Deuteronomy 5:22-33
The People's Fear
22 "These words the Lord spoke to all your assembly at the mountain from the midst of the fire , of the cloud and of the thick gloom , with a great voice , and He added no more . He wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me.
23 "And when you heard the voice from 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 "You said , 'Behold , the Lord our God has shown us His glory and His greatness , and we have heard His voice from the midst of the fire ; we have seen today that God speaks with man , yet he lives . 25 ' Now then why should we die ? For this great fire will consume us; if we hear the voice of the Lord our God any longer , then we will die . 26 'For who is there of all flesh who has heard the voice of the living God speaking from the midst of the fire , as we have, and lived ? 27 'Go near and hear all that the Lord our God says ; then speak to us all that the Lord our God speaks to you, and we will hear and do it.' 28 "The Lord heard the voice of your words when you spoke to me, and the Lord said to me, 'I have heard the voice of the words of this people which they have spoken to you. They have done well in all that they have spoken . 29 ' Oh e that they had such a heart in them, that they would fear Me and keep all My commandments always e , that it may be well with them and with their sons forever ! 30 'Go , say to them, "Return to your tents ." 31 ' But as for you, stand here by Me, that I may speak to you all the commandments and the statutes and the judgments which you shall teach them, that they may observe them in the land which I give them to possess .' 32 "So you shall observe to do just as the Lord your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right or to the left . 33 " You shall walk in all the way which the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you will possess .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Deuteronomy 5:22-33
Commentary on Deuteronomy 5:6-22
(Read Deuteronomy 5:6-22)
There is some variation here from Luke 11. It is more necessary that we tie ourselves to the things, than to the words unalterably. The original reason for hallowing the sabbath, taken from God's resting from the work of creation on the seventh day, is not here mentioned. Though this ever remains in force, it is not the only reason. Here it is taken from Israel's deliverance out of Egypt; for that was typical of our redemption by Jesus Christ, in remembrance of which the Christian sabbath was to be observed. In the resurrection of Christ we were brought into the glorious liberty of the children of God, with a mighty hand, and an outstretched arm. How sweet is it to a soul truly distressed under the terrors of a broken law, to hear the mild and soul-reviving language of the gospel!
Commentary on Deuteronomy 5:23-33
(Read Deuteronomy 5:23-33)
Moses refers to the consternation caused by the terror with which the law was given. God's appearances have always been terrible to man, ever since the fall; but Christ, having taken away sin, invites us to come boldly to the throne of grace. They were in a good mind, under the strong convictions of the word they heard. Many have their consciences startled by the law who have them not purified; fair promises are extorted from them, but no good principles are fixed and rooted in them. God commended what they said. He desires the welfare and salvation of poor sinners. He has given abundant proof that he does so; he gives us time and space to repent. He has sent his Son to redeem us, promised his Spirit to those who pray for him, and has declared that he has no pleasure in the ruin of sinners. It would be well with many, if there were always such a heart in them, as there seems to be sometimes; when they are under conviction of sin, or the rebukes of providence, or when they come to look death in the face. The only way to be happy, is to be holy. Say to the righteous, It shall be well with them. Let believers make it more and more their study and delight, to do as the Lord God hath commanded.