Deuteronomy 30:13
Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?
God's commandment is not distant, hidden, or inaccessible beyond the sea, so that someone must cross the sea to fetch it in order for it to be heard and done, but it is very near, in the mouth and in the heart, so that it may be done. It is not remote or impossible to reach, but is within the ability of people to know and obey. God's laws can be consistently kept by all, and they do not impose meaningless customs or burdensome restrictions.
The verse belongs to God's promise that after Israel's scattering for disobedience, those who returned to Him and obeyed would find His word within reach. It belongs to God's call to return and obey His voice and do all His commandments and to keep His commandments and statutes written in the book of the law with all the heart and with all the soul, with the promise that He will make His people plenteous in every work and will again rejoice over them for good as He rejoiced over their fathers. Spoken to Israel who had chosen to serve Him, it is spoken in the same way to backsliders in the present time, urging them to return to the Lord without delay.
In its setting God sets before His people life and good and death and evil, commanding them to love the Lord, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments and statutes and judgments, so that they may live and multiply and be blessed in the land they go to possess. If the heart turns away and will not hear but is drawn away to worship and serve other gods, they will surely perish and will not prolong their days on the land. With heaven and earth as witnesses to life and death and blessing and cursing before them, they must choose life so that they and their seed may live by loving the Lord, obeying His voice, and cleaving to Him, for He is their life and the length of their days, so that they may dwell in the land sworn to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
The wider passage gives principles plainly defined by the Word of God spoken from the pillar of cloud, expressly forbidding certain actions. Walking contrary to those principles, especially by men in responsible positions who are called by His name, insults God, abuses His honor, and misrepresents Him. It shows that light and truth are not in heart and soul but that truth is taken up without conversion to practice it, with old character retained while assuming places as counselors and wise men, own spirit mingled with counsel, principle perverted, and confederating to do what God expressly forbade until justice and mercy and love for God and man fall in the streets and equity cannot enter.
God has given His law to all the world to govern human minds, and when He tells parents what He requires He means they shall be obedient. Disregard for the laws of God and despising of His Sabbath puts the world in rebellion against God and controversy with God, and parents who from generation to generation transgress the law kindle His wrath as teachers who make sin and iniquity abound. Parents who obey by diligently instructing their children to love and fear God and obey all His commandments would keep the world from its present terrible state as in the days of Noah.
The verse stands against the idea that salvation is confined to the Jews and that the condition of other nations cannot be changed. The nearness of the word applies to the word of faith received in the heart and confessed with the mouth, where genuine faith embraces Christ personally, trusts Him for salvation, and works by love.