Today, we will read some verses which are foundational to Jewish thought and practice. The 6th chapter of Deuteronomy contains verses that are spoken every day by observant Jews.
There are also promises in today’s passage which are often used to proclaim a prosperity gospel. However, we will see that the proponents of the prosperity gospel are misapplying the verses. These verses do not teach that 21st century Christians who obey God will be healthy, wealthy, and prosperous.
The first four chapters of Deuteronomy form a speech which Moses gave to Israel in which he reviewed their journey from slavery in Egypt, through the wilderness, and up to the banks of the Jordan River. Chapter 5 begins a second speech in which Moses reviewed their law. At the end of yesterday’s passage, Moses reminded Israel to be careful to do just as Yahweh commanded them.
Deut. 6:1 ¶ “Now this is the commandment, the statutes and the judgments, which Yahweh your God has commanded me to teach you, that you might do it in the land where you are going over to possess it,
Notice the word “over”. Moses was giving this speech when Israel was on the east bank of the Jordan River, poised to cross the river and conquer the Promised Land. They were to continue obeying these commands when they inhabited the land on the west side of the Jordan.
Deut. 6:2 so that you and your son and your grandson might fear Yahweh your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I am commanding you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged.
Look at the word “all”. Israel was to keep all of God’s commands all of their days.
Yahweh promised Israel that if they obeyed, then their days would be prolonged. This was a promise given to Israel, not the church. We should not use this verse as the basis for saying that if Christians in the 21st century obey God, then they will live long, prosperous lives.
Deut. 6:3 O Israel, you shall listen and be careful to do it, that it may be well with you and that you may multiply greatly, just as Yahweh, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.
Notice the words “O Israel” and the phrase “that you may multiply greatly”. Yahweh promised Israel that if they obeyed, then they would multiply. Again, this was a promise given to Israel. It does not apply to Christians in the 21st century.
Deut. 6:4 ¶ “Hear, O Israel! Yahweh is our God, Yahweh is one!
The first word of this verse in Hebrew is “Shema” and is translated “Hear”. This verse is the beginning of something that is known in Judaism as the Shema. Verses 4-9 are part of the Shema. Observant Jews state the Shema every day. It is a core part of their theology.
Think about the fundamental concepts in verse 4. Israel is called to listen. Then it is stated that Yahweh is their God and that He is one. There were many gods in Canaan and the surrounding countries when Israel approached the Promised Land. This verse was a statement that out of all those gods, Yahweh was their God. It was also a statement that Yahweh is the only true God.
Deut. 6:5 You shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
The Ten Commandments are very famous. However, when Jesus was asked which is the greatest commandment, He did not cite any of the Ten Commandments. He cited this verse. He said the greatest commandment is to love God (see Matthew 22:36-37).
Deut. 6:6 These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.
Deut. 6:7 You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.
Deut. 6:8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as phylacteries between your eyes.
Deut. 6:9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Deut. 6:10 ¶ “Then it will be, when Yahweh your God brings you into the land which He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you, great and good cities which you did not build,
Deut. 6:11 and houses full of all good things which you did not fill, and hewn cisterns which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant, and you will eat and be satisfied,
Take note of the word “satisfied”. Yahweh promised to give Israel so many good things that they would be satisfied.
Deut. 6:12 then beware, lest you forget Yahweh who brought you from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
Take note of the word “beware”. Once Israel was in possession of many good things, it would have been tempting for Israel to forget Yahweh. They needed to be intentional about reminding themselves that it was Yahweh who gave them success and abundance.
Deut. 6:13 Yahweh your God you shall fear; and Him you shall serve; and by His name you shall swear.
Deut. 6:14 You shall not walk after other gods, any of the gods of the peoples who surround you,
Deut. 6:15 for Yahweh your God in the midst of you is a jealous God—lest the anger of Yahweh your God be kindled against you, and He destroy you from the face of the earth.
Look at the word “jealous”. Yahweh is jealous. Yahweh demanded that Israel give Him the credit and recognition that He deserves.
Deut. 6:16 ¶ “You shall not put Yahweh your God to the test, as you tested Him at Massah.
The test at Massah is recorded in Exodus 17. When Israel was wandering through the wilderness, they camped at Rephidim and had no water. They grumbled against Moses and questioned whether Yahweh was among them.
Jesus quoted this verse when He was tempted by Satan to jump off the pinnacle of the temple (see Matthew 4:5-7). Jumping off the pinnacle would have been asking God to prove His ability to protect Jesus against injury. Putting Yahweh to a test like that was prohibited.
Deut. 6:17 You should diligently keep the commandments of Yahweh your God and His testimonies and His statutes which He has commanded you.
Deut. 6:18 And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of Yahweh, that it may be well with you and that you may go in and possess the good land which Yahweh swore to give your fathers,
Deut. 6:19 by driving out all your enemies from before you, as Yahweh has spoken.
There are multiple preachers in the 21st century who teach a prosperity, health-and-wealth gospel. They claim that if Christians obey God, then we will be healthy, wealthy, and prosperous. There are verses in Deuteronomy which promise prosperity in exchange for obedience. However, those promises were given to Israel. They do not apply to Christians in the 21st century.
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”