Deuteronomy 6:21, commentary and pictures

When a son asks what the testimonies and statutes and judgments of the Lord mean, parents as guardians of His law are to answer by telling how Israel had been slaves in Egypt and the Lord freed them by a mighty hand. That deliverance included great signs and wonders against Egypt before their eyes, bringing them out to bring them into the land promised to their fathers and driving out their enemies. This history of rescue is the reason given to children for keeping the commandments, which were commanded that they might reverence the Lord for their lasting good, be kept alive, prosper, and have it counted as their righteousness as they obeyed. The answer belongs to teaching God's words diligently at all times and from earliest infancy, with them in the heart, in word and example at home and on the way, and even in song on the journey. What was required in Deuteronomy 4-8 that Israel might be a holy people is to be studied now in the time of final review, since faithful home training forms characters approved by God and brings Christ's saving grace to the youth.

Answering Children's Questions

When a son asks what the testimonies and statutes and judgments of the Lord mean, parents as guardians and keepers of God's law are to answer by recounting that they were Pharaoh's bondmen in Egypt and the Lord brought them out of Egypt with a mighty hand. That answer passes knowledge of God and His law from one generation to the next by grounding the meaning of His statutes in the history of bondage and powerful deliverance. It gives the historical foundation and reason for Israel's covenant duties, showing that He worked this deliverance so they might obey His law. The full answer adds that the Lord showed great and sore signs and wonders on Egypt and on Pharaoh and his household before their eyes, and brought Israel out to bring them in to give the land sworn to the fathers, with enemies cast out. The law was then commanded so Israel might fear the Lord for their good always and be preserved alive as at this day, and it would be their righteousness if they observed to do all the commandments before the Lord as commanded.

This answer belongs to diligently teaching God's words to children at all times, when sitting in the house and walking by the way and lying down and rising up. It requires having them in the heart, binding them for a sign upon the hand and as frontlets between the eyes, and writing them upon the posts of the house and upon the gates. It belongs also to diligently keeping the commandments and testimonies and statutes and doing what is right and good in the sight of the Lord so it will be well and Israel will go in and possess the good land sworn to the fathers.

The instruction is to begin this teaching from earliest years and infancy. Parents are to explain God's commandments to their children by recalling Israel's history as slaves under Pharaoh in Egypt whom the Lord brought out by His mighty power, making that deliverance the reason behind the people's account of their covenant duties. In the surrounding instruction this history was to be taught as children asked about the laws, and Israel repeated the teaching in song while journeying through the wilderness.

Deliverance Grounds Obedience

Israel had been enslaved under Pharaoh in Egypt, and the Lord freed them by great power and with a mighty hand. The full answer to be given to children adds that the Lord showed great and sore signs and wonders upon Egypt and upon Pharaoh and all his household before their eyes, and brought Israel out from there to bring them in and give them the land sworn to the fathers, with their enemies cast out before them. That history of rescue by mighty power and special workings is the historical foundation and reason given to children for Israel's covenant duties, to give them a correct understanding of the Lord's dealings with His people and why they were to obey His specified statutes and remember Him. He worked this deliverance so that they might obey His law.

The law was commanded so that Israel might fear the Lord for their good always and be preserved alive as at that day, and it would be their righteousness if they observed to do all the commandments before the Lord as commanded. Obedience to those specified statutes was linked with blessing and prosperity. This family instruction is connected with God's commands for physical and moral health. The remembered deliverance also grounds the command to keep the Sabbath.

God kept this wonderful deliverance from the bondage of slavery in Egypt constantly before Israel and before their children as an expression of His love for them. By doing so He placed them under the most favorable circumstances for loving and serving Him. The great object in obtaining a knowledge of God's laws is to become acquainted with His will in order to obey Him.

Study and Obey Today

The instruction belongs to Deuteronomy 4-8, which set out what God required of His ancient people that they might be a holy people unto Himself by keeping His commandments, statutes, and judgments and by remembering His leading and deliverance. That portion is to be studied and read with profit now, because the world is nearing God's great final review when all must stand before the Judge of all the earth to answer for their deeds. The present is the time of investigation, when every character is investigated and every case decided for eternity.

Faithfully following this instruction trains children from infancy to form characters that meet God's approval and brings the saving grace of Christ to youth. Children trained to love and obey God and to yield to the molding power of His Word are objects of God's special care and blessing. Parents are therefore to take every precaution to prevent objectionable traits of character in their children, to control themselves for the sake of their Creator and Redeemer, to cleanse the soul-temple, and to reveal piety, virtue, and godliness in home life. Unless parents thus prepare themselves for the present and future life they will not be admitted into the city of God.