As agreed in 5:27, Moses now addresses the people to share what the Lord commands. First, he highlights that following these laws and guidelines ensures a long life in the land the Lord is about to give them (1-3). Verses 4-25 focus on the great commandment of loving God, which Jesus himself describes as the most important of all the commands of Moses and the Prophets—that is, of the entire Old Testament (Mt 22:34-40; Mk 12:28-34). This love for God involves listening to his Word, demanding dedicated attention that covers all aspects and moments of life, and must be passed down as an inheritance to future generations (21).
The insistence that God is one aims to correct the view of neighboring peoples who believed that Baal had different “personalities,” as if he could be divided into local, personal, and family gods. However, the core meaning is that the Lord is the only God who has acted decisively to support the weak and enslaved, freeing them and breaking down the forces of oppression symbolized in Egypt and its Pharaoh.
The key point of this commandment is not to wear it on the wrist, hang it on doorframes, place it between the eyes, or near the heart. What truly matters is shaping your life around this love for God—following him and gratefully acknowledging his acts of liberation—by acting like him among your neighbors.
Commentaries
The Great Commandment.
As agreed in 5:27, Moses now addresses the people to share what the Lord commands. First, he highlights that following these laws and guidelines ensures a long life in the land the Lord is about to give them (1-3). Verses 4-25 focus on the great commandment of loving God, which Jesus himself describes as the most important of all the commands of Moses and the Prophets—that is, of the entire Old Testament (Mt 22:34-40; Mk 12:28-34). This love for God involves listening to his Word, demanding dedicated attention that covers all aspects and moments of life, and must be passed down as an inheritance to future generations (21).
The insistence that God is one aims to correct the view of neighboring peoples who believed that Baal had different “personalities,” as if he could be divided into local, personal, and family gods. However, the core meaning is that the Lord is the only God who has acted decisively to support the weak and enslaved, freeing them and breaking down the forces of oppression symbolized in Egypt and its Pharaoh.
The key point of this commandment is not to wear it on the wrist, hang it on doorframes, place it between the eyes, or near the heart. What truly matters is shaping your life around this love for God—following him and gratefully acknowledging his acts of liberation—by acting like him among your neighbors.