the ten commandments 2007 sep 19
Let us begin by outlining Deuteronomy:
chapters 1-4: Moses’ introductory speech
chapters 5-26: Moses’ main speech explaining the Ten Commandments (see Deu 1:5);
chapters 27-28: Moses’ speech of admonition
chapters 29-30: Moses’ prophetic speech of Israel’s future repentance
chapters 31-34: Moses’ concluding speech and death
Now how do we know that Deuteronomy chapters 5 through 26 explain the Ten Commandments? We know that chapter 5:1 begins a discourse, because the sentence starts in third person, then finishes in first person:
And Moses called all Israel, and said to them, “Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your hearing today, that you may learn them and be careful to observe them.” ” Deu 5:1
And the first person discourse continues through chapter 26. The first verse of chapter 27 reverts to third person again, indicating that the discourse is concluded. That this discourse is concerned with the Ten Commandments, we can see by careful analysis:
The speech before the main speech (recorded in chapters 5 through 26) is a speech of introduction. Chapters 1 through 3 recounts the history of Israel up to the point of entering the Promised Land, then chapter 4 admonishes Israel to pay heed to the commandments which they heard spoken by the mouth of the Lord Himself.
So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone. And the Lord commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that you might observe them in the land which you cross over to possess. Deu 4:13-14
The entire covenant which the Lord commanded Israel, is equated with the Ten Commandments. So then what are the additional statutes and judgments? Now we must remember, that in verses 1 and 2 of this same chapter, Moses admonishes Israel to listen to the statutes and judgments which he will teach them to observe, and then he admonishes them not to add to the Lord’s commandments, or take away from them. Then chapter 5 is a recounting of the Ten Commandments, followed by this interesting phrase:
These words the Lord spoke to all your assembly, in the mountain from the midst of the fire, the cloud, and the thick darkness, with a loud voice; and He added no more. And He wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me. Deu 5:22
So if the Lord added no more commands to the Ten Commandments, and if the Lord, through Moses, admonished Israel to also add no more commands to the Ten Commandments, what must we conclude the statutes and judgments are? The explanation of the Ten Commandments themselves, as it is written in Deu 1:5!
And as we will see, the main speech of chapters 5 through 26 does indeed neatly divide into sections, each explaining one of the Ten, even in the order in which the Ten were given to Moses on Mt. Sinai!
the first and greatest commandment 2007 oct 11
loving the Lord our God 2007 oct 17
loving means doing 2007 oct 31
take heed not to forget 2007 nov 07
the attitude of gratitude 2007 nov 16
the Lord dwells with the humble of heart 2007 dec 06
continued in ten commandments index of studies
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