Deuteronomy 27

9–13 Mount Gerizim was near Mount Ebal. Six tribes were to stand on the slopes of one mountain, and six on the other. The Levites were to stand in the valley between and actually pronounce the blessings and curses; then the respective tribes on the two mountains would say “Amen”⁷²—thus expressing their solemn acceptance not only of the blessings (for obedience) but also of the curses (for disobedience). It is not known why Moses did not include the blessings in this chapter; only the curses are listed.⁷³ Perhaps the blessings were the mirror images of the curses: “Blessed is the man who does not do each of these things.”

14–26 The curses listed in these verses are curses against individuals who have disobeyed God’s commands. The curses have the effect of cutting off the guilty person from the community—of purging the evil from the land—thus allowing Israel to remain in covenant relationship with God. The specific offenses mentioned in these verses are illustrative; they are examples taken from the whole body of law given by Moses. It is not known why these particular offenses were included in this ceremony rather than others. All the offenses listed here (except the last) are violations of laws that Moses had given earlier.⁷⁴

The last offense (verse 26) is a summary of all the others. But it also adds a very important truth: the only way to uphold the words of the law is by carrying them out. It was not enough for the Israelites to simply agree to the laws of God; they had to obey them as well.

The corollary of this verse is also true: blessed is the man who does uphold the words of this law by carrying them out. There is only one problem: no person has ever been able to carry out all of these words (Romans 3:10–12). Therefore, no person can ultimately be blessed by obeying the law. Paul quoted this verse in Galatians 3:10 to show that the law cannot save us—it can only curse us, because we cannot obey it fully. And that, of course, is why God sent His Son Jesus into the world—to accomplish what the law itself could not accomplish: the SALVATION of all who put their faith in Him.

Perhaps this is why there are no blessings included in this chapter: the law, in itself, had no power to bless. But remember, there was also an altar at Mount Ebal, an altar of sacrifice. The entire sacrificial system of Israel points to Christ, who by offering Himself for the sins of the world became the sole means of our salvation. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us (Galatians 3:13)—by taking our punishment and dying in our place.