Deuteronomy 4:44-5:33

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

The Ten Commandments

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. The Ten Commandments were given for keeping.

  2. The Ten Commandments were given for blessing.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Don’t limit the 8th commandment to money and material.

QUESTIONS

  1. Give the setting for Deuteronomy 5.

  2. In what battles had the Israelites recently engaged?

  3. Why did God give the Law?

  4. Should we keep the Law today?

  5. How did the people respond to the giving of the Law?

ANSWERS

  1. Forty years after the Ten Commandments were originally given at Mount Sinai, the Children of Israel are situated on the Plans of Moab ready to cross over into the Land of Promise. Moses reviews the Ten Commandments and begins his second sermon to the people.

  2. Deuteronomy 4:44-49 summarizes the recent fighting of the people on the east side of the Jordan River and their victories over the two major kings of the Amorites – Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashon. This conquered land would be possessed by the two tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh.

  3. According to Galatians 3, God gave the Law not only to show God’s perfect standards and to show that anything less than perfection was sin, but He also gave the Law to lead us to faith in Christ, knowing that we couldn’t keep God’s perfect Law.

  4. We do not keep the Law as a means of salvation or the means of our sanctification. Our aim and goal as Christians is to love and serve our Savior, and in doing so we will keep the Law more than if we tried to do so in our own strength.

  5. The reaction and response of the people was good. They showed great respect for the holiness of God and they asked Moses to go near and hear all that the Lord commanded and they would do it.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Discuss this teaching: “As Christians we do not make keeping the Ten Commandments our goal in life, but in following Christ we certainly will be keeping the moral aspects of the Law with the Lord’s help.”

  2. Notice the promise associated with the 5th commandment in Deuteronomy 5:16. Honoring your parents is still a moral principle basic to enjoying the blessing of long life. See Ephesians 6:1-3. Do you want to live a long life?

CHALLENGE

  1. Do you have a high standard when it comes to the commandment “Do not steal”? This general commandment covers more than just the stealing of money or material possessions.

KEY VERSES

  • “Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!” Deuteronomy 5:29

  • “You shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess.” Deuteronomy 5:33

Deuteronomy, Old Testament, TalksRon ReidDEUTERONOMY 4:44 - 5:33