(Saturday)
Moses recounts the 10 Commandments at the beginning of our reading. Restating the importance of order and accountability in our lives.
We could spend a lot of time talking just about that, but what I want to focus on today are two passages that Jesus quotes in the New Testament.
One is found in 8:3, “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.” When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness by Satan, Jesus quoted this scripture. Every temptation that Satan used, Jesus would come back with a passage of scripture. Do you see the importance of reading, learning and knowing the scriptures? Yeah, us for taking the time to read and study His Word. It is a good thing.
The other passage of scripture that Jesus quotes in our reading today is found in 6:4-5, sometimes this is known as the
shema,
which means “hear”, as we can see because this verse begins with, “Hear O Israel, the Lord our God the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Such a pure statement of faith. There is no one else, there is no other way to exist except to love God with every ounce of your being. Jesus quotes this passage in the gospels. Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:30 and Luke 10:27. This is the first part of the 10 Commandments. If you follow this, you will be obeying commandments 1, 2, 3, 4. Then Jesus says, Love your neighbor as yourself. Which if obeyed, also would mean you would be obeying commandment 5 through 10. Jesus just put the commandments into a new perspective.
This passage in Deuteronomy also goes on to tell us that we must remember these laws, obey them and teach them to our children. It doesn’t get any more important than this. In addition to obeying, we need to be sharing, teaching, leading by example. Memorize the words God has given us. Make them become a part of us, our waking, our sleeping, our eating… when you have God’s word written on your heart, you have them wherever you go.
Blessings
Pastor Kathy