John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 1. Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments , etc.] The laws of God, moral, ceremonial, and judicial, which they are exhorted to attend to and obey, in consideration of the great and good things the Lord had done for them, ever since they came from Horeb, where they were given them; such as providing for them, and feeding them in the wilderness, preserving them from every hurtful thing, and delivering their enemies into their hands, the two kings of the Amorites, which they are put in mind of in the preceding chapters; hence this begins with “therefore hearken”; for nothing is a greater incentive to obedience than the kindness and goodness of God: which I teach you for to do that ye may live ; the law was taught by Moses, but the Gospel of grace and truth by Jesus Christ; and it was taught by him, as well as it was to be hearkened to by them, in order to yield obedience to it; for not bare hearing, but doing the law, is the principal thing of any avail; and which was to be done, that they might live; not a spiritual and eternal life, which are not by the works of the law, but are had only from Christ, through his grace and righteousness; but a corporeal life, and a comfortable enjoyment of the blessings of it, and particularly that that might be continued to them: and go in and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers giveth you ; the land of Canaan, which the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, had promised to give to their posterity, and which they were to hold by their obedience to his laws.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-23 - The power and love of God to Israel are here made the ground and reaso of a number of cautions and serious warnings; and although there is much reference to their national covenant, yet all may be applied to those who live under the gospel. What are laws made for but to be observed and obeyed? Our obedience as individuals cannot meri salvation; but it is the only evidence that we are partakers of the gift of God, which is eternal life through Jesus Christ, Considerin how many temptations we are compassed with, and what corrupt desires we have in our bosoms, we have great need to keep our hearts with all diligence. Those cannot walk aright, who walk carelessly. Moses charge particularly to take heed of the sin of idolatry. He shows how weak the temptation would be to those who thought aright; for these pretende gods, the sun, moon, and stars, were only blessings which the Lor their God had imparted to all nations. It is absurd to worship them shall we serve those that were made to serve us? Take heed lest y forget the covenant of the Lord your God. We must take heed lest at an time we forget our religion. Care, caution, and watchfulness, are help against a bad memory.
Original Hebrew ועתה6258 ישׂראל3478 שׁמע8085 אל413 החקים2706 ואל413 המשׁפטים4941 אשׁר834 אנכי595 מלמד3925 אתכם853 לעשׂות6213 למען4616 תחיו2421 ובאתם935 וירשׁתם3423 את853 הארץ776 אשׁר834 יהוה3068 אלהי430 אבתיכם1 נתן׃5414
