Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen.
Deuteronomy 27:26 belongs with Deuteronomy 26 and Deuteronomy 28, and the three should be read carefully together as a plain statement of the blessings of obedience. The blessings and curses stated there set forth plainly what obedience brings and express the principles of the law of the kingdom of God made specific so that minds are not left in ignorance and uncertainty.
The verse belongs to the ceremony appointed for Israel after crossing the Jordan, showing particular care for forgetful Israel by telling them exactly what to do. They were commanded to plaster stones and write the commandments of God upon them, and to hear the consequences of obedience and disobedience pronounced from two prominent mountains. Blessings for obedience were to be pronounced from Mount Gerizim and curses for disobedience from Mount Ebal, as a repetition to impress obedience upon them. This repeated pronouncement was given to make the law familiar, to impress its great importance, and to keep the law and its consequences continually before the people.
After each declaration the whole congregation was to assent with Amen, thereby accepting the conditions and placing themselves under solemn responsibility to do them. That Amen affirmed the covenant warning that whoever does not uphold and obey all the words of the law is under a curse. At a later gathering before Joshua, the mountains Ebal and Gerizim recalled the vows Israel had made on entering Canaan, which they had gathered to renew. Joshua then rehearsed the blessings promised for obedience and the curses threatened for disobedience, and repeated the commandments and statutes to Israel.
The verse requires confirming all the words of the law by doing them, calling for obedience to every word with heart and soul. Disregard and disobedience bring a curse, while keeping the law in action brings blessing and prosperity for present and future good. This states the terms of the old covenant, in which life depended on doing the law and failure to uphold and obey every word brought a curse. The law sets obedience as the condition of life but cannot justify those whose sinful nature leaves them unable to keep it. The new covenant answers this failure with forgiveness and grace to renew the heart, so that the law is written within and obedience grows from a changed heart rather than from an attempt to establish one's own righteousness.
The words were uttered with Christ's own voice, Christ enshrouded in the pillar of cloud, as a decided practical precaution to remind that obedience is for present and future good. Its message has not grown weak because of age, but God's claims are just as binding now and just as fresh in importance as His gifts are fresh and continual. Christ repeated its directions with His own voice in calling followers to consecration and self-denial. The verse lays a never-ceasing obligation on all whom God has blessed with life and health and temporal and spiritual advantages to keep and do His statutes and judgments. This includes gifts and offerings and tithe for sustaining His messengers, and when specially favored, publicly acknowledging Him so His name is glorified as testimony that His Word is verity and truth.
The ceremony was given to deter from transgression and encourage obedience. God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked but takes greatest pleasure in those who turn from sin. Each person stands accountable for himself, with no excuse from the neglect of others.
Deuteronomy 27:26 belongs with Deuteronomy 26 and Deuteronomy 28, and the three should be read carefully together as a plain statement of the blessings of obedience. The blessings and curses stated there set forth plainly what obedience brings and express the principles of the law of the kingdom of God made specific so that minds are not left in ignorance and uncertainty.
The verse belongs to the ceremony appointed for Israel after crossing the Jordan, showing particular care for forgetful Israel by telling them exactly what to do. They were commanded to plaster stones and write the commandments of God upon them, and to hear the consequences of obedience and disobedience pronounced from two prominent mountains. Blessings for obedience were to be pronounced from Mount Gerizim and curses for disobedience from Mount Ebal, as a repetition to impress obedience upon them. This repeated pronouncement was given to make the law familiar, to impress its great importance, and to keep the law and its consequences continually before the people.
After each declaration the whole congregation was to assent with Amen, thereby accepting the conditions and placing themselves under solemn responsibility to do them. That Amen affirmed the covenant warning that whoever does not uphold and obey all the words of the law is under a curse. At a later gathering before Joshua, the mountains Ebal and Gerizim recalled the vows Israel had made on entering Canaan, which they had gathered to renew. Joshua then rehearsed the blessings promised for obedience and the curses threatened for disobedience, and repeated the commandments and statutes to Israel.
The verse requires confirming all the words of the law by doing them, calling for obedience to every word with heart and soul. Disregard and disobedience bring a curse, while keeping the law in action brings blessing and prosperity for present and future good. This states the terms of the old covenant, in which life depended on doing the law and failure to uphold and obey every word brought a curse. The law sets obedience as the condition of life but cannot justify those whose sinful nature leaves them unable to keep it. The new covenant answers this failure with forgiveness and grace to renew the heart, so that the law is written within and obedience grows from a changed heart rather than from an attempt to establish one's own righteousness.
The words were uttered with Christ's own voice, Christ enshrouded in the pillar of cloud, as a decided practical precaution to remind that obedience is for present and future good. Its message has not grown weak because of age, but God's claims are just as binding now and just as fresh in importance as His gifts are fresh and continual. Christ repeated its directions with His own voice in calling followers to consecration and self-denial. The verse lays a never-ceasing obligation on all whom God has blessed with life and health and temporal and spiritual advantages to keep and do His statutes and judgments. This includes gifts and offerings and tithe for sustaining His messengers, and when specially favored, publicly acknowledging Him so His name is glorified as testimony that His Word is verity and truth.
The ceremony was given to deter from transgression and encourage obedience. God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked but takes greatest pleasure in those who turn from sin. Each person stands accountable for himself, with no excuse from the neglect of others.