Thou shalt not kill ,.... The following commands begin with the copulative "and", different from the manner in which they are expressed, Exodus 20:17 which joins these together, and them with the preceding ones; hence the law is by some said to be one copulative, and may serve to illustrate a passage in James 2:10 . read more
The Decalogue. Moses here recalls the Sinaitic covenant, and wishes the Israelites to remember that, though given to their fathers primarily, it was also applicable to them. They were in many cases present as children then, and they were represented by their parents. Moses speaks with authority as having been mediator ( Deuteronomy 5:5 ) on the occasion. There are the following lessons to be learned from the Decalogue as here given:— I. THE COVENANT IS BASED UPON A ... read more
Reminiscences of Horeb. I. THE COVENANT . ( Deuteronomy 5:2 , Deuteronomy 5:3 .) 1. Proposed by God ( Exodus 19:3-7 ). 2. Accepted by the people ( Exodus 24:7 ). 3. Entailed obligations on subsequent generations (cf. Deuteronomy 6:2 ). In this covenant, formally ratified by sacrifice ( Exodus 24:6 , Exodus 24:7 ), Israel The new covenant in Christ, while in many respects different from, and superior to, that of Horeb, yet resembles it in several of these... read more
The Divine plan for the conduct of our life on earth. Had we been left in ignorance what the Divine intention in human life was, it had been a calamity indeed. Waste and failure must have been the disastrous result. For every honest-minded man, ample direction from the Supreme Source of authority is supplied. The most cogent argument is not always the most convincing. God might here have prefaced his ten words with a proper assertion of his indisputable sovereignty. But he prefers to... read more
Repetition of the Ten Commandments . On these, as the basis of the covenant, the whole legislation rests, and therefore a rehearsal of them is a fitting introduction to a repetition and enforcement of the laws of the theocracy. Some differences appear between the statement of the "ten words," as given here and as given in Exodus 20:1-26 . It is chiefly in the fourth commandment that these are to be found. It begins here with "remember" for "keep;" reference is made to the command of God... read more
SECOND TABLE OF THE LAW : praecepta probitatis . In the enactments of the second table there is a progression from the outward to the inward. First, sins of deed are prohibited, such as murder, adultery, and theft; then sins of word , such as injury of a neighbor's good name by false testimony; and finally, sins of the heart , which do not come into open manifestation, such as covetousness and evil desire. The "commandment" is thus seen to be" exceeding broad" ( Psalms... read more
The ninth commandment. The religion of the tongue. This command gives us a precept touching our words. Inasmuch, however, as it is here given to us in barest, briefest, most elementary form, it would not be well if in the homiletic treatment of it we did not place side by side therewith the varied Scriptures which set before us the duty of regulating our speech. We will ask, and endeavor to answer, five questions concerning this commandment. I. WHAT IS HERE PROHIBITED ? Just as... read more
Compare Exodus 20:0 and notes.Moses here adopts the Ten Words as a ground from which he may proceed to reprove, warn, and exhort; and repeats them, with a certain measure of freedom and adaptation. Our Lord Mark 10:19 and Paul Ephesians 6:2-3 deal similarly with the same subject. Speaker and hearers recognized, however, a statutory and authoritative form of the laws in question, which, because it was familiar to both parties, needed not to be reproduced with verbal fidelity.Deuteronomy... read more
Deuteronomy 5:20. Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour Hast thou not been guilty of evil-speaking; of needlessly repeating the real fault of thy neighbour? If we see a man do an evil thing, and tell it to another, unless from a full and clear conviction that it is necessary to mention it just then, for the glory of God, the safety or good of some other person, or for the benefit of him that hath done amiss; and unless we then do it only so far as is necessary to these... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 5:6-22
Here is the repetition of the ten commandments, in which observe, 1. Though they had been spoken before, and written, yet they are again rehearsed; for precept must be upon precept, and line upon line, and all little enough to keep the word of God in our minds and to preserve and renew the impressions of it. We have need to have the same things often inculcated upon us. See Phil. 3:1. 2. There is some variation here from that record (Exod. 20:1-26), as there is between the Lord's prayer as it... read more