Deuteronomy 11:1-32
What does it say?
They whom Moses was speaking this sermon too, saw with their own eyes the great things that the Lord did in their midst. It is for their benefit to keep every commandment which Moses is commanding them in this sermon. If they keep the Lord’s commandments, then the Lord will give rain for their fields, but if they worship other gods, the Lord will not give rain to water their crops or give grass for their cattle. They should, therefore, teach the law that Moses is commanding them to their children, so the Lord will take care of them in the land and defeat their enemies. In this sermon, Moses is setting before the sons of Israel a blessing if they listen to what Moses is commanding them and a curse if they do not listen to the commandments of the Lord God. Moses commanded them to place the blessing on Mount Gerizim and the curse on Mount Ebal in the land of their possession.
What does it mean?
The sons of Israel were given the choice of blessing or curse: blessing if they keep the commandments of the Lord, that Moses gave them in this sermon, or curse if they do not keep the commandments. The law of Moses is comprised of statutes, ordinances and commandments, but the law of Christ is a person, the law of Christ is Christ. Like the sons of Israel were promised blessing if they kept the law given to them by Moses and curse if they did not, we too are promised blessing and curse. However, ours is not an external law of statues, ordinances and commandments but an internal law of love. Jesus promised to return and separate the sheep from the goats; he will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. The difference between the sheep and the goats is love. The goats will go away into eternal punishment but the sheep into eternal life. (Mt. 25:31-46)
What Shall I do?
All of Jesus commandments are based on loving God and loving people. If we love God, we will love the people made in his image. The apostle John wrote: 1 John 4:20-21
If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.
Jesus taught more than love of brother, more than love of neighbor but to love ones enemies and calls this kind of love perfect. (Mt 5:43-48)
