“That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.”
A reverent face and love of God is the first beginning to keep God’s commandments.
“Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey.”
Which hath abundance of all things appertaining to man’s life.
“And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”
Cross references: : Matt. 22:37 ; Mark 12:29 , 34 ; Luke 13:27
“And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. teach: Heb. whet, or, sharpen”
Some read, thou shalt whet them upon thy children: to wit, that they may print them more deeply in memory.
“And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.”
That when thou entrest in, thou mayest remember them.
“Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. bondage: Heb. bondmen or, servants”
Let not wealth and ease cause thee forget God’s mercies, whereby thou wast delivered out of misery.
“Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.”
We must fear God, serve him only, and confess his Name, which is done by swearing lawfully.
“Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.”
By doubting of his power, refusing lawful means, and abusing his graces.
“And thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of the LORD: that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest go in and possess the good land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers,”
Here he condemneth all man’s good intentions.
“And when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What mean the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD our God hath commanded you? in: Heb. to morrow”
God requireth not only that we serve him all our life, but also that we take pains that our posterity may set forth his glory.
“And he brought us out from thence, that he might bring us in, to give us the land which he sware unto our fathers.”
Nothing ought to move us more to true obedience than the great benefits which we have received of God.
“And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us.”
But because none could fully obey the law, we must have our recourse to Christ to be justified by faith.