Deuteronomy 26:14, commentary and pictures

The verse is part of the declaration and confession about Israel's offerings and tithing duties, in which the worshiper affirms having hearkened to the voice of the Lord and having done according to all that He commanded concerning them. That declaration was made after the third-year tithe had been given to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow. It was a yearly solemn declaration required of the people, in which they were to affirm that they had obeyed God's commands concerning their offerings and care for the poor.

In it the worshiper declares that the sacred portion was kept from ordinary or improper use, not eaten in mourning, not taken away for any unclean use, and not given for the dead. The consecration to which this confession belonged involved a tithe of all increase, whether of orchard and harvest field, flocks and herds, or labor of brain or hand, with a second tithe devoted to relief of the poor and other benevolent uses. The system put God first and acknowledged Him as the true owner of fields, flocks, and herds, with the people as stewards who offered Him their first produce and reserved provision for the poor, widows, orphans, and strangers and others in need.

The requirement kept fresh before the people the truth of God's ownership of all and their opportunity to be channels of His blessings, and it was a training adapted to kill out narrowing selfishness and to cultivate breadth and nobility of character. Through this training, knowledge of God, fellowship with Him in study and in labor, and likeness to Him in character — the source, the means, and the aim of Israel's education — were to be imparted by parents to children. Obedience to God's directions for the offerings was part of faithful service, and the chapter presents obedience to His commandments as a continuing duty and claim, with prosperity and blessing for obedience and a curse for disobedience.