A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God ,.... That is, a blessing should come upon them, even all temporal blessings they stood in need of; they should be blessed in body and estate, in their families, and in their flocks, in town and country; see Deuteronomy 28:1 , which I command you this day ; afresh repeated to them, and enjoined them the observation of it in the name of the Lord. read more
The dread alternative before every man. Perhaps, strictly speaking, the final paragraph of this chapter includes Deuteronomy 11:26-32 . The reader thereof will, however, observe that, while in its entirety it deals with the blessing and curse, yet the first three verses deal with them as resting on the people, the remaining verses regard them as pronounced by the people. The theme indicated by the latter half is treated on at Deuteronomy 27:1-26 . We therefore confine our remarks to... read more
The great alternative. I. GOD SUMMONS US TO DECISION . 1. His revelations lay the ground for it . "Light is come into the world" ( John 3:19 ). 2. They demand it . Men would trifle, but God says, "Now" ( 2 Corinthians 6:2 ). Men would put off, but God urges to decision ( Joshua 24:15 ). 3. They shut men up to it . When light comes, decision is inevitable. We must settle what our attitude towards it will be. In decreeing not to choose, we in reality... read more
Moses, in conclusion, refers to the blessing and the curse consequent on the observance or the transgression of the Law, and prescribes that when they had entered on possession of the land the blessing should be proclaimed from Mount Gerizim, and the curse from Mount Ebal. read more
Startling alternatives. Our life is hourly a choice of alternatives. We can go to the right or to the left. Choice is incessantly demanded, and the issues of our choice are momentous. I. THE REVELATION OF GOD 'S WILL MAY BE A SOURCE OF ABSOLUTE BLESSING . Such revelation is the disclosure of man's true paradise. It is the opening of the door of God's own palace; and, unworthy though we are, we may enter and find rest. To do God's will is to be Christ-like—is to be... read more
Life's solemn alternative. Moses here sums up his exhortation with the alternative of a blessing or a curse. Obedience secures the blessing; disobedience the curse. He also directs them to go through a solemn service when they reach Mounts Gerizim and Ebal, by pronouncing the blessings and the curses from these mountains respectively. By the law of association, the very landscape was to witness to the truth of God. We are here reminded of such lessons as these— I. GOD 'S MINISTERS ... read more
What God demands of Israel (10:12-11:32)In summary, Moses’ instruction to Israel as a people was that they were to fear, obey, love and serve God, in the assurance that he desired only their good (12-13). He had chosen them in mercy, and he wanted them likewise to show mercy to others. They were to have humble purity of heart and genuine love, both in their relations with him and in their relations with others (14-20). They were not to be arrogant or boastful, but were to remember their humble... read more
A blessing = the blessing. read more
The consequences of obedience and disobedience ch. 11The section of Deuteronomy dealing with general stipulations of the covenant ends as it began, with an exhortation to covenant loyalty (Deuteronomy 5:1-5; cf. Deuteronomy 4:32-40)."This chapter is to be understood as a re-emphasis of these principles [that were to govern Israel’s life] before the detailed laws of the so-called Deuteronomic Code (Deuteronomy 12:1 to Deuteronomy 26:19) are presented." [Note: Thompson, p. 151.] read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 11:26-32
Here Moses concludes his general exhortations to obedience; and his management is very affecting, and such as, one would think, should have engaged them for ever to God, and should have left impressions upon them never to be worn out. I. He sums up all his arguments for obedience in two words, the blessing and the curse (Deut. 11:26), that is, the rewards and the punishments, as they stand in the promises and the threatenings, which are the great sanctions of the law, taking hold of hope and... read more