Read Deuteronomy 5-6 at Bible Gateway.
When we read the Ten Commandments, we are so used to thinking of them as a list of prohibitions: what we cannot do. But really, the commandment, You shall have no other gods before YHVH, for He alone is God, can be restated positively, as Keep the sanctity of the worship of YHVH.
1) Keep the sanctity of the worship of YHVH;
2) Keep the sanctity or sacredness of YHVH’s name;
3) Keep or honor the sacredness of YHVH’s Sabbath;
4) Honor the sacredness of YHVH’s authority;
5) Honor the sacredness of life;
6) Honor the sacredness of marital intimacy;
7) Honor the sacredness of private property;
8) Honor the sacredness of truth;
9 and 10) Keep the sanctity of the heart’s affections.
They are not merely the Ten Do Nots; they are also the list of the Ten Sacred Things.
God’s paragraph divisions occur after almost every commandment. But not always in the way we expect. Because what we traditionally consider the first and second commandment are combined in a single paragraph, and what we traditionally consider the 10th commandment is split into two paragraphs, it helps us see that the commandments themselves form a chiastic structure:
1A: Deu 5:6-10, 1st &2nd: Keep the sanctity of the worship of YHVH;
1B: Deu 5:11, 3rd: Keep the sanctity of YHVH’s name;
1C: Deu 5:12-15, 4th: Keep the sanctity of YHVH’s Sabbath;
1D: Deu 5:16, 5th: Keep the sanctity of YHVH’s authority;
CENTRAL AXIS: Deu 5:17, 6th: Keep the sanctity of life;
2D: Deu 5:18, 7th: Keep the sanctity of marital intimacy;
2C: Deu 5:19, 8th: Keep the sanctity of private property;
2B: Deu 5:20, 9th: Keep the sanctity of truth;
2A: Deu 5:21, 10th: Keep the sanctity of the heart’s affections.
I have included my outline of God’s paragraph divisions below:
Deu 5:1-5 {s} These statutes and judgments are the terms of Israel’s covenant with YHVH
Deu 5:6-10 {s} YHVH alone is God + do not make idols to worship
Deu 5:11 {s} Do not take the name of YHVH in vain
Deu 5:12-15 {s} Observe the Sabbath day to keep it holy
Deu 5:16 {s} Honor your father and mother
Deu 5:17 {s} Do not murder
Deu 5:18 {s} Do not commit adultery
Deu 5:19 {s} Do not steal
Deu 5:20 {s} Do not bear false witness
Deu 5:21a {s} Do not covet your neighbor’s wife
Deu 5:21b {s} Do not covet anything that is your neighbor’s
Deu 5:22-6:3 {p} YHVH’s voice spoke these commandments + hear + pay heed + observe
The overarching topic of the strong theme from Deu 5:1-6:3 might be stated, The commandments which Israel heard, which Moses is to teach, and Israel is to pay careful heed to and observe.
Deu 6:4-9 {s} Listen to YHVH’s commandments
Deu 6:10-15 {s} Pay careful heed to YHVH’s commandments
Deu 6:16-19 {s} Observe YHVH’s commandments
Deu 6:20-25 {s} Teach YHVH’s commandments to your children
Deu 7:1-11 {p} …
For further study: What are the four verbs that are repeated over and over in various ways in these two chapters? Hint: they are highlighted in chapter 6. Go through the text and make a note of all their occurrences. Also, yesterday we noted that Moses began to explain why Israel was to keep YHVH’s commandments. Find all the places in these two chapters where Moses continues to explain why Israel must keep the LORD’s commandments (hint: search for the word “that” which begins most phrases).
Finding Messiah:
” … but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.” Deu 5:10
Let us remember that in the tabernacle, the mercy seat covers the ark, in which are contained the two tablets of the Ten Commandments! Of course God does not mean, that He will show mercy only if the commandments are kept perfectly, without the slightest error. For then why would mercy be necessary?
But the one who loves God, and who expresses his love for God in the way that God finds meaningful, by obedience to His commandments as a way of life, as an attitude of, they are ever before me, and I am ever seeking after more perfect obedience out of my love for God – to that one, God shows mercy.
His mercy is shown in Messiah Yeshua, who nailed the list of our transgressions of the commandments to the cross with Him (Col 2:14).
For further reading:
There is sooo much gold in these chapters, especially chapter 6, that I did not have space to go into! Please study some of these links, and you will be blessed!
Parashat Vaetchannan, Deu 3:23-7:11 (pdf) – Restoration of Torah Ministries
Parashah Bazneikhem (listen), Deu 5:1-6:3
Parashah Shema (hear), Deu 6:4-7:11
Deu 6:4-9, the commandment
Deu 6:10-15, beware
Deu 6:16-19, do
Deu 6:20-25, teach
Deu 6:23, brought out to be brought in
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deuteronomy index ::: ::: ::: one year reading schedule
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