4:2Deuteronomy 4:2

The verse requires keeping what God commanded exactly as given, without adding to it or taking anything from it, in all speech and works and daily life by precept and example.SG4 53.3+2 Obedience to those statutes and judgments as given brings life, well-being, peace and long life to the people and their children, and entrance into and possession of the land God gives.SG4 53.3+2 Keeping the word unaltered is the people's wisdom and understanding before the nations, displaying righteous statutes and a God who is near when called upon.Ms 146, 1906, par. 29–33+2 It forbids putting human rules, restrictions and tests in place of God's law or removing any of its precepts, since replacing His words with human words brings confusion and sets His law aside.STB 129.7–130.2+2 The law proclaimed at Sinai, including the Ten Commandments with the seventh-day Sabbath, remains God's standard to be obeyed faithfully by His covenant-keeping people today.RH Sep 5, 1907+3

The verse forbids adding anything to the word commanded and diminishing anything from it, so that the commandments may be kept exactly as they were given without alteration.SG4 53.3+4 It requires exact obedience in all speech and in all works and daily life, the word heard and done by precept and by example.Ms 130, 1906, par. 8+2 The word so kept is to be the counselor, studied as words of truth and righteousness and as true science, not false science.Ms 130, 1906, par. 8 Obedience to these statutes and judgments as given is tied to life and to entering, living in, and taking possession of the land promised.SG4 53.3+4

It was spoken by Moses near the close of the wilderness wandering at Baal-peor on the very borders of the promised land, as Israel stood on its threshold after many had fallen prey to subtle temptation and those who remained faithful renewed their vows of allegiance.Ms 110, 1899, par. 6–9+2 It belongs to his review of their history and instruction, repeating the conditions of the covenant with warning against future temptations and with earnest exhortation to remain separate from the surrounding nations and to worship God alone.Ms 110, 1899, par. 6–9+2 Moses was to repeat from time to time the facts regarding departure from the commandments lest they be forgotten, for joining to Baal-peor shows the sure result of setting the word aside and placing themselves on a level with idolatrous nations.Ms 162, 1903, par. 3–8 All the men who followed Baal-peor were destroyed from among them, while all who held fast to the Lord remained alive every one to that day.Lt 162, 1903, par. 2–5+1 It recalls the law given when the Lord came down on Mount Sinai before the mighty host of Israel, with wonderful promises tied to observing His commandments.Lt 176, 1907, par. 11–12 The wilderness experience was written for the instruction of the commandment-keeping people of the last days, who are to heed this recorded warning, since holding fast to the truth safeguards God's people in every age.Ms 110, 1899, par. 6–9

Its chapter is instruction about separation from the world, to be heard and done so they may live and go in and possess the land the Lord gives.Ms 132, 1903, par. 1–6 It calls the people to take heed to themselves, to keep the soul diligently, to remember what was seen, and to teach it to sons and to sons' sons.Ms 132, 1903, par. 1–6+1 The statutes and commandments are to be kept unchanged and remembered and taught to children.Ms 132, 1903, par. 1–6+1 Keeping the word unaltered is their wisdom and understanding in the sight of the nations, who will see righteous statutes and a God who is near when called upon.Ms 132, 1903, par. 1–6+2

Obedience to the statutes and judgments exactly as given, with nothing added and nothing taken away, is tied to life itself and to going in and possessing the land God gives.SG4 53.3+4 Keeping the commandments faithfully as commanded brings life, peace, and prosperity, and well-being and long life for the people and their children.RH Aug 23, 1906+2 Those who held fast to the Lord and remained faithful lived and stayed alive, while all who followed Baal-peor were destroyed from among them.Lt 162, 1903, par. 2–5+3 The law's standard and the consequences of breaking it remain relevant to the world's troubles.Ms 124, 1905, par. 1–4

Keeping the word unaltered is the people's wisdom and understanding in the sight of the nations.Ms 146, 1906, par. 29–33+4 Other nations, seeing such righteous statutes and a God so near whenever He is called upon, recognize that wisdom.Ms 146, 1906, par. 29–33+2 Walking according to God's law in this way commends a people before others.Ms 58, 1900, par. 43–46 It ensures His presence and exerts an elevating and ennobling influence over idolaters.Lt 34, 1899, par. 34–38

Those who obey and walk in humility of mind have God's eye over them.Ms 120, 1909, par. 1–3 His angels guide and protect them, and God in heaven watches and guards those who follow in obedience to His will.Ms 120, 1909, par. 1–3 The history of the Old Testament shows that He blesses those who obey His statutes, judgments, and commandments.Lt 116, 1906, par. 1

The commandments are not a curse but the appointed way to escape sin's curse.Ms 141, 1906, par. 21–24+1 By them people become righteous, holy, and happy, in communion with God, knowing Him as God and belonging to Him as His children.Ms 141, 1906, par. 21–24 Obedience is possible, and the commandments are not a yoke of bondage, impossible to keep, unendurable, or grievous, while people remain firm in allegiance to God.ST Jan 6, 1888 When people separate from God and fix the will upon self-indulgence and the service of evil in opposition to His direct commands, they deprive themselves of His love and power, and the law that was once their delight becomes an unendurable weight.ST Jan 6, 1888

To obey as obedient children is life itself.Ms 84, 1910, par. 44 Such obedience is the highest kind of education.Ms 84, 1910, par. 44 Changing the Bible to fit human ideas of higher education breaks this command and shuts people out of heaven.Ms 84, 1910, par. 44

Israel's own eyes saw what the Lord did because of Baal-peor, and that sight enforces exact obedience without adding to or taking from His word.Ms 67, 1906, par. 5–8+4 All the men who followed Baal-peor were destroyed from among them, while all who held fast and clung to the Lord remained alive every one to that day.Ms 67, 1906, par. 5–8+4 The destruction of the disobedient and the sparing of the faithful stand together as warning and promise, showing the sure result of setting His word aside and placing themselves on a level with idolatrous nations.Ms 67, 1906, par. 5–8+4 Obedience to the commands as given was tied to life and possession of the land, disobedience brought destruction, and obedience to God's truth remains tied to life.Lt 162, 1903, par. 2–5+3 Keeping the commandments unaltered is wisdom and understanding that other nations can recognize.Ms 146, 1906, par. 29–33

Turning from the word as given brings destruction, disaster, and the curse of God, with disease and death.Lt 34, 1899, par. 34–38+2 Transgression brings a curse upon the earth, upon animals, and upon human beings.18MR 353.1–4+1 There is no adultery or fornication that God will not visit with His wrath, as Israel saw when all who followed Baal-peor were destroyed.Lt 34, 1899, par. 34–38+1 By contrast, keeping the commandments exactly as given brings blessedness and prosperity, so that all who cleaved to the Lord remained alive.ST Jan 6, 1888

God may delay judgment to give people time to return to truth, while those who remain faithful live.Ms 146, 1906, par. 29–33 Neglecting the requirements of this chapter leads to rebellion, for its charge is to heed God's directions, take His Word as given, study it, and obey it.Ms 146, 1906, par. 29–33+1

The charge laid on Israel holds with undiminished force at the present time, for the law uttered at Sinai remains the divine standard for conduct.RH Sep 5, 1907+2 That law includes the Ten Commandments, to be kept exactly as spoken, without addition and without subtraction.RH Sep 5, 1907+1 It is to be studied with care by all who would be numbered among a covenant-keeping and holy people, and obeyed faithfully as the rule of life.RH Sep 5, 1907+2

Faithfulness to that unaltered law requires observance of the true Sabbath, for God specifies the seventh day as the day He blessed.Lt 6, 1909, par. 5+2 He has never commanded observance of Sunday, and to present the first day as the Sabbath turns minds away from the blessed day and from obedience to His law.Ms 93, 1908, par. 36–37 Compulsory Sunday legislation would obstruct Sabbath observance and bring a condition of slavery in the southern field.Lt 6, 1909, par. 5

The Ten Commandments teach righteousness and make known the character of God, leaving no excuse for transgression.Ms 162, 1903, par. 2 The same unchangeable word fixes the regulations of worship, so that no one is free to add requirements to them or to remove anything from them.GC88 289.1–2+1 Apostasy begins when human authority is set alongside divine authority to supplement it, and the history of Rome shows the course: first demanding what God had not forbidden, then at last forbidding what God had commanded.GC88 289.1–2+1

The verse forbids adding human rules, restrictions, and tests to God's law, and forbids removing any of its precepts.STB 129.7–130.2+2 Man-made restrictions and tests bring confusion, and putting human words in place of God's words takes away from His law.STB 129.7–130.2+2 Such human laws and yokes must not be allowed to divert the mind from His Word.STB 129.7–130.2 Replacing God's commands with human rules confuses people, sets God's law aside, and brings disobedience, whereas life and prosperity depend on obeying all His statutes and judgments and teaching every requirement by word and example.Ms 127, 1899, par. 50–51 The right way has been plainly revealed through the prophets and through Christ.Ms 127, 1899, par. 50–51

It also forbids adding to, subtracting from, and changing the expressions of the Old and New Testament writings to suit human standards of how Scripture should appear.1MR 34.1 No one may put human words and ideas into God's word as improvements, for doing so replaces God's word with human life and expressions and meets God's disapproval.1MR 34.1 His written word must be preserved as given, with nothing added by human words and nothing taken away, so that His commandments can be kept.Ms 120, 1909, par. 22–23 The warning against replacing even a line of Scripture with one's own words shows how serious any such altering is.Ms 120, 1909, par. 22–23

Changing the Bible to fit human ideas of higher education breaks this command.Ms 84, 1910, par. 44 The word God commands must be left exactly as He gave it, with nothing added and nothing taken away, in order to keep the commandments of the Lord.Ms 84, 1910, par. 44 To obey as obedient children is life, and this obedience is the highest kind of education, while altering His word to suit human learning shuts people out of heaven.Ms 84, 1910, par. 44

The verse warns against teaching doctrines that have no foundation in God's Word or that turn people from its plain instruction, since obedience to His law was the condition for Israel to receive the promises He had given them.Ms 2, 1904, par. 31–35 Its plain claims must be accepted rather than misinterpreted to excuse conduct or doctrines that conflict with the law.Ms 58, 1900, par. 43–46 Refusing its light in order to avoid sacrifice leaves people blind to truth, while walking according to God's law gives a people wisdom and understanding and commends them before others.Ms 58, 1900, par. 43–46 Truth is to be treated as binding, not put on at certain times and laid aside at will.19MR 67.1 No one can substitute a self-chosen will and opinions for harmony with God's will and remain an heir to eternal life, for setting self as standard leads into opposition to Christ and transgression of God's law.Ms 162, 1903, par. 2+1 The Ten Commandments teach righteousness and reveal God's character, so there is no excuse for transgressing them, and what was given through Moses is to be kept and obeyed.Ms 162, 1903, par. 2+1 Publishing a vision does not alter the sure word of prophecy, for nothing is to be added to God's word or taken away from it.WLF 21.1

The chapter is to be studied carefully to learn what God required of Israel in order to be holy and what He requires of His covenant-keeping people now.7MR 309.1–3+2 Its lessons are as important for people at the present time as they were for Israel, calling for keeping His statutes and commandments in connection with well-being and long life for the people and their children.Ms 130, 1906, par. 8+2 The word is to be the counselor, studied as words of truth and righteousness and as true science rather than false science, obeyed exactly as given in all speech and in all works with nothing added and nothing taken away so that the commandments may be kept.Ms 130, 1906, par. 8+2 It is to be read diligently and used to bring people back to the true platform against deceptive suggestions, with the assurance that truth will triumph, while neglecting its requirements leads to rebellion and departing from its commandments brings disobedience and judgment.Lt 116, 1906, par. 3+2

Nothing of the word the Lord gives is to be left out, for His requirements are plainly written in the book He has given and are to be obeyed to the letter with mind and heart brought under discipline to depart from all iniquity and sin.Ms 125, 1906, par. 7–10+1 This means declaring faithfully the whole message enjoined from youth onward whether hearers receive it or not, speaking just the words He gives for His Spirit to implant in hearts and exalting heaven-revealed truth against opposition.Ms 175, 1905, par. 3+1 Bible truth is to be presented without change as the basis for explaining why His people are distinctively His, never turning a jot or tittle from testing truth because souls are in peril if they reject it.Ms 175, 1905, par. 3+1 Everything depends on coming into right relation to God by listening to and obeying these unaltered requirements, and blessing cannot be pledged upon fathers, mothers, and children while they are transgressing them.Ms 84, 1910, par. 9–11

Every person is to search the Scriptures diligently to see and obey the word of the living God rather than being careless, keeping the fear of God before them and letting His goodness, mercy, and love move them to serve with full purpose of heart.Ms 120, 1909, par. 1–3 Each must stand in right relation to God today and take heed not to place himself where God cannot keep him, for God keeps account with His people and keeping His word without change makes every difference between obedience and disobedience.Ms 120, 1909, par. 1–3 Those who obey and walk in humility have His eye over them, with angels guiding and protecting them and with God in heaven watching and guarding those who follow His will.Ms 120, 1909, par. 1–3 Those with care and charge of the work are to tell these things over and over to the children being prepared for the heavenly courts and for entrance into the kingdom where there is no going out and no danger because they have kept the word.Ms 120, 1909, par. 1–3+1 His people are to come out from the world and be separate and to provide schools where their children receive thorough lessons in Bible truth apart from the worldly separation and corruption found among many children in the public schools.Ms 67, 1906, par. 5–8

Those entrusted with sacred responsibilities are to honor the truths given them and observe God's directions carefully in every detail, from what seems greatest to what seems least.STB 628.4–629.2 The directions are sacred truth expressing His mind, whose specifications must never lose their force, with every word to be cherished.STB 628.4–629.2+1 The chapter specifies practical obedience and service for the last days, including medical missionary work and educating students to do service.Lt 55, 1897, par. 9–11 Its principles are to be practiced in all religious service and in conduct toward God and toward one another, including justice, love, liberality, tenderness, compassion, and courtesy, since departing from God's word in action misrepresents His character.Lt 55, 1897, par. 9–11+1

The command not to add or take away belongs to God's requirements for an obedient people throughout history and in the last days, calling them to keep the living word without departing from it.Ms 124, 1905, par. 1–4+1 Obedience to the law was the condition for Israel to receive the promises, bringing life, peace, and prosperity, and people are accountable for their deeds in the final review.7MR 309.1–3+2 The law's standard and the consequences of breaking it remain relevant to the world's troubles, for transgression brings a curse upon the earth, animals, and human beings.Ms 124, 1905, par. 1–4+1 The chapter was among those used in a public address that deeply affected its listeners.Lt 146, 1910, par. 6