Getting to the Heart of the Matter (Deuteronomy 6 1-26)

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Episode Notes: 

Episode Summary:

One of the most significant chapters of the Old Testament is Deuteronomy 6, because in it we uncover the core principles that God wanted His people to understand and live by. We explore the "heart of the matter" when it comes to following God's commandments and how this chapter answers crucial questions about obedience, love, and the passing of faith from one generation to the next.

Key Points:

• Introduction to Deuteronomy 6:
  • Deuteronomy 6 is positioned as one of the most critical chapters in the Old Testament, standing alongside other key passages like Genesis 12, Genesis 15:6, and Exodus 20.
  • The chapter begins with a command to observe God's statutes as the Israelites prepare to enter the Promised Land.
• The Command to Love God (Verses 1-5):
  • The passage emphasizes the importance of loving God with all your heart, soul, and strength, highlighting the Shema, Judaism's central confession of faith.
  • The Shema's declaration of God’s oneness presents challenges and opportunities in understanding the concept of the Trinity.
• The Importance of Teaching the Next Generation (Verses 6-9):
  • Moses instructs that God's commandments should be in our hearts first and then diligently taught to our children.
  • The chapter outlines a practical approach to making God's Word a central part of daily life, both through example and direct teaching.
• Warnings and Exhortations to Obedience (Verses 10-19):
  • Moses warns the Israelites not to forget God when they experience prosperity in the Promised Land.
  • The passage provides a clear order: Don’t forget God, fear Him, and avoid idolatry.
  • Jesus quotes this passage during His temptations in the wilderness, underlining its enduring significance.
• The Role of Parents in Spiritual Education (Verses 20-25):
  • Moses emphasizes the responsibility of parents to teach their children about God's mighty acts and the significance of His commandments.
  • The importance of telling the story of God’s deliverance from Egypt as a foundational narrative for understanding God's covenant is highlighted.
  • The passage also ties obedience to God’s commands with practical righteousness and the blessings that come from covenant faithfulness.
• Application to Modern Believers:
  • The episode draws parallels between the ancient Israelites' situation and the challenges faced by modern Christian families.
  • The emphasis is on the home as the primary place for teaching and living out the Christian faith.
  • The episode concludes with a call to ensure that Christianity is visibly and actively practiced in our homes, as this is crucial for passing the faith to the next generation.

Transcript

Getting to the Heart of the Matter. (Deuteronomy 6: 1-25)

Transcript,

When studying virtually any subject, it's helpful to the question, "What is the heart of the matter here?" 

That is a good question to ask, especially when studying the Old Testament, because the early rabbis identified 613 rules and ordinances when they came to explaining the ten commandments that Moses was given as the basis for the law.

So, what's the top priority? 

What is the heart of the matter?"

What’s really going on with all of this?

It seems to me that all of these questions are answered in the chapter we are looking at today. Deuteronomy 6. Welcome TBPDP….

Before we dive into this passage, let me suggest that I believe this is one of the most important chapters in the entire Old Testament. I would place it alongside Genesis 12, where God made His promise to Abraham, and Genesis 15:6, where "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." 

Exodus 20, which contains the Ten Commandments, is also in that category. However, I would also certainly put Deuteronomy 6 near the top of my list of OT passages, after the three I have just mentioned..

Of course, there are other important passages beyond the Pentateuch, but this is an extremely significant chapter. I’ll explain why when we reach the end, but for now, let’s walk through Deuteronomy 6.

Verse 1 says, 

Now this is the commandment, and these are the statutes and judgments which the Lord your God has commanded to teach you, that you may observe them in the land which you are crossing over to possess.

(Deuteronomy 6: 1)

Notice the word "observe." We’re called to observe these commandments in the land we are about to possess.

Verse 2 continues,

"That you may fear the Lord your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged."

The purpose is clear: they were to observe God’s commandments so that we may live long lives in the land He has given them.

Verse 3 emphasizes this further:

Therefore hear, O Israel, and ]be careful to observe it, that it may be well with you, and that you may multiply greatly as the Lord God of your fathers has promised you, a land flowing with milk and honey.

(Deuteronomy 6: 3)

So, from the start, the key word here is "observe." The point of these first four verses is that the Lord commanded these statutes for us to observe and keep. 

Additionally, we are to teach them to our children and grandchildren, so that our days may be long on the earth. This is reminiscent of what God told Adam when He placed him in the Garden of Eden: "Do this, and your days will be long in the garden”. If you don’t, you will have problems.

The reference to a "land flowing with milk and honey" would have been especially significant to desert dwellers, as it implied plenty of water—something that would have been highly appealing after living for years in the desert.

Moving on to verse 4, we encounter another key phrase:

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! “ You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

(Deuteronomy 6: 4-5)

This verse is incredibly significant; it’s Judaism’s confession of faith, known as the Shema—a term derived from the Hebrew word for "hear," which begins the verse. 

This verse is to Judaism what John 3:16 is to Christianity. Originally, the Shema consisted of just verse 4, but it later expanded to include verses 5-9, 11, 13-21, and in more recent history the text from Numbers 15:37-41 has been added and is read out in synagogues.

This verse is so foundational that, even today, if you listen to a Jewish radio worship time today, you’ll likely hear it quoted in Hebrew at the beginning. It forms the bedrock of Judaism.

Essentially, the verse is affirming that there is only one God, and that is the Lord.

By the way, this is often a stumbling block when trying to lead a Jewish person to accept Jesus as the Messiah. I usually get along fine until  I mentioned the Jesus as the Son of God. May Jews can’t accept the idea of the Trinity—there’s only one God," and this verse is at the heart of that belief.

So, how does the concept of the Trinity fit with this verse? The Trinity is not explicitly revealed in the Old Testament, but there are hints. For example, in Genesis 1:26, God says, "Let us make man in our image." 

The Jews have tried to explain this verse by saying God is speaking to the angels, but the use of "us" in this context I think stretches credibility because nowehere else in the Hebrew scriptures does itsay that God employed the angels in the act of creation.

I believe the us of “us”, leaves some room for the concept of the Trinity. 

Additionally, if you translate Deuteronomy 6:4 as "The Lord is one" (as in the New King James Version), the Hebrew word for "one" here is the same word used in Genesis 2:24, where Adam and Eve are described as "one flesh."

Now, let's move on to verse 5, which says, 

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength."

(Deuteronomy 6: 5)

You might recognize this verse. Why? Because when the lawyer asked Jesus, "What is the greatest commandment?" Jesus quoted this very verse.

This verse, however, presents some interesting challenges. What exactly is the difference between "heart," "soul," and "strength"? Because we are told that all of these three aspects of our character are called upon to love the Lord.

"Strength" is likely referring to the physical aspect, which is pretty straightforward. But what about "heart" and "soul"?

One authority I read suggested that "heart" represents emotions, while "soul" is the centre of personality. 

Another scholar argues that "heart" is the seat of intelligence—equivalent to the mind or the rational part, and that the "soul" includes the will and sensibilities. 

I believe this phrase is simply meant to suggest that these terms collectively mean that we are to love God with our whole selves.

Interestingly, when Jesus quotes this passage in the New Testament, He adds "mind," emphasizing the totality of our commitment.

However you interpret these terms, the main point is clear: we are to love the Lord unreservedly, with wholehearted commitment. The keyword here is "wholehearted." Whether you focus on heart, soul, or strength, the emphasis is on loving God with everything that is within you.

So, the first division of Deuteronomy 6 is deeply significant. It tells us that there is one God, and we are to love Him wholeheartedly. So far, so good.

Now, the next part of this passage is an encouragement, specifically addressing how we should oversee what goes on in our households, particularly concerning our children. Verse 6 says, 

"And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart." Verse 7 continues, "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up."

I think that this is one of the most significant passages in the Bible for instructing us on how to raise children. 

Notice the order in verse 6: "These words shall be in your heart." Then, in verse 7, "You shall teach them." The message here is that you must first be an example before you can teach. This is how you raise a any young disciple. Truth is more often caught than taught, especially among children, though this principle applies to adults as well. 

So, it's critical that you live out what you're trying to teach.

Moving on to verse 8, it says.

You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

(Deuteronomy 6: 8)

This is an extensive and detailed explanation of how the Word of God should be present in our lives.

Let’s go back to verse 7, which emphasizes that we should talk about God’s Word throughout the day: "When you sit in your house"—that might be at breakfast—"when you walk by the way"—during the day—"when you lie down"—at bedtime—and "when you rise up", in the morning.

This is saying that the Word of God needs to be in your heart and in your mouth, especially when it comes to teaching your children.

The Jews took this command literally. They created small boxes containing Scripture and wore them on their hands and foreheads, based on this passage. Jesus criticized them for this practice in Matthew 23, condemning their pride in wearing these symbols rather than obeying the Scriptures themselves.

As for writing them on the doorposts of your house and gates, the Jews literally did this as well. They placed small metal boxes, called mezuzahs, on their doorposts around the house.

The purpose behind all of this is clear: the Word of God should be in your heart, then in your mouth, so that you can teach it to your children. 

The idea is to make the Word of God a central part of daily life, so much so that it becomes visible everywhere—whether on your person or in your home.

Of course, the priority is to have God’s Word in your heart and in your mouth, but it’s not a bad idea to visually remind yourself of Scripture sometimes with perhaps an encouraging verse placed strategically somewhere in your home.

One final observation about all of this: The command to "write" these words suggests that the people were literate? That’s important, the fact that God instructed them to write reveals that literacy was widespread in Israel at this time.

Ancient Hebrew documents uncovered by archaeologists show that there were readers and writers in ancient Israel, and that literacy was by no means rare. 

Later, Israel’s kings were required to write out their own copy of the Torah, unlike most other kings in ancient times, who were often illiterate. This suggests a higher level of literacy in Israel, certainly compared to neighbouring nations.

This is interesting to note because, historically, education in this country was also initiated by Christians to teach people how to read the Bible and train ministers. 

Oxford, Cambridge in the UK and Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and several others were all started as way to train people in theology and to train ministers. So, the whole idea of being schooled and literate is a biblical concept.

But the real point here is this is to, “Teach God’s Word to your children diligently”. God commanded this because He knew that if you don’t, they are likely to break the law and depart from it. To prevent this, you must teach them and help them apply God’s Word in every aspect of life.

Today parents no longer teaching their children, about the Christian faith, leading them to stray from the Lord? 

I heard a story about a little boy who said to her mother, "Mommy, you remember that vase on the mantlepiece The one that you said has been handed down from generation to generation?" The mother replied, "Yes, dear, what about it?" The little boy then said, sorry, but this generation just dropped it."

That’s exactly what happens when we fail to teach our children the Word of God. They drop it.

So far, we've seen two key principles, so far:

Observe God’s commandments and oversee their teaching in the home. 

I use the term "oversee" to emphasize the responsibility parents have in ensuring their children are taught the Word of God. Now, the next emphasis in this passage is on obedience. This section serves as an exhortation to obedience.

So it shall be, when the Lord your God brings you into the land of which He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you large and beautiful cities which you did not build, houses full of all good things, which you did not fill, hewn-out wells which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant—when you have eaten and are full,  then beware, lest you forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

(Deuteronomy 6: 10-12)

This is an exhortation to remember and obey God. 

The first warning is simple: do not forget. He reminds them that they will inherit cities and all their wealth, but they must not forget the Lord who brought them out of Egypt.

Moving on to the next exhortation to obedience, in verse 13, Moses says:

"You shall fear the Lord your God and serve Him, and shall take oaths in His name."

This verse is particularly noteworthy because it is again one that Jesus Himself quoted.

Remember when Jesus was tempted by Satan three times? Each time, He quoted Scripture from Deuteronomy. In Matthew 4:10, Jesus says, "You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve," which is taken from this very verse.

So, we have two commands: don’t forget, and fear the Lord. If you don’t heed these, what’s the next danger? Idolatry. Verse 14 warns:

"You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are all around you."

I put these commands in order: Verse 11 tells us, "Don’t forget." Verse 13 tells us, "Fear the Lord." And if you fail in these two areas, verse 14 warns that you will end up with other gods. 

Moses is spelling it out: don’t forget, fear the Lord, and do not pursue other gods.

Why is this important? Because, the verse explains:

"For the Lord your God is a jealous God among you, lest the anger of the Lord your God be aroused against you and destroy you from the face of the earth."

(Deuteronomy 6: 15)

God is described as a "jealous God." Jealousy, in this context, is legitimate when it concerns something that rightfully belongs to you. 

God has every right to be jealous because He created the Israelites, redeemed them, and founded their nation. So, He warns them: don’t forget, fear Me, and don’t have other gods.

Moses then adds another command in the next verse.

You shall not tempt the Lord your God as you [e]tempted Him in Massah. You shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, His testimonies, and His statutes which He has commanded you.

(Deuteronomy 6: 16-17)

This is another verse Jesus quoted when tempted by Satan. When the Israelites were in the wilderness and ran out of water, they began to murmur and complain, which is referred to as "tempting" or "testing" the Lord. 

The Hebrew word here implies putting God to the test, challenging His promises and provisions.

When Satan tempted Jesus to throw Himself off the pinnacle of the temple, Jesus responded by quoting this verse, saying, "You shall not tempt the Lord your God." To doubt God’s care and goodness is to test Him, to provoke Him, rather than trusting Him.

Then, Moses concludes:

And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord, that it may be well with you, and that you may go in and possess the good land of which the Lord swore to your fathers, to cast out all your enemies from before you, as the Lord has spoken.

(Deuteronomy 6: 18-19)

As I’ve emphasized repeatedly, this section of Deuteronomy is all about obedience. Moses tells them: Don’t forget. Fear the Lord. Don’t worship other gods. Don’t test God. And finally, be diligent in keeping His commandments.

What’s interesting is how Moses addresses both prosperity and adversity.

In verses 10-15, he talks about the prosperity they will experience when they inherit the land, the houses they didn’t build, wells they didn’t dig, and vineyards they didn’t plant. 

Then, in verses 16-19, he addresses the trials they will face, urging them to trust God even in difficult times. Whether in prosperity or adversity, the call is the same, be devoted to the Lord and obey Him.

It’s easy to forget the Lord during times of prosperity, but we must be careful to remain obedient and devoted to Him in all circumstances. 

There’s a story about a young Frenchman who captured the world’s attention by walking a tightrope between the towers of the New York World Trade Center, 1,350 feet above the street. (Man on a Wire). 

Yet, a few months later, while practicing on a relatively low wire in St. Petersburg, Florida, he fell 30 injuring himself for a while. 

When he landed, he pounded the ground cried out, "I can’t believe it! I can’t believe it! I never thought this could happen!" 

Later writing about the incident he noted that his concentration wavered. When you’re 1,350 feet in the air, you’re paying attention. But when you’re only a few feet up, that’s when you lose focus, and that’s when you are most likely to fall.

As Scripture warns, "Take heed when you think you stand, lest you fall." Moses is urging the Israelites not to forget God, especially in times of ease, and to remain obedient.

So far, we’ve seen three key encouragments: to observe God’s commandments, to oversee their teaching in the home, and to obey God in all circumstances. 

But we’re not done with the chapter yet—there’s more. The next section brings us back to another crucial point: teaching our children.

Moses continues in verse 20:

When your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is the meaning of the testimonies, the statutes, and the judgments which the Lord our God has commanded you?’ then you shall say to your son: ‘We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, and the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand; and the Lord showed signs and wonders before our eyes, great and severe, against Egypt, Pharaoh, and all his household.

(Deuteronomy 6: 20-22)

Earlier in the chapter, Moses commanded parents to teach their children diligently. Now, he expands on that command, providing a fuller explanation of how to do it.

When your children ask about the meaning of God’s commandments—the testimonies, statutes, and judgments—you are to tell them the story of what God has done. You say to them, "We were slaves, but the Lord delivered us."

"Then He brought us out from there, that He might bring us in, to give us the land of which He swore to our fathers."

(Deuteronomy 6: 23)

Again, Moses emphasizes the importance of teaching children about what God has done in the past. You’re not just teaching rules—you’re telling the story of God’s faithfulness, how He brought us from slavery to the Promised Land. You’re reminding them of God’s mighty acts.

In verse 24, Moses ties the commandments to the well-being of the people, saying

"Teach your children that obeying God’s commands is for our good, so that we may live and prosper." And the Lord commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day."

Here, Moses envisions a household where the Word of God is openly discussed as part of everyday life. When a young person asks about the meaning of the law, the father is to use a specific pattern to teach them. 

This pattern can be summarized:

·         The Israelites were in bondage in Egypt.

·         God miraculously delivered them and judged the Egyptians.

·         This miraculous deliverance was in line with God’s ancient promise to the patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—to build a nation in the land of Canaan.

·         God gave His Word in the form of decrees so that the Israelites might always prosper by obeying it and fearing Him.

This summary beautifully encapsulates the essence of Moses’ teaching here: tell your children our history. Remind them of what God did to establish Israel.

Earlier in this chapter, Moses stressed the need for parents to love God with their whole being. Now, as the chapter closes, he indicates that one crucial aspect of loving God with all your heart is to pass that same love and obedience on to your children. This is the heart of what Moses is driving at.

Therefore, in verse 25, Moses concludes:

"Then it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to observe all these commandments before the Lord our God, as He has commanded us."

He is telling them that they are to carefully observe all the commandments, and in doing so, they will be considered righteous.

Now, let's put this in the context of the entire Bible.

Genesis 15:6 says that "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." 

Paul uses this verse in Romans to teach about justification by faith. So, there’s a sense in which when we believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins, was raised from the dead, and trust Him for salvation, we are declared righteous before God.

But there’s also a second kind of righteousness in the Bible, practical righteousness. This is when, because you love the Lord, you obey Him. You live according to His Word, and that is practical righteousness.

Obedience to the law could not guarantee eternal life, but such obedience constituted the right to the blessings of the covenant, particularly the title to the land."

This teaching applies to parents today who are raising children. The idea is simple: teach them what God has done. Since Moses wrote these words, God has done even more—He sent Jesus Christ, who died, rose from the dead, ascended to heaven, and sent the Holy Spirit. 

But the core principle remains: the teaching of God’s Word is primarily to be done in the home.

It’s not just the responsibility of the church, the preacher, the Sunday school teacher, or the youth group. It’s the responsibility of parents in the home.

We need to worship God in our homes?"

Now, obviously, we’re not suggesting that we need to set up a physical shrine in our homes to remind us to make our homes Christian. But the point is clear: if Christianity isn’t present in the home, it’s unlikely to be effectively passed on to the next generation.

That is incredibly important.

 So, let’s sum up what we’ve covered. 

The heart of the Mosaic Law is this: from the heart, God’s children are to obey Him and teach their children to do the same. Let me repeat that: the core of this chapter, the main point, the top priority, is that you must first love the Lord, then obey Him, and finally, teach your children to do the same. 

This is the essence of Deuteronomy 6.

We’ve explored a lot in this chapter. I mentioned at the beginning that this is one of the most important chapters in the entire Bible, and I hope you now see why.

 It contains the Shema: "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!" This declaration alone makes this chapter deeply significant. It also contains the greatest commandment: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength." 

Additionally, when Jesus was tempted by Satan, He quoted Scripture three times—two of those passages come from this very chapter. And then there’s the crucial matter of how to instil the Christian faith in our children. 

No other chapter or passage in the Bible teaches this as clearly as Deuteronomy 6.

First, you must love the Lord with all your heart. Out of that love, you will naturally obey Him. And in the home, the Word of God must be taught.

In light of God’s grace to His people, believers should respond with love for Him. We should express that love through obedience to His revealed will and by passing down the knowledge of God to the next generation.

Obedience to the law isn’t about earning favour with God; it’s about showing our love for Him.

So let me say it once more: from the heart, you must love the Lord. That’s the first and most important point. 

What’s the heart of the matter? 

What’s the top priority?

 It’s to love the Lord wholeheartedly. 

It’s not just about loving the Lord—it’s about loving Him with all your heart, soul, and strength. Jesus added "mind" to this commandment, emphasizing that we are to love Him with every part of our being. 

By nature then, loving God with your whole heart must excludes half-heartedness. There’s to be no division of the heart, no lukewarm commitment. The real issue is that we love Him with our whole heart, with all that is within us—our heart, soul, strength, and mind.

The Bible teaches that anything less than wholehearted love for God is unacceptable. 

In the book of Revelation, Jesus spoke to the church in Laodicea, saying, "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth." 

In the Old Testament, when Israel became half-hearted and disobedient, God removed them from the land. In the New Testament, when believers are lukewarm, the Lord says He will spit them out of His mouth.

So, don’t be half-hearted. Don’t be lukewarm. 

If there’s one takeaway from this chapter, it’s this:

You must have a wholehearted love for the Lord. Let that love guide your obedience and shape the way you raise your children. Love the Lord with everything you have, and teach your children to do the same. 

This is the true heart of Deuteronomy 6, and it’s the key to living a life that pleases God.