Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour’s landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen.
This curse belongs to those pronounced aloud from Mount Ebal, the mount of curses, after Israel passed over Jordan, while blessings for the obedient were pronounced from Mount Gerizim, the mount of blessings. It was spoken on the day Israel crossed over, with blessings upon the obedient from Gerizim and curses upon the disobedient from Ebal. It belongs to the solemn covenant vows made upon entering Canaan, with Ebal and Gerizim standing as witnesses.
God showed particular care for forgetful Israel by telling them exactly what to do, commanding the commandments to be written on plastered stones, on plastered rock. From two prominent positions appointed for the purpose, the advantages of blessing and the disadvantages of cursing were pronounced before all the people for all to hear. The law was made known in this impressive public way to impress the people and to make it familiar because of its great importance. After each declaration the whole congregation assented with Amen, and by accepting the conditions they placed themselves under solemn responsibility to fulfill them.
The words are not the voice of man but the voice of Christ from the enfolding pillar of cloud, the voice of Jesus Christ enshrouded in the pillar of cloud. To remove a neighbor's landmark is declared a cursed act, standing alongside the command against defrauding the blind, so that one who seeks advantage from another's prosperity at his expense brings God's curse upon himself. Together with Deuteronomy 26 and Deuteronomy 28 the chapter plainly states the blessings of obedience and is to be read carefully. It expresses the principles of the law of the kingdom of God made specific, so that minds are not left in ignorance and uncertainty.
It was given as precaution and decided practical demonstration to remind the people that obedience to God's commandments is for their present and future good. Obedience brings prosperity and disobedience results in a curse, and the declaration was given to deter from transgression and encourage obedience. It presents the never-ceasing obligation of all whom God has blessed with life and health and advantages in temporal and spiritual things. That obligation includes faithfully bringing gifts and offerings and the tithe to the treasury to sustain faithful messengers. When the Lord in a special manner favors His people He expects them to publicly acknowledge it, so that His name will be glorified as a testimony that His Word is verity and truth.
Its message has not grown weak because of age, for God's claims in it are just as binding now and just as fresh in importance as His gifts are fresh and continual. Christ repeats its call in His call to consecration and self-denial and self-sacrifice as true discipleship. It shows that God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked but takes greatest pleasure in those who turn from sin. His government is a government of personal responsibility where each one must stand for himself, no one can obey for his neighbor, and no one is excused for neglecting duty because his neighbor neglects it.
This curse belongs to those pronounced aloud from Mount Ebal, the mount of curses, after Israel passed over Jordan, while blessings for the obedient were pronounced from Mount Gerizim, the mount of blessings. It was spoken on the day Israel crossed over, with blessings upon the obedient from Gerizim and curses upon the disobedient from Ebal. It belongs to the solemn covenant vows made upon entering Canaan, with Ebal and Gerizim standing as witnesses.
God showed particular care for forgetful Israel by telling them exactly what to do, commanding the commandments to be written on plastered stones, on plastered rock. From two prominent positions appointed for the purpose, the advantages of blessing and the disadvantages of cursing were pronounced before all the people for all to hear. The law was made known in this impressive public way to impress the people and to make it familiar because of its great importance. After each declaration the whole congregation assented with Amen, and by accepting the conditions they placed themselves under solemn responsibility to fulfill them.
The words are not the voice of man but the voice of Christ from the enfolding pillar of cloud, the voice of Jesus Christ enshrouded in the pillar of cloud. To remove a neighbor's landmark is declared a cursed act, standing alongside the command against defrauding the blind, so that one who seeks advantage from another's prosperity at his expense brings God's curse upon himself. Together with Deuteronomy 26 and Deuteronomy 28 the chapter plainly states the blessings of obedience and is to be read carefully. It expresses the principles of the law of the kingdom of God made specific, so that minds are not left in ignorance and uncertainty.
It was given as precaution and decided practical demonstration to remind the people that obedience to God's commandments is for their present and future good. Obedience brings prosperity and disobedience results in a curse, and the declaration was given to deter from transgression and encourage obedience. It presents the never-ceasing obligation of all whom God has blessed with life and health and advantages in temporal and spiritual things. That obligation includes faithfully bringing gifts and offerings and the tithe to the treasury to sustain faithful messengers. When the Lord in a special manner favors His people He expects them to publicly acknowledge it, so that His name will be glorified as a testimony that His Word is verity and truth.
Its message has not grown weak because of age, for God's claims in it are just as binding now and just as fresh in importance as His gifts are fresh and continual. Christ repeats its call in His call to consecration and self-denial and self-sacrifice as true discipleship. It shows that God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked but takes greatest pleasure in those who turn from sin. His government is a government of personal responsibility where each one must stand for himself, no one can obey for his neighbor, and no one is excused for neglecting duty because his neighbor neglects it.