Deut 5:29 Keep ALL My Commandments ALWAYS

Deuteronomy 5:29 reads “O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!” Let’s notice from this verse what God expected of the Israelites, and He would expect the same of us today, just within the confines of a different law …

First, God expects us to fear him. This is kind of like the way I feared my Dad. That would be a healthy respect of God as long as we are faithfully serving him. But if we are being disobedient, we should be scared out of our britches, knowing what eternal fate awaits us. Phil 2:12b commands “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” We should tremble at the thought of facing God in judgment unprepared and out of compliance.

Second, God expects us to keep his commandments. As a matter of fact Jesus said in John 14:15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” I can show my wife I love her by kissing her, but I can’t kiss God; He isn’t here. So we demonstrate our love for God by keeping his commandments (and repenting when we make a mistake – II Pet 3:9).

And Deut 5:29 says we should keep “all” God’s commandments. Our goal should be to do everything God instructs in the New Testament. And when we fail, we are upset with ourselves (and repent) because we didn’t meet our goal. This popular idea that it is okay to sin because “everybody sins” (I John 1:8), or it is okay with God for us to continue in one sin because we are doing most everything else right, is false to the core. James 2:10 says “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”

And Deut 5:29 says we should keep God’s commandments “always.” That would mean all the time, and for the rest of our lives. The idea that as long as we believe in Christ and go to church on Sundays, it doesn’t matter so much how we live Monday through Saturday is a false notion. And the Once Saved Always Saved doctrine is a false doctrine (Gal 5:4).

Lastly let’s don’t overlook Deut 5:29 is saying God would want us to have the kind of heart that would keep all his commandments always. It goes back to our heart and attitude every time. If we have the right kind of heart, we will live in obedience to God. And if we are not serving God faithfully, that reflects upon our heart. Maybe we need to work on our heart?

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