Deuteronomy 5:1-33 - Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

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Bible Comments

Deuteronomy 5:4. The Lord talked with you face to face. That is, as the Chaldaic reads, talked to us, without a mediator; but literally, they saw no similitude. His voice was loud, for all the nation heard; at least, if they did not distinctly hear the words, they heard the thunder, and saw the appearance of devouring flames. How mild is the aspect of the gospel compared with the terrors of the law! Exodus 19:20.

Deuteronomy 5:29. Oh that there were such a heart in them. No father can be so solicitous for the reformation of a prodigal, as God is for the conversion of sinners. The church has sustained many long and unavailing controversies on the doctrines of grace, on liberty and necessity; but it is better to adore than dispute. Oh the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God. We are saved indeed by grace, but grace harmonized with the full consent of the heart, which at last yields, and sinks all helpless into the arms of God. On this head, Augustine has a wise saying: God who made thee without thee, will not save thee without thee.

REFLECTIONS.

Moses having again called the congregation, opens his ministry by painting the awful scenes of mount Sinai, at the promulgation of the law; for that covenant was binding to the children, as to their fathers. To what else can ministers appeal; the covenant is the same through all succeeding ages; and if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do!

He repeated the ten commandments nearly as in Exodus, and with such new motives as the Holy Spirit thought proper to add. The Israelites are required to give rest to their servants on the sabbathday, not merely because it was so from the beginning; but because they had all been servants in Egypt, and severely oppressed by the taskmasters; a most humane and worthy consideration. Filial homage and affection are farther enforced, not only by the length, but also by the blessings of life; that it may go well with thee. This has also been noticed by St. Paul, when applying the precept to christian children.

Moses reminds the people, that while terrified with the awful appearance of the fire, and with the sanctity of the divine voice, they had requested him to be a mediator, and to receive the law from the Lord. This proposition was pleasing to God. Hence we learn, what homage and reverence are due to the sacred ministry, when delivered in conformity to the word of God. Man may rely upon its declarations, as though God himself pronounced them from his holy place. Heaven and earth shall pass away; but his word shall not pass away. He surely will realize all the promises, and all the threatenings his servants shall pronounce.

The Lord, on accepting the mediation of Moses, uttered all the good wishes of a father and the compassion of a God for the people's happiness. Oh that there were such a heart in them: Deuteronomy 5:29. As much as to say, I have now given them my covenant presence. I have given them laws and statutes superior to those of all other nations. I have provided atonement for their sins, and enlarged the promises of the Messiah, and of his kingdom. I have called them into a high state of favour and fellowship with myself. I have set before them a blessing and a curse. More I cannot do, without invading the original laws and liberty of man. If I withdraw or diminish my grace, then they are left to follow the corruption of their heart, and to perish. If I enlarge the grace of the covenant, or of initial salvation, then I force their will, and all their obedience and love are acts of necessity, not of choice. Sin in them, so circumstanced, would be no longer sin, and virtue would be no longer virtue: or rather all their crimes would belong to me, which cannot possibly be. Oh my Israel, then, thy destruction is of thyself: but in me is thy help. I give thee a covenant abounding with alsufficient grace; and Moses will superadd his intercession that thou mayest fear me, and keep my commandments always, that it may be well with thee, and well with thy children for ever. See Ezekiel 33:11; Luke 19:41. See also on this text Dr. S. Clarke's Sermons. Dr. Doddridge's Lectures, first edition, pp. 36, 38, 571, 572. My translation of Ostervald's Exercise of the Ministry, 12mo. edition, p. 113.

Related Commentaries of Deuteronomy 5:1

Deuteronomy 5:1-33

1 And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep,a and do them.

2 The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb.

3 The LORD made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day.

4 The LORD talked with you face to face in the mount out of the midst of the fire,

5 (I stood between the LORD and you at that time, to shew you the word of the LORD: for ye were afraid by reason of the fire, and went not up into the mount;) saying,

6 I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.b

7 Thou shalt have none other gods before me.

8 Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth:

9 Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me,

10 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.

11 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

12 Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee.

13 Six days thou shalt labour, and do all thy work:

14 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou.

15 And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.

16 Honour thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

17 Thou shalt not kill.

18 Neither shalt thou commit adultery.

19 Neither shalt thou steal.

20 Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour.

21 Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour's wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour's house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbour's.

22 These words the LORD spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me.

23 And it came to pass, when ye heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, (for the mountain did burn with fire,) that ye came near unto me, even all the heads of your tribes, and your elders;

24 And ye said, Behold, the LORD our God hath shewed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he liveth.

25 Now therefore why should we die? for this great fire will consume us: if we hearc the voice of the LORD our God any more, then we shall die.

26 For who is there of all flesh, that hath heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?

27 Go thou near, and hear all that the LORD our God shall say: and speak thou unto us all that the LORD our God shall speak unto thee; and we will hear it, and do it.

28 And the LORD heard the voice of your words, when ye spake unto me; and the LORD said unto me, I have heard the voice of the words of this people, which they have spoken unto thee: they have well said all that they have spoken.

29 O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!

30 Go say to them, Get you into your tents again.

31 But as for thee, stand thou here by me, and I will speak unto thee all the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which thou shalt teach them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess it.

32 Ye shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.

33 Ye shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess.