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Deuteronomy 5 – The second sermon – the Law…
- The 10 commandments… vs. 1-22 Read: Deuteronomy 5:1-5
- Moses begins his second sermon to Israel – Chapters 5-26…
- Having rehearsed the history of Israel in his 1st sermon…
- Moses now begins to rehearse the Law God gave to Israel there at Mt. Sinai…
- The covenant/treaty with Israel at Mt. Horeb/Sinai…
- Mt. Horeb and Mt. Sinai are thought to be two names for the same mountain…
- Used interchangeably in the Bible to refer to the place God gave Israel the Law…
- Horeb means – glowing heat – perhaps referring to the burning of the mount…
- When God gave the commands to Israel – He spoke from the burning fire…
- According to rabbinic tradition – Sinai comes from the root word for – hatred…
- A reference to the fact Israel is hated by all nations cause they were given the law
- John 15:18 – “If the world hates you, you know it hated Me before it hated you.”
- The world hates Jesus because he convicts the world of sin and righteousness…
- If it weren’t for Jesus men could do whatever they wanted without consequence…
- Like a light shining in the darkness – Jesus reveals sin – John 3:19-20
- We have Jesus in us – so as they hate the light – Jesus – they will also hate us
- It was not a covenant with our fathers – but a covenant with us…
- Many of those listening to Moses were not alive when God gave the Law…
- They may have felt like the commands were for their parents – not for them…
- There are those who say the same thing today – the Bible is not relevant…
- It was written 2000 years ago – and has nothing to offer to us today…
- But they miss the Word of God – and the Power of God…
- God does not change – and His Word is just as relevant today as then!
- Mt. Horeb and Mt. Sinai are thought to be two names for the same mountain…
- The first 10 commandments – Exodus 20…
- When you talk about the Law of God – most people think of the 10 commandments…
- In truth there are 613 commandments given from Exodus – Deuteronomy…
- The 10 given here were the first of the Laws God gave to His people…
- In that they’re the 1st they’re more important – set the foundation for the Law
- The 10 commandments are broken up into two groups…
- The 1st – 4th commands deal with man’s relationship to God…
- 1. No other God / 2. No idols / 3. Don’t take the Lord’s name / 4. Sabbath…
- The 5th – 10th commands deal with man’s relationship with other men…
- 5. Honor your parents / 6. Murder / 7. Adultery / 8. Steal / 9. Lie / 10. Covet
- We taught on each of the 10 commandments when we taught Exodus 20
- In truth there are 613 commandments given from Exodus – Deuteronomy…
- Note: The 4th command – the Sabbath day…
- There’s a slight difference in the account of the Sabbath here and in Exodus 20…
- The reason for the Sabbath in Exodus 20 – God created the world in 6 days…
- Therefore just as God ‘rested’ on the 7th day – so we should also rest!
- But the reason given here – is so that your servants can also have a day of rest…
- Israel was to remember they were once slaves – so be kind to their workers…
- God is not a respecter of persons – Acts 10:34…
- God doesn’t put the servant higher than the master – the rich above the poor…
- Galatians 3:28 – “There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female. For you are all Christians—you are one in Christ Jesus…”
- Remember when you worked for others – be kind to those who work for you…
- There’s a slight difference in the account of the Sabbath here and in Exodus 20…
- The purpose of the 10 commandments is no different from the rest of the Law…
- The commands of God are perfect – they are the standard of how to be ‘good’
- But they cannot make us ‘good’ – in fact they do the opposite – they condemn us…
- A lot of people who think they are good Christians because they follow rules…
- James 2:10 – “But the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws.”
- The Law cannot make us right before God – it just teaches us we need help…
- If we did not know God’s Law – we wouldn’t know what was right or wrong…
- It is God’s Law that is the mirror that shows us the sinners we truly are…
- They reveal to us our unrighteousness – and our desperate need for a savior…
- When you talk about the Law of God – most people think of the 10 commandments…
- Moses begins his second sermon to Israel – Chapters 5-26…
- The need for a mediator… vs. 23-33 Read: Deuteronomy 5:23-27
- Israel was terrified when they heard the voice of God giving the 10 commandments…
- The people told Moses – who has ever heard the voice of God and lived…
- YOU GO – you talk to the Lord – and tell us what He says – then we will ‘do it’…
- If they did not hear directly from God – they were ‘less’ accountable…
- And ultimately they did not obey the ‘words of Moses’ – they disobeyed God!
- Many people will go to church – but they pick and choose what they want to hear…
- If they don’t like something that is said – they just assume it is the pastor’s opinion…
- That is why it is so important to get into God’s Word – read your Bible…
- If you hear from God – from His Word – there is no arguing…
- God agreed – the people needed a mediator…
- The people needed a mediator – someone to go before God on their behalf…
- I Timothy 2:5 – “For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and people. He is the man Christ Jesus.”
- There is no other way to be able to approach God – than through Jesus
- Like Moses – Jesus goes before us – talks to God on our behalf…
- It is only through Jesus we have complete access – to our Holy & Perfect God!
- Israel was terrified when they heard the voice of God giving the 10 commandments…
Deuteronomy 6 – One Lord…
We need to open our Bibles – read to our children – give them the Good News!
The commandemnt for Israel… vs. 1-9 Read: Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Love the Lord your God…
This is not the 1st command in order – it comes after the 10 commandments…
But it is the first in importance – to love God with all your heart, mind, and strength…
Jesus taught in Matthew 22:40 – that on this one law along with Leviticus 19:18…
Hang all of the Law and the Prophets – the Law fulfilled in these two commands…
Imagine trying to remember 613 commands – for sure you’d forget at least one!
So God simplified it – Love the Lord / and Love your neighbor…
If you are doing those two things – then you are going to be doing all the rest!
The heart of the Law came down to one simple word – Love!
So often people try to make Christianity all about rules – what we can and can’t do…
But in Luke 10:21-24 – Jesus thanked God for how simple the Gospel is…
Even kids can understand – it is not about what we do – it’s about Jesus’ Love…
If we understand Jesus’ love for us – then we are going to want to do the right things…
And His love will flow through us to others – as they see Jesus’ Love in us…
John 13:34 – “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”
Shema Yisrael – Hear O Israel – the declaration of the faith of the Jewish nation…
Every Sabbath day – in every synagogue – in every nation of the world…
This verse is ready by every Jew – the statement there is ONLY ONE God…
Hear, O Israel: The Lord (Yahweh) our God (Eloheem) is one Lord (Yahweh)…
Yahweh is the name of God / Eloheem is more literally translated ‘gods’…
The word ‘one’ is the Hebrew word ‘echad’ – properly interpreted united as one!
It could read: Hear O Israel – YAHWEH our Gods is untied into one YAHWEH!
One of the great mysteries of our Faith – there is only One God…
Yet God exists in 3 distinct persons – God the Father / God the Son / God the Spirit…
The Bible makes no effort to explain how this is true – only that it is a fact!
What makes a religion a cult – rather than a denomination – Mormons / Iglesia…
Is there denial of this ‘key’ doctrine – rejecting the divinity of Jesus Christ
Don’t forget the Law… vs. 10-16 Read: Deuteronomy 6:10-16
To help you remember…
They Jews were to bind the Law to their hand / foreheads – as help them remember…
They Jews took this command very literally – tying the Law to between their eyes…
They call them ‘Phylacteries’ a box that was worn on the forehead as you prayed…
The Jews were also to write the Law on their doorposts…
Again they took the command very literally – nailing the Law to their doors…
‘Mezuzah’ little plaques on the door with Deuteronomy 6:4 written inside
It is a great idea to put Bible verses on your walls – decorate your houses…
Have your kids decorate pieces of paper with Bible verses – hang them up…
Constant reminders all around us to be in God’s Word!
But the Religious leaders in Jesus day took this idea to extremes…
They would make their phylacteries / mezuzahs larger than everyone else’s…
Showing their great devotion to the word – great devotion to god…
The problem was these were only outward appearances – not from the heart
You can plaster your walls with the whole Bible – use it as wallpaper…
You can carry the biggest Bible – giving the appearance of great godliness…
But do our lives match our words – God is not impressed – He looks at the heart!
Remember because you will be tempted to forget…
When Israel entered the Promised Land – living in beautiful cities they did not build…
Eating from fields they did not plant – living the easy life…
Since they would not longer have any needs – they would quickly forget about God…
You ever wonder why God does not give us all – LOTS of money…
He is God – He can do anything – so why not bless us with riches and wealth…
Turns out there is a good reason why very few people in the world are rich…
When we have riches – we tend to depend on them – trusting them rather than God…
If you had 1000P – would you pray for God to provide food for dinner…
Luke 18:23 – the rich ruler walked away from Jesus because he had LOTS of money!
Therefore God allows most to experience the ‘riches’ of having to depend on God…
Better to be poor here – so that we might experience the riches of Heaven!
When your son asks… vs. 17-25 Read: Deuteronomy 6:20-24
Inevitably their children would ask them about the Law…
They were to answer – ‘we were slaves in Egypt – but God redeemed us!’
‘He brought us into this Land – He swore to give to Abraham / Isaac / and Jacob’…
‘And we keep these laws for our own good – so that we might live’
They were to pass on the key to having a blessed life to their children!
We all want our kids to be blessed…
We want them the best – best food / best clothing / the best home…
We want to give them the best possible education – so they will be successful…
But so often we miss the ONE THING that is necessary to be truly blessed…
We do not give them the Word of God – we do not teach them about Jesus!
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