Deuteronomy 6:16-25

16 Do not test the Lord your God as you did at Massah.
17 Be sure to obey the commands of the Lord your God and the rules and laws he has given you.
18 Do what the Lord says is good and right so that things will go well for you. Then you may go in and take the good land the Lord promised to your ancestors.
19 He will force all your enemies out as you go in, as the Lord has said.
20 In the future when your children ask you, "What is the meaning of the laws, commands, and rules the Lord our God gave us?"
21 tell them, "We were slaves to the king of Egypt, but the Lord brought us out of Egypt by his great power.
22 The Lord showed us great and terrible signs and miracles, which he did to Egypt, the king, and his whole family.
23 The Lord brought us out of Egypt to lead us here and to give us the land he promised our ancestors.
24 The Lord ordered us to obey all these commands and to respect the Lord our God so that we will always do well and stay alive, as we are today.
25 The right thing for us to do is this: Obey all these rules in the presence of the Lord our God, as he has commanded."

Deuteronomy 6:16-25 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.

Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.