Deuteronomy 6

In ch. vi. Moses first announces the sum and substance of all the commandments, love to God, and the obedience inseparably connected with it; and then enlarges on the contents of the first and second commandments, all relating to the true worship of God. He does this first negatively, by cautioning against worldly-mindedness (vi. 10-25), false toleration (vii.), and self-righteousness (ix., x., xi.); and then positively, by dwelling on its two great parts—fear and love.

4. The Lord our God, etc. That is, “There is no God but one, the Eternal; to whom, therefore, our entire love is due.” The vers. 4-9 are called the Shema, from the first word of ver. 4, “Hear.” They are still recited in the synagogues, and when written on small parchment scrolls are called in Hebrew Menzah, and in the Greek form phylacteries. They may be seen on the door-posts of Jewish houses. In the Hebrew Book of Daily Prayers, Tephiloth Israel (London, 1874), the Shema occurs in the “Morning Service” and in the “Morning Prayers for Children” (see Introduction above).

13. Thou shalt fear. “Thou shalt reverence.”

25 to do all. This requirement of universal obedience for justification by the Law, shows that God’s favour to His people does not at all relax His claims upon them; and it suggests the necessity of another “righteousness” in order to man’s acceptance with Him. See Gal. iii. 19, 22, 24.