Deuteronomy 30:12

12 neither it is set in heaven, that thou say, Who of us may go up to heaven, that he bring it to us, and we hear it, and fulfill it in work? (nor is it set in the heavens, so that thou sayest, Who shall go up to the heavens for us, and bring it down, so that we can hear it, and fulfill it with our deeds?)

Deuteronomy 30:12 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 30:12

It [is] not in heaven
The scheme of it was formed in heaven, it was hid in the heart of God there, before revealed; it was ordained before the world was for our glory; it was brought down from thence by Christ, and committed to his apostles and ministers of the word to preach it to men; and has been ever since continued on earth, and will be at the time of the conversion of the Jews:

that thou shouldest say;
that there should be any occasion of saying; it forbids any such kind of speech as, follows:

who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it to us, that we may hear
it, and do it?
there is no need of that, for it is brought from thence already, and may be heard, and should be obeyed; for to put such a question would be the same as to ask "to bring Christ down from above", who is come down already by the assumption of human nature, to preach the Gospel, give the sense of the law, and fulfil it, to do the will of his Father, bring in an everlasting righteousness, and save his people; so that there is no need of his coming again on the same errand, since he has obtained eternal redemption, and is the author of everlasting salvation, which is the sum and substance of the Gospel.

Deuteronomy 30:12 In-Context

10 if nevertheless thou hearest the voice of thy Lord God, and keepest his behests and his ceremonies, that be written in this (book of the) law, and if thou turn again to thy Lord God in all thine heart, and in all thy soul. (if nevertheless thou hearest the voice of the Lord thy God, and obey his commandments and his statutes, that be written in this Book of the Law, and if thou return to the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul.)
11 This commandment which I command to thee today, is not (too far) above thee, neither it is set far from thee (nor is it set too far away from thee),
12 neither it is set in heaven, that thou say, Who of us may go up to heaven, that he bring it to us, and we hear it, and fulfill it in work? (nor is it set in the heavens, so that thou sayest, Who shall go up to the heavens for us, and bring it down, so that we can hear it, and fulfill it with our deeds?)
13 neither it is set beyond the sea, that thou complain, and say, Who of us may pass over the sea, and bring it hither to us, that we may hear, and do that that is commanded to us? (nor is it set beyond the sea, so that thou can complain, and say, Who of us shall cross over the sea, and bring it back here to us, so that we can hear it, and do what is commanded to us?)
14 But the word is full nigh thee, in thy mouth, and in thine heart, that thou do it. (But the word is very near to thee, yea, it is in thy mouth, and in thy heart, so that thou can do it.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.