Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Deuteronomy 5
Deuteronomy 5:3The Lord did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, who are all of us here alive today.
Moses makes it clear that the covenant at Horeb was not merely for their ancestors. It is a living, binding promise for the people standing before him.Deuteronomy 5:15You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm.
This verse connects the Sabbath command directly to God's rescue from Egypt, showing that God's laws are rooted in His grace and redemption.Deuteronomy 5:29Oh that they had such a heart as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever!
Here we see God's heart. He longs for His people to have an inner desire to follow Him, which will lead to their ultimate well-being.
Historical & Cultural Context
A Final Word on the Edge of Promise
Imagine a vast assembly of people camped on the edge of a new life. The generation that escaped slavery in Egypt has passed away during forty years in the wilderness. Now, their children stand on the plains of Moab, looking across the Jordan River into the Promised Land. Their leader, Moses, is old and knows he won't be joining them. This chapter is part of his final, urgent address to prepare them for the challenges and blessings ahead.
Remembering the Mountain of Fire
The core of this chapter is a look back to the defining moment of their nation's history: the encounter with God at Mount Horeb (also called Sinai). Moses is not merely giving a history lesson. He is re-establishing their identity. He recounts the awesome and terrifying display of God's power when He gave the Ten Commandments, reminding the people of the foundation of their entire way of life and their relationship with the God who saved them.
The Ten Commandments Revisited
In Deuteronomy 5, Moses gathers the new generation of Israelites to remind them of the covenant God made with them. He begins by stressing that this agreement is personal to them (vv. 1-5) before launching into the famous Ten Commandments. This is not merely a repetition of rules. It is a renewal of the foundational terms of their relationship with God as they prepare to enter their new home.
A Covenant for Today (Deuteronomy 5:1-5)
5 And Moses summoned all Israel and said to them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and the rules that I speak in your hearing today, and you shall learn them and be careful to do them.
2 The Lord our God made a covenant with us at Horeb.
3 The Lord did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, who are all of us here alive today.
4 The Lord spoke with you face to face at the mountain, out of the midst of the fire,
5 while I stood between the Lord and you at that time, to declare to you the word of the Lord. For you were afraid because of the fire, and you did not go up into the mountain.
Commentary:
Moses declares that God's covenant is personal for the current generation, not merely a story about their ancestors.
The Ten Words of Freedom (Deuteronomy 5:6-21)
6 “‘I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
7 “‘You shall have no other gods before me.
8 “‘You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
9 You shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,
10 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
11 You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.
12 “‘Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you.
13 Six days you shall labor and do all your work,
14 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter or your male servant or your female servant, or your ox or your donkey or any of your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates, that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you.
15 You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm.
16 “‘Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
17 “‘You shall not murder.
18 And you shall not commit adultery.
19 And you shall not steal.
20 'You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
21 And you shall not covet your neighbor's wife. And you shall not desire your neighbor's house, his field, or his male servant, or his female servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.
Commentary:
Moses restates the Ten Commandments, framing them as the guide to living in freedom given by their rescuing God.
The People's Fearful Response (Deuteronomy 5:22-27)
22 These words the Lord spoke to all your assembly at the mountain out of the midst of the fire, the cloud, and the thick darkness, with a loud voice; and he added no more. And he wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me.
23 And as soon as you heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, you came near to me, all the heads of your tribes and your elders.
24 And you said, ‘Behold, the Lord our God has shown us his glory and greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire. This day we have seen God speak with man, and man still live.
25 Now therefore why should we die? For this great fire will consume us. If we hear the voice of the Lord our God any more, we shall die.
26 For who is there of all flesh, that has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of fire as we have, and has still lived?
27 Go near and hear all that the Lord our God will say, and speak to us all that the Lord our God will speak to you, and we will hear and do it.’
Commentary:
Overwhelmed by God's awesome presence, the people ask Moses to be their mediator, promising to obey all he relays.
Related Verse Analysis
God's Desire for His People (Deuteronomy 5:28-33)
28 And the Lord heard your words, when you spoke to me. And the Lord said to me, "I have heard the words of this people, which they have spoken to you. They are right in all that they have spoken.
29 Oh that they had such a heart as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever!
30 Go and say to them, "Return to your tents."
31 But you, stand here by me, and I will tell you the whole commandment and the statutes and the rules that you shall teach them, that they may do them in the land that I am giving them to possess.'
32 You shall be careful therefore to do as the Lord your God has commanded you. You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.
33 You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess.
Commentary:
God affirms the people's request for a mediator and expresses His deep desire for their heartfelt, lasting obedience.
Core Truths in the Covenant
Law as a Response to Grace
The Ten Commandments are introduced not with a threat, but with a declaration of salvation: 'I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt' (v. 6). This order is vital. God's laws are given to a people He has already saved, providing a way for them to live in relationship with Him and reflect His character.
The Personal Nature of Covenant
Moses makes it incredibly clear that this covenant is not merely a historical artifact. By stating it was made 'not with our fathers, but with us, who are all of us here alive today' (v. 3), he teaches that every generation must personally own their relationship with God.
The Importance of the Heart
God's ultimate desire is for internal transformation, not merely external compliance. His heartfelt cry in verse 29 reveals that He wants our obedience to flow from a heart that genuinely reveres and loves Him, because He knows this is the path to true flourishing.
The Awe and Holiness of God
The people's reaction of fear to God's voice from the fire shows His immense power and holiness. This healthy 'fear of the Lord' - a deep sense of awe and reverence - is the foundation for wisdom and the beginning of a right relationship with Him.
Living the Covenant Today
Deuteronomy 5 grounds obedience in God's rescue from Egypt (v. 6, 15). For you, remembering how God has shown His love and faithfulness in your life, especially through Jesus, transforms obedience from a duty into a joyful response. It's not about earning His favor, but about living in a way that honors the relationship you already have because of His grace.
This chapter teaches that a reverent awe of God is essential. He is holy and powerful (v. 24-26). Yet, the story also shows our need for a mediator. Through Jesus, you can approach God with confidence, knowing you are welcomed and loved. The ideal approach is a blend of both: the humble reverence of knowing who God is, and the bold confidence of knowing you are His child.
Cultivating a heart of obedience means moving beyond a checklist of rules and focusing on the relationship behind them. It involves spending time getting to know God's character through Scripture and prayer, and asking Him to shape your desires to match His. It's about wanting to please Him from the inside out because you love and trust Him.
God's Law: A Blueprint for Freedom
Deuteronomy 5 declares that God's law is not a burden, but a beautiful gift for the people He has rescued. The commands are a framework for living in the freedom He has already provided, showing us how to love Him and others well. This chapter reveals God's deep desire for a relationship with us - one marked by reverent awe and loving obedience, which ultimately leads to our own good and flourishing.
What This Means for Us Today
The Israelites, overwhelmed by God's holy presence, asked for a mediator. Their request points to a universal human need for someone to stand between us and a perfect God. Moses was their intermediary, but he foreshadowed Jesus, our ultimate mediator, who brings us into God's presence not with fear, but with grace and confidence.
- In what areas of my life am I merely following rules, instead of nurturing the relationship they point to?
- How does viewing God's guidance as a 'blueprint for freedom' change my attitude toward obedience?
- Do I truly rely on Jesus as my mediator, or am I still trying to reach God through my own efforts?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
This chapter serves as a prologue, urging Israel to obey God's law and warning them against the idolatry of surrounding nations.
Following the Ten Commandments, this chapter gives the 'Shema' (v. 4-5), the core command to love the Lord with all one's heart, soul, and might.
Connections Across Scripture
This is the first telling of the Ten Commandments, providing the original context for the events at Mount Sinai.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus expands on the Ten Commandments, revealing their deeper, heart-level intent.
This passage contrasts the terrifying experience of the Israelites at Mount Sinai with the joyful access believers have to God through the new covenant in Jesus.
Discussion Questions
- Moses emphasizes that the covenant is for the generation 'alive today' (Deuteronomy 5:3). How can we make our faith feel like a present-day relationship rather than merely a set of ancient stories and rules?
- The reason given for Sabbath rest in this chapter is to remember being slaves in Egypt (Deuteronomy 5:15). What does God's work of rescue in your own life teach you about the importance of rest and worship?
- God longed for the people to have a heart that would always fear Him and follow His commands (Deuteronomy 5:29). What is the difference between obeying God out of duty and obeying Him out of a heart of love and reverence?