Deuteronomy Chapter 6
Moses Reminds Israel of the Commandment and the Warning
A. The Commandment: The Essence of God’s Law
1. (Deuteronomy 6:1–3) Remember the Commandment before entering Canaan.
“Now this is the commandment, and these are the statutes and judgments which the LORD your God has commanded to teach you, that you may observe them in the land which you are crossing over to possess, that you may fear the LORD your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged. Therefore hear, O Israel, and be careful to observe it, that it may be well with you, and that you may multiply greatly as the LORD God of your fathers has promised you; ‘a land flowing with milk and honey.’”
Moses began this portion by emphasizing the commandment in the singular, showing that all of God’s laws are unified in one great principle: to love and obey the LORD wholeheartedly. The use of the singular form is emphatic in the Hebrew text, directing the attention of the Israelites to one supreme command that encompasses all others. The statutes and judgments given by God were not arbitrary rules, but divine principles to be lived out when Israel entered the Promised Land.
The goal of these commands was that Israel might fear the LORD your God, meaning a reverential awe and submission to His authority. Such godly fear leads to obedience, for true fear of God produces loyalty and faithfulness to His word. This obedience was to be generational, extending from you and your son and your grandson, ensuring that the covenant relationship between God and His people would continue.
The promise that your days may be prolonged reveals the conditional nature of Israel’s blessing. Longevity, prosperity, and multiplication in the land depended upon their faithfulness to God’s covenant. The phrase a land flowing with milk and honey represents abundance and divine provision, yet it was not automatic. It required careful obedience. Moses called them to hear and observe, underscoring that hearing without obedience is incomplete faith. God’s covenant blessing was always linked to active, continual obedience to His revealed will.
2. (Deuteronomy 6:4–5) The Great Commandment: Love the LORD your God.
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”
The passage known as the Shema (“hear” in Hebrew) became Israel’s daily confession of faith. It summarized who God is and what He requires from His people. The declaration The LORD our God, the LORD is one affirms monotheism — that there is only one true God. However, the Hebrew term echad for “one” does not imply absolute singularity (yachid) but a compound unity. This word choice allows for the revelation of the Trinity without contradiction, for God is one in essence yet triune in person.
This concept is confirmed throughout Scripture. In Genesis 2:24, “the two shall become one flesh,” the term echad describes unity within plurality. In Exodus 26:6 the tabernacle curtains were joined together so that the tent would be one (echad), again showing unity composed of parts. Likewise, in Ezekiel 37:17, two sticks are joined together to become one (echad). The same linguistic pattern supports the understanding of God’s nature as one essence existing in three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The name Elohim also reflects plurality within unity. It is a plural noun often used with singular verbs, indicating multiple persons sharing one divine essence. Early Jewish commentators recognized this mystery. Rabbi Simeon ben Joachi wrote, “There are three degrees, and each degree by itself alone, and yet they are all one.” This observation affirms what Christians later articulated as the doctrine of the Trinity. As 1 Corinthians 8:6 declares, “Yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.”
Because God is one, His people must respond with undivided devotion: You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. This command calls for complete, exclusive love — a love that involves the whole person: emotion (heart), life (soul), and energy (strength). Love is not merely an emotion but an act of the will expressed in obedience. God’s desire is not for mechanical observance of rituals, but for wholehearted affection that manifests itself in faithful obedience.
Such love is fitting because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). Jesus identified this as the great commandment in Matthew 22:37–38, saying, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment.” True obedience flows from love, not duty alone. To give God our time, money, or service without giving Him our heart is hypocrisy. But when the heart is wholly His, everything else follows freely.
3. (Deuteronomy 6:6–9) The continual reminder of the Law
“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.” (Deuteronomy 6:6–9, KJV)
These words which I command thee this day shall be in thine heart: Moses emphasized that the commandments of God were not merely to be memorized or repeated outwardly, but to be hidden within the heart. True obedience begins internally. God did not want mechanical religion, but heartfelt devotion. The commandments were to shape their affections, thoughts, decisions, and worldview. If the heart is not engaged, no amount of outward religious display matters. This is why David later said in Psalm 119:11, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”
And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children: The family was to be the primary school of theology. Parents were commanded to pass on the truth of God deliberately and continually. The word diligently carries the idea of sharpening a blade, meaning that God’s truth was to be carefully, repeatedly impressed on the minds of their children. The faith was not to be assumed or left to the priests or schools, but taught in the home by fathers and mothers who loved God.
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: The law of God was not to be reserved only for worship gatherings, but it was to be woven into everyday life. Conversation about the Lord was to be natural and constant, at home, on the road, in the evening, and in the morning. This means Scripture was not to be merely a subject of study, but the rhythm of daily living. God’s Word was to be the atmosphere of the home. Faith was not a Sabbath-only religion but a continual walk with God.
And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes: This meant that God’s commandments were to guide their actions, represented by the hand, and their thoughts, represented by the forehead. In later Jewish tradition, this was literally practiced through the use of phylacteries, known as tefillin, small leather boxes containing passages of Scripture, tied to the forehead and arm during prayer. In itself the act was not condemned, but Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for abusing it in pride. “But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries” (Matthew 23:5). Outward religion without inward obedience is hypocrisy. Furthermore, Satan will counterfeit this idea in the end times, when the mark of the beast is placed on the right hand or forehead of those who worship the Antichrist (Revelation 13:16). The mark will represent allegiance to a false god, just as obedience to God’s law represents loyalty to the true God.
And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates: This command gave rise to the Jewish practice of the mezuzah, a small container with Scripture placed on the right side of the doorpost. The purpose was to publicly identify the house as belonging to the LORD and to remind all who enter and exit that this home is under His covenant and authority. More importantly, God intended that every part of Israel’s life, both private at home and public at the city gate, be governed by His Word.
B. The Danger of Disobedience
1. (Deuteronomy 6:10–12) The danger of leaving God in times of prosperity
Full Scripture (KJV):
“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.”
God warned Israel that prosperity carries spiritual danger. He would give them great and goodly cities which thou buildedst not, houses already stocked with provision, wells already dug, vineyards and olive trees already producing fruit. In other words, they would step into blessings they did not labor for. But with ease comes temptation, and the greatest danger is not poverty, but abundance. When they would eat and be full, the warning came: beware lest thou forget the LORD. Forgetting is not an intellectual lapse, but a spiritual neglect—living as if God no longer matters. This became the repeated pattern in Israel’s history, especially in the book of Judges. Blessing led to complacency, complacency to rebellion, rebellion to discipline, discipline to repentance, and repentance to restoration. Man often thinks danger lies in hardship, but God knows our hearts are more easily deceived by comfort. As Matthew Henry said in essence, adversity has slain its thousands, but prosperity its ten thousands. When men grow rich, they begin to say, “this I may thank myself for,” and pride replaces gratitude.
2. (Deuteronomy 6:13–19) How to avoid apostasy in prosperity: honor the LORD in everything
Full Scripture (KJV):
“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 ye may go in and possess the good land which the LORD sware unto your fathers, to cast out all thine enemies from before thee, as the LORD hath spoken.”
Moses explained how Israel could remain faithful when prosperity came.
Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him. This fear is not terror before a tyrant, but deep reverence and holy awe. It is the fear that hates the thought of offending a loving God who redeemed them. This is the very Scripture Jesus quoted to Satan in Matthew 4:10: “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”
And shalt swear by his name. This means that if oaths are made, they must be in God’s name alone, not by idols or false gods. While Jesus warned against careless swearing in Matthew 5:33–37, Scripture also shows that righteous oaths made in truth and justice are permissible, for God Himself swears by His own name (Hebrews 6:13).
Ye shall not go after other gods. The land of Canaan would be filled with idols, altars, high places, and seductive customs. God reminded them He is a jealous God. His jealousy is not petty or insecure, but the holy jealousy of a husband for the faithfulness of his bride. To turn to idols after all His love, deliverance, and mercy would rightly provoke His anger.
Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted him in Massah. At Massah (Exodus 17:1–7), Israel demanded God prove His love by providing water on their terms. This is testing God, placing Him in the dock and requiring Him to meet our conditions. Jesus again used this passage against Satan in Matthew 4:7, refusing to jump from the temple to force God to prove His care. To question God’s love after countless demonstrations is to sin against His heart.
And thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of the LORD, that it may be well with thee. Obedience brings blessing under the Old Covenant. God repeatedly ties prosperity, victory, and peace to faithfulness. Under the New Covenant, blessing does not come by earning and deserving, but by believing and receiving because Christ fulfilled the law for us (Romans 8:3–4). Yet God still disciplines His children when they sin, not with wrath, but with fatherly correction.
Those who fear the freedom of grace must ask—did Israel achieve holiness by the system of law? The Old Covenant brought either despair or pride. The New Covenant brings transformation. God writes His law upon our hearts and makes obedience flow from love rather than fear.
3. (Deuteronomy 6:20–25) How to avoid apostasy in times of prosperity: Teach your children to understand and honor the LORD
“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.”
When thy son asketh thee in time to come: Moses anticipated a future question from the next generation. Children who grow up in blessing, free from hardship, will inevitably ask why God’s laws matter. This is why apostasy often begins not with the first generation who experienced God’s power, but with the second who only inherited its benefits. They enjoy vineyards they did not plant and homes they did not build, yet they do not understand the cost or the covenant behind those blessings.
Then thou shalt say unto thy son: God commands parents to answer—not with philosophy, but with testimony. Israel was to begin with these words: We were Pharaoh’s bondmen in Egypt; and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. The foundation of obedience is remembering redemption. Parents must remind their children, “We were slaves. God saved us. That is why we serve Him.” Christianity follows the same pattern. Parents must not only teach commands, but tell how Christ delivered them personally from sin and death. If children only inherit rules without redemption, they inherit religion without relationship.
And the LORD shewed signs and wonders: Israel was to recount the mighty works of God—how He humbled Egypt, judged Pharaoh, parted the Red Sea, and brought them through the wilderness. Children must hear the history of God’s saving power so they will not treat grace as ordinary. Forgetting redemption always leads to rebellion.
That he might bring us out… that he might bring us in: God did not redeem Israel merely to set them free, but to bring them into a land of promise. Redemption always has purpose. God brings us out of sin to bring us into fellowship, holiness, and blessing in His will.
And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always: God’s laws are not burdens, but blessings. They are not chains, but safeguards. He gave His commandments for our good always. Obedience preserves life, protects families, and keeps hearts from idolatry. God is not a tyrant giving arbitrary commands, but a Father safeguarding His children.
And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments: Under the Old Covenant, righteousness came by perfect obedience to the law. If a man kept all the commandments continually, he would be counted righteous before God. But no one ever did. James 2:10 says, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” Therefore, this statement prepares the way for the gospel. Since man cannot perfectly obey, he needs a perfect substitute. Jesus Christ alone fulfilled all righteousness. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. What Israel failed to obtain by works, Christ provides by grace to those who believe.
