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The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 5:23-28
The element of terror in religion. I. THE FACT OF TERROR. It is not unnatural that man should tremble in presence of any near manifestation of the Divine. The chief cause of this terror is the consciousness of sin. Guil…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 5:32
To the right hand or to the left. "This signifieth an exact care to walk in God's Law, as in the highway, from which men may not turn aside, as in Deuteronomy 2:27" (Ainsworth); cf. Deuteronomy 17:11, Deuteronomy 17:20;…
Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 6:1-3
In this and the like passages, the “commandments” seem to denote the moral law, the “statues” the ceremonial law, and the “judgments” the law by which the judges decided. Moses taught the people all that, and that only,…
Summary of Religion. (b. c. 1451.)
SUMMARY OF RELIGION. (B. C. 1451.) Observe here, 1. That Moses taught the people all that, and that only, which God commanded him to teach them, Deuteronomy 6:1. Thus Christ's ministers are to teach his churches all tha…
Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 6:4-5
Here is a brief summary of religion, containing the first principles of faith and obedience. Jehovah our God is the only living and true God; he only is God, and he is but One God. Let us not desire to have any other. T…
Cautions and Precepts. (b. c. 1451.)
CAUTIONS AND PRECEPTS. (B. C. 1451.) Here is, I. A brief summary of religion, containing the first principles of faith and obedience, Deuteronomy 6:4-5. These two verses the Jews reckon one of the choicest portions of s…
Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 6:6-16
Here are means for maintaining and keeping up religion in our hearts and houses. 1. Meditation. God's words must be laid up in our hearts, that our thoughts may be daily employed about them. 2. The religious education o…
Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 6:17-25
Moses gives charge to keep God's commandments. Negligence will ruin us; but we cannot be saved without diligence. It is our interest, as well as our duty, to be religious. It will be our life. Godliness has the promise…
A Charge to Israel. (b. c. 1451.)
A CHARGE TO ISRAEL. (B. C. 1451.) Here, I. Moses charges them to keep God's commandments themselves: You shall diligently keep God's commandments, Deuteronomy 6:17-19. Note, It requires a great deal of care and pains to…
Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 7:1-11
Here is a strict caution against all friendship and fellowship with idols and idolaters. Those who are in communion with God, must have no communication with the unfruitful works of darkness. Limiting the orders to dest…
A Caution Against Idolatry. (b. c. 1451.)
A CAUTION AGAINST IDOLATRY. (B. C. 1451.) Here is, I. A very strict caution against all friendship and fellowship with idols and idolaters. Those that are taken into communion with God must have no communication with th…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 7:1-5
Extermination with a moral purpose. When the Israelites were to cross into Canaan, they were directed to exterminate the seven nations they would find there. This is their commission. The invasion is to be conducted upo…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 7:1-26
EXPOSITION ENTIRE SEPARATION FROM IDOLATROUS NATIONS ENJOINED.
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 7:1-4
The Israelites were about to enter on a country occupied by idolaters, and they are commanded not to spare them or to allow them to continue in their proximity, or to have any friendly relations with them (cf. Le 27:28)…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 7:1
(Cf. Genesis 15:19-21.) Of the ten nations named by God in his promise to Abraham, only six are mentioned here, those omitted being the Kenites, the Kennizites, the Kadmonites, and the Rephaim. The Rephaim were by this…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 7:1-11
A holy people's policy of self-preservation. We have in this paragraph a glance onward to the time when Israel's march through the wilderness would be completed, and when the people to whom God had given the land should…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 7:1-11
Israel's iconoclastic mission. Material idolatry is the great peril of humanity. To what corruption and misery such idolatry leads, we in Christianized England can scarcely conceive. What the history of our world would…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 7:1-6
Judgment without mercy. This decree is to be viewed— I. AS A JUST JUDGMENT ON PEOPLES WHOSE INIQUITIES CRIED FOR VENGEANCE. The doomed nations had been long borne with (Genesis 15:16). Their iniquities were of a kind an…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 7:3
Neither shalt thou make marriages with them. Brought into intimate relations with idolaters, they might be seduced into idolatry; and where marriage was contracted with an idolater, the children might be brought up in i…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 7:4
From following me; literally, from after me, i.e. from being my servant and worshipper. Suddenly; rather, speedily ( מהֵר, infin; of מָהַר, to be quick, to hasten, used as an adverb).
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 7:5-8
They were not only to have no fellowship with the idolaters, but they were to root out their idolatry, everting their altars and destroying their idols; and this because they were a holy people, graciously chosen of God…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 7:5
Cut down their groves; rather, cut or hew in pieces their asherahs. These were, apparently, wooden pillars of considerable height, which were firmly planted in the ground (comp. 6:25-27; Deuteronomy 16:21)? and were con…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 7:6
An holy people; a people consecrated to God, to be holy as he is holy (cf. Le 11:43-45; Deuteronomy 19:2; Deuteronomy 20:1-20 :26; Deuteronomy 21:6; Deuteronomy 23:14). A special people unto himself; literally, to be to…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 7:6-9
Reasons for non-conformity to the world, and for aggression on its evil. I. THE HOLINESS OF OUR CALLING. (Deuteronomy 7:6.) The believer stands to God in the relation described in this verse. He is one chosen from the u…