Deuteronomy 30:16
A plain-spoken deep dive on this verse. Read the chapter →
For I am commanding you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, statutes, and ordinances, so that you may live and increase, and the LORD your God may bless you in the land that you are entering to possess.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
One would have thought that the threatenings in the close of the foregoing chapter had made a full end of the people of Israel, and had left their case for ever desperate; but in this chapter we have a plain intimation of the mercy God had in store for them in the latter days, so that mercy at length rejoices against judgment, and has the last word. Here we have, I. Exceedingly great and precious promises made to them, upon their repentance and return to God (Deu 30:1-10). II. The righteousness of faith set before them in the plainness and easiness of the commandment that was now given them (Deu 30:11-14). III. A fair reference of the whole matter to their choice (Deu 30:15, etc.).
Open source ↗30:16 love the Lord your God: This paraphrases the Shema, Israel’s central covenant affirmation (see 6:5). To love God means to obey him in every respect, which results in divine blessing.
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, and you will love Him with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live.
And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him.”
Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commandments is what counts.