs sake continued obedience to the law of our dispensation is the channel of continual acceptance.
2. For our good always. We enjoy the favour of God, and the light of His countenance is our happiness. His providence takes care of us. His glory will receive us. (G. Cubitt.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
The benefit of obedience is ours, not Gods Job 35:7 and therefore our obedience is highly reasonable, and absolutely necessary.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes,…. Some of which were designed on purpose to commemorate the wonderful deliverance out of Egypt, as particularly the passover; and all of them they were obliged in gratitude to obey, in consideration of such great favours bestowed upon them:
to fear the Lord our God, for our good always: as it is always for the good of men, temporal, spiritual, and eternal, to fear the Lord; for there is no want to them that fear him, nor will the Lord withhold good things from them; see Ps 34:9,
that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day; in bodily health and strength, and in the enjoyment of the good land, and all the blessings and benefits of it.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
always = for all time. Hebrew all the days.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
to fear: Deu 6:2
for our good: Deu 10:13, Job 35:7, Job 35:8, Pro 9:12, Isa 3:10, Jer 32:39, Mat 6:33, Rom 6:21, Rom 6:22
he might: Deu 4:1, Deu 4:4, Deu 8:1, Deu 8:3, Psa 41:2, Psa 66:9, Pro 22:4, Rom 10:5
Reciprocal: Deu 29:28 – as it is this day