Deuteronomy 6:11-21

11 houses full of every good thing that you did not fill [them with], wells dug that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant[a]-and when you eat and are satisfied,
12 be careful not to forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery.
13 Fear the Lord your God, worship Him,[b] and take [your] oaths in His name.
14 Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you,
15 for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a jealous God.[c] Otherwise, the Lord your God will become angry with you and wipe you off the face of the earth.
16 Do not test the Lord your God as you tested [Him] at Massah.[d]
17 Carefully observe the commands of the Lord your God, the decrees and statutes He has commanded you.
18 Do what is right and good in the Lord's sight, so that you may prosper and so that you may enter and possess the good land the Lord your God swore to [give] your fathers,
19 by driving out all your enemies before you, as the Lord has said.[e]
20 "When your son asks you in the future, 'What is the meaning of the decrees, statutes, and ordinances, which the Lord our God has commanded you?'
21 tell him, 'We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a strong hand.

Deuteronomy 6:11-21 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 6

In this chapter Moses proceeds on in his exhortations to the people of Israel, to attend to the commandments of God, that it might be well with them, De 6:1-3, and begins with a principal and fundamental article of religion, which deserved their first and chief regard, the unity of God, and the love of him, De 6:4,5, which they were carefully to instinct their children in, and ever to be mindful of themselves, De 6:6-9, and when they were come into the land of Canaan, and into a plentiful enjoyment of all good things in it, they are exhorted to be careful not to forget the Lord, their kind benefactor; but to fear him, serve him, and not go after other gods, since he is jealous of his honour and worship, De 6:10-15 and not to tempt him, as they had done, but diligently keep, his commandments, that it might be well with them in that land, De 6:16-19, and when their children inquired the reason and meaning of such testimonies, statutes, and judgments, that were enjoined them, they were to give them the history of their case in Egypt, their deliverance from thence, the wonders that were wrought for them, and the introduction of them into the good land of Canaan; and to let them know that these commands were some of them in commemoration of these blessings; and by these they were laid under obligation to regard them all, and the rather, since they were not only for the glory of God, but for their own good, De 6:20-25.

Footnotes 5

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