Read the following verses and then, keeping in mind the context of this week (the whole quarter, actually), answer the questions that follow: “ ‘And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good?’” (Deut. 10:12-13, NKJV).
Image © Krieg Barrie from GoodSalt.com
If you were to summarize the essential meaning of these two verses, what would you say?
Of what New Testament text does this remind you, and why does this show us the great importance of the admonition of these verses in Deuteronomy?
The texts say that God “requires” (or “asks”) these things of us. How are we to understand the meaning of this in the context of salvation by faith alone?
The texts themselves deal greatly with our heart, our soul, with love and with fear—things that are often hard to judge from outward appearances. What outward manifestations of these inward things do the verses talk about? How does the link here between the inward and outward fit in with our understanding of Revelation 14:6–12?
Jesus in Matthew 23:15 gave the scribes and the Pharisees a stern evaluation of their “witnessing” and “evangelism” outreach toward the Gentiles. Thus, in a well-meaning quest to fulfill the gospel commission, we must always keep the deep truths expressed in Deuteronomy 10:12-13 before us. After all, with all our outreach efforts, the last thing we want to do is create more “son[s] of hell.”
Matthew 23:15 has been a long standing concern of mine. What good is the Gospel commission if what is taught is all wrong? It is my belief that God can work with just about anything but in unfavorable circumstances it becomes much more difficult to have an outcome of good fruit. We are to be His ambassadors, His priests, with a message that is consistent with His character and His government. If not, then we are priests of Baal and are building up Satan’s kingdom instead.
Enthusiasm is good but as Paul said of the Jews, “For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God” (Rom. 10:2-3 NKJV). That was the reason the Pharisees discipled people that became “twice as much a son of hell as yourselves” (Matt. 23:15 NKJV). I am of the opinion that we, as a church, have done essentially the same thing at times.
Prevention is far better than treating something after the fact. Once a wrong concept or practice sets in it becomes very difficult to change.
As for the context of this verse, Jesus was trying to reach through some very hard, encrusted hearts in a last ditch effort which is the reason he said things like this during the last week of His ministry on earth (Passion Week). But this was unusual, His general attitude was this:
Deuteronomy 10:12-13 contains the language of the basic formula for salvation:
1. Fear God = justification
2. walk in His ways = sanctification
This is also mirrored in the second commandment (showing mercy to thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments…)
It is also seen in the First Angels message (Fear God, give glory to him…)
It is also reflected in Eccl 12:13 (Fear God and keep His commandments,
For this is man’s all.)
These are “requirements” because this is how we are saved. It is through the combination of two things: faith and works (born of faith through love), justification and sanctification by which we are saved. Many other verses in the Bible speak of this formula. I have even written an article regarding this if any are interested.