Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Deuteronomy 6
Deuteronomy 6:4-5“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
Known as the Shema, this is the central declaration of Israel's faith. It establishes that there is only one God, and the proper response to Him is a love that engages every part of a person - their heart, soul, and strength.Deuteronomy 6:12then take care lest you forget the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
Moses gives a crucial warning that comfort can lead to spiritual amnesia. He urges the people to intentionally remember their slavery and God's rescue, so that future blessings don't cause them to forget their Rescuer.Deuteronomy 6:20-21"When your son asks you in time to come, 'What is the meaning of the testimonies and the statutes and the rules that the Lord our God has commanded you?'" then you shall say to your son, 'We were Pharaoh's slaves in Egypt. And the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand.
This passage frames God's laws not as abstract rules, but as the living story of redemption. The answer to a child's question about the law is to retell the story of how God saved them from slavery.
Historical & Cultural Context
On the Brink of Promise
After forty years of wandering in the wilderness, the people of Israel are camped on the plains of Moab, right on the edge of the Promised Land. The generation that came out of Egypt has passed away, and Moses, now at the end of his life, is addressing their children. This is his final opportunity to prepare them for the challenges and blessings ahead, urging them to be faithful to the God who brought them this far.
A Blueprint for a Blessed Life
This chapter moves from the general commands of the Ten Commandments to the very heart of what a relationship with God looks like. Moses provides a relational blueprint, not merely a rulebook. He explains that all of God's laws are built on the foundational principle of loving Him exclusively and remembering His incredible acts of salvation on their behalf.
The Heart of the Covenant
Standing before the new generation of Israelites, Moses delivers the core principles that will define them as God's people. This chapter is a passionate sermon about the 'why' behind God's commands, starting with His very nature and the all-encompassing love He deserves. Moses lays out a vision for a faith that is not confined to religious ceremonies but fills every moment of life.
The Purpose of the Commands (Deuteronomy 6:1-3)
1 "Now this is the commandment - the statutes and the rules - that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it,"
2 that you may fear the Lord your God, you and your son and your son's son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long.
3 Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.
Commentary:
Moses explains that following God's commands is the key to a long, blessed life in the Promised Land.
Related Verse Analysis
The Shema: Love God with Everything (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)
4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.
7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.
9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Commentary:
The core of faith is to love the one true God with every part of your being and make this truth central to all of life.
The Danger of Forgetting in Prosperity (Deuteronomy 6:10-19)
10 "And when the Lord your God brings you into the land that he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you - with great and good cities that you did not build,
11 and houses full of all good things that you did not fill, and cisterns that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive trees that you did not plant - and when you eat and are full,
12 then take care lest you forget the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
13 It is the Lord your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear.
14 You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you -
15 for the Lord your God in your midst is a jealous God - lest the anger of the Lord your God be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the face of the earth.
16 “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah.
17 You shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and his testimonies and his statutes, which he has commanded you.
18 And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord, that it may go well with you, and that you may go in and take possession of the good land that the Lord swore to give to your fathers,
19 to thrust out all your enemies from before you, as the Lord has promised.
Commentary:
When life gets comfortable, don't forget the God who rescued you and gave you everything you have.
Answering the Next Generation (Deuteronomy 6:20-25)
20 "When your son asks you in time to come, 'What is the meaning of the testimonies and the statutes and the rules that the Lord our God has commanded you?'"
21 then you shall say to your son, 'We were Pharaoh's slaves in Egypt. And the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand.
22 And the Lord showed signs and wonders, great and grievous, against Egypt and against Pharaoh and all his household, before our eyes.
23 And he brought us out from there, that he might bring us in and give us the land that he swore to give to our fathers.
24 And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as we are this day.
25 And it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to do all this commandment before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us.’
Commentary:
When your children ask why you follow God, tell them the story of how He rescued you.
Related Verse Analysis
Love, Remember, and Teach: The Pillars of Faith
The Oneness of God and Wholehearted Devotion
Deuteronomy 6:4, 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one,' is the bedrock of monotheism. This truth demands an exclusive and all-encompassing response of love from the heart, soul, and might, leaving no room for divided loyalties or other gods.
The Centrality of Memory
The chapter repeatedly warns against forgetting God's acts of salvation, especially the Exodus. Remembering their past slavery and God's mighty deliverance is presented as the antidote to pride and idolatry in times of future prosperity.
Passing Faith to the Next Generation
Faith is not meant to be a private experience but a living legacy. The commands are to be diligently taught to children, woven into the rhythm of daily conversations and routines, ensuring the story of God's faithfulness continues.
Living Out the Shema Today
Loving God completely, as Deuteronomy 6:5 commands, means making Him the central priority of your thoughts, emotions, and actions. It involves intentionally focusing your affections on Him, aligning your will with His, and dedicating your energy and resources to His purposes, rather than letting the world's demands dictate your life.
As the Israelites were told in verses 7-9, this means integrating conversations about faith into everyday life, rather than limiting them to Sunday. It's about discussing how God's truth applies to work, school, and relationships, and modeling a life of faith that is visible and consistent for others to see.
Deuteronomy 6:12 warns us to 'take care lest you forget the Lord.' You can fight this by practicing gratitude, regularly remembering God's past faithfulness in your life, and serving others. These actions keep your heart humble and remind you that every good thing is a gift from the God who saved you.
A Faith for All of Life
Deuteronomy 6 presents a vision for a faith that permeates every corner of existence. God's commands are not a burden, but a gift rooted in His act of rescue. The message is that true life and blessing come from a singular, all-consuming love for the one true God - a love that is remembered, celebrated, and passed down through the generations.
What This Means for Us Today
The call of Deuteronomy 6 is to build a life, a family, and a community around the story of God's love and redemption. It invites us to move beyond knowing about God to loving Him with everything we are. This chapter challenges us to make our faith the topic of our conversations and the legacy we leave behind.
- What is one practical way you can weave faith into your daily routine this week?
- How can you better remember God's past faithfulness when you face current challenges or enjoy present blessings?
- Who in the next generation can you intentionally share God's story with?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
This chapter recounts the giving of the Ten Commandments, which provides the direct legal foundation for the principles of love and loyalty in Deuteronomy 6.
Flowing from the command for exclusive loyalty, this chapter gives instructions for conquering Canaan, emphasizing the need to remain separate from idolatrous nations.
Connections Across Scripture
Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 6:5 directly, identifying it as the 'greatest and first commandment' and affirming its central importance for all time.
At the end of his life, Joshua echoes Moses' call for wholehearted devotion, challenging a new generation in the land to 'choose this day whom you will serve.'
Paul's instruction for parents to raise their children in the 'discipline and instruction of the Lord' reflects the same principle of diligent teaching found in Deuteronomy 6.
Theological Themes
This historical psalm recounts Israel's cycle of remembering and forgetting God, illustrating the very warnings given by Moses in Deuteronomy 6.
Discussion Questions
- Deuteronomy 6:4-5 is called the 'Shema.' Why do you think Jesus called this the 'greatest commandment,' and what does it practically mean to love God with your 'heart, soul, and might' today?
- Moses warns the people not to forget God when they become comfortable and prosperous (vv. 10-12). In what ways does modern life and comfort make it easy for us to forget God's provision and rescue?
- The chapter emphasizes telling the story of the Exodus to future generations (vv. 20-23). What is your 'Exodus story' - the story of how God has worked in your life - and how can you share it with others?
Glossary
places
figures
Moses
The prophet chosen by God to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt and deliver His law.
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
The patriarchs of Israel to whom God first made the promise of the land and descendants.
Pharaoh
The title for the king of Egypt who enslaved the Israelites and whose hardened heart led to the ten plagues.