The Book of Deuteronomy is not just a legal sermon. It is a farewell manifesto of Moses and a prophetic call for a covenant people to live in the love and fear of God.
The Hebrew name for the book is “Devarim” (דְּבָרִים) — “These are the words…”
Not lawbooks, but words from the heart of a shepherd.
Overview #
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Hebrew Title | Devarim – “Words” |
| Greek Title (Septuagint) | Deuteronomion – “Second Law” (misleading; it’s a reiteration) |
| Author | Moses (final words before his death) |
| Audience | New generation of Israelites |
| Setting | Plains of Moab, just before entering Canaan |
| Theme | Covenant Renewal, Love for God, Obedience from the Heart |
| Structure | 3 Sermons + Song + Blessing + Death of Moses |
| Spiritual Parallel | A mature believer’s call to love-driven obedience |
Key Themes in Deuteronomy #
1. Covenant Renewal: Obedience in Love #
“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and mind and with all your soul and with all your strength.”
— Deuteronomy 6:5 AMP
This is the very heartbeat of the entire book of Deuteronomy. At its core, this verse is not calling for religious performance but for relational union. The command to love is not a burden; it is a response to being loved first.
“Love” in Hebrew #
The Hebrew word here for “love” is אָהַב – ‘ahav’, which speaks not only of affection but of covenantal loyalty—a love proven by deep commitment and delight.
It is not:
- Legalism,
- Fear-driven obedience,
- External conformity,
…but a devotion born from knowing God intimately.
“We love, because He first loved us.”
— 1 John 4:19 (AMP)
This Love is Total: Heart, Soul, Strength #
Each phrase reveals a different dimension of surrender:
| Expression | Meaning in Hebrew Thought | Spiritual Application in Christ |
|---|---|---|
| Heart (לֵב – lev) | The inner man: thoughts, desires, will | Loving God in decisions, priorities, and motives |
| Soul (נֶפֶשׁ – nephesh) | Life, breath, self, entire being | Loving God in every breath, beyond emotions |
| Strength (מְאֹד – me’od) | Muchness, intensity, all your resources and capacities | Loving God with your energy, time, finances, and whole effort |
So this is not compartmental love, but complete love. It’s not Sunday love, temple love, or convenient love—it’s 24/7, whole-life surrender.
Not Rule-Based Religion, But Love-Based Obedience #
“The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number… but because the LORD loved you…”
— Deuteronomy 7:7–8 AMP
This is a covenant of love, not of merit. God didn’t rescue Israel to make them slaves to rules, but to form them into a bride who walks with Him in love.
Jesus Confirms This is the Greatest Commandment #
“This is the first and greatest commandment…”
— Matthew 22:37–38 (AMP)
Jesus quotes this very verse from Deuteronomy 6:5 when asked about the greatest command. Why? Because all other commandments flow out of love. Without love, obedience becomes dead works.
Paul affirms the same:
“Love is the fulfilment of the law.”
— Romans 13:10 (AMP)
Fulfilled in the New Covenant #
| Old Covenant | New Covenant in Christ |
|---|---|
| Love God with all your heart | God gives you a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26) |
| Obey His commandments | He writes them on your heart (Hebrews 8:10) |
| Covenant demands love | Covenant supplies love through the Spirit (Romans 5:5) |
| Man must strive to love God | Now Christ in you loves the Father perfectly |
You can never love God fully in your own strength. But when you’re in Christ, the Spirit pours the love of God into your heart and enables you to live out this verse.
Does “Love the Lord Your God” Only Apply to the Old Testament? #
At first glance, Deuteronomy 6:5 seems like Old Covenant legalism—a command rooted in Mosaic Law. But in reality, this verse contains a timeless spiritual principle that finds its fullest fulfilment in the New Covenant through Christ.
Jesus Repeats It in the New Testament #
“And He replied, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.”
— Matthew 22:37–38 AMP
Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 6:5 and calls it the greatest commandment—not just for Jews under the Law, but for all who follow Him. So no, it’s not abolished in the New Testament. But it is transformed and fulfilled in a new way.
What Changes from Old to New? #
| Truth | Old Covenant | New Covenant in Christ |
|---|---|---|
| Love for God | A command to obey by human effort | A nature imparted by the Spirit |
| Heart of Stone | Law written on tablets | Law written on our hearts (Hebrews 8:10) |
| Love as duty | “You must love God” | “God’s love compels you” (2 Cor. 5:14) |
| Outward obedience | Behaviour-focused religion | Inward transformation by the Spirit |
| Fear-based motivation | Serve or be punished | Love-based response to grace |
| Self-powered love | Human strength | Christ in you, loving the Father through you |
So the command remains, but the means and source are completely different.
In the New Covenant, Love Is the Fruit—Not the Requirement #
“The love of God has been [already] poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit…”
— Romans 5:5 AMP
This means: God doesn’t command love and leave you to struggle. He gives His Spirit, who produces that love in you as you walk by Him (Galatians 5:22–23). Now, you don’t love God to be saved—you love Him because He saved you.
“We love, because He first loved us.”
— 1 John 4:19 AMP
The Cross Changes Everything #
At the Cross, the performance-based law was nailed and finished in Christ (Colossians 2:14). But the heart of God has never changed because He desires fellowship, not formality.
“Christ is the end of the law for righteousness…”
— Romans 10:4
Yet love for God is not obsolete. In fact, in the New Covenant, it’s finally possible, not by effort but by the indwelling of Christ.
You cannot Truly Love God without Christ in you #
And this is key:
All this is only when Christ is in you by His spirit. You are dead to the world, the Adamic man is removed, and the flesh is crucified. Then, you are no longer trying to love God—you are loving Him through the life of His Son within you.
2. Remembering and Not Forgetting #
Over 14 times, Moses says: “Remember…”
And over 10 times: “Do not forget…”
Why? Because forgetfulness leads to idolatry.
The whole wilderness was a divine training ground to empty them of Egypt and fill them with God. These are not mere memory cues. They are spiritual safeguards. They reveal the heart of God, who knows His people are prone to drift, especially after they are blessed.
Why Such Emphasis on Memory? #
Because forgetfulness is the gateway to idolatry.
To forget God is not just mental neglect, but it is spiritual erosion. It leads to replacing Him with things that are visible, familiar, and controllable. That is why remembering was not optional; it was the lifeline of their faith.
“You shall remember [with thoughtful concern] all the way which the LORD your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years…”
— Deuteronomy 8:2 AMP
Their wilderness journey was not punishment—it was preparation. It was God’s divine classroom to:
- Remove Egypt from their hearts
- Break their self-dependence
- Teach them to feed on His Word, not just physical bread
The Lesson of Manna and Hunger #
“He humbled you and allowed you to be hungry, and fed you with manna… to teach you that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD.”
— Deuteronomy 8:3 AMP
God intentionally allowed hunger, not to harm them, but to train their appetite—to shift it from earthly dependence to divine nourishment. This verse contains a revelation of the cross: before glory, there must be humbling, and before fullness, there must be emptiness. God was weaning them off Egypt and preparing them for dependency on Him.
Jesus Quoted Deuteronomy to Defeat the Flesh #
When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, the first Scripture He quoted was:
“It is written, and forever remains written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God.’”
— Matthew 4:4 AMP
Jesus did not quote Psalms or Isaiah first—He quoted Deuteronomy. Why? Because the wilderness lesson of Israel was His spiritual weapon in resisting the desires of the flesh. This shows that Deuteronomy is not obsolete but fulfilled in Christ. It is foundational for anyone overcoming the wilderness of temptation, especially the lust of the flesh, pride of life, and pull of appetite.
Remembering in the New Covenant #
Now, all this is only when Christ is in you. You do not remember out of fear or ritual, but because the Spirit brings to remembrance all that Christ has said (John 14:26). Now your remembering is no longer to keep the law but to live from His indwelling life.
In Deuteronomy vs In Christ #
| Theme | In Deuteronomy | In Christ |
|---|---|---|
| Remember | To avoid idolatry | To abide in His word |
| Forget not | To obey the commandments | To walk by the Spirit |
| Wilderness | Physical emptiness and testing | Spiritual formation and maturity |
| Bread | Manna from heaven | Christ, the living Word |
| Temptation | Complaining and idolatry | Victory through Scripture |
| Victory | Through obedience to the Law | Through union with Christ |
3. A People Not Just Delivered—But Formed #
It is easy to think that coming out of Egypt was the climax of Israel’s story. But deliverance was never the destination. It was only the beginning. God did not rescue them simply to escape Pharaoh. He rescued them to be His treasured people, set apart for a higher purpose.
“The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But because the LORD loves you and is keeping the oath which He swore to your fathers…”
— Deuteronomy chapter 7 verses 7 to 8 (AMP)
This passage reveals the deep motive behind the election. It is not based on greatness, merit, numbers, or strength. It is rooted in the eternal love of God. His choice is not a reward for greatness, but a response to His covenantal mercy.
God Was Forming a Nation of Priests #
Deuteronomy is not a rulebook. It is a blueprint for transformation. It outlines how delivered people should now live as a holy and priestly nation. God was not just giving laws to keep society in order. He was shaping the identity and calling of His people—to be carriers of His presence and bearers of His nature among the nations.
In Egypt, they were slaves. But in the wilderness, they were sons in training.
“For you are a holy people [set apart] to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.”
— Deuteronomy chapter 7 verse 6 (AMP)
This Is Fulfilled in Christ and the Church #
This same pattern continues in the New Covenant. The Church is not chosen to dominate, boast, or isolate. We are chosen to serve, shine, and reveal Christ.
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a special people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light.”
— 1 Peter chapter 2 verse 9 (AMP)
The election of Israel finds its spiritual fulfilment in the Body of Christ. And just like Israel, our calling is not about being better, but about being available. Not about status, but about service. This priesthood is not earthly, nor based on tribe or tradition. It is a spiritual priesthood, born from Christ the High Priest and carried by those who walk in His Spirit.
Israel in Deuteronomy vs The Church in Christ #
| Theme | Israel in Deuteronomy | The Church in Christ |
|---|---|---|
| Election | Chosen from Egypt | Called out from the world |
| Basis of Calling | God’s love and covenant | God’s grace in Christ |
| End Goal | Holy, priestly nation | Royal priesthood in the Spirit |
| Means of Formation | Wilderness obedience | Cross and inner transformation |
| Purpose | Display God’s nature to nations | Proclaim His excellencies to all |
Key Chapters in Deuteronomy #
| Chapter | Content Summary | Christ-Focused Revelation |
|---|---|---|
| Deuteronomy 5 | The Ten Commandments are repeated | Christ is the fulfilment of the Law (Matthew 5:17) |
| Deuteronomy 6 | The Shema (“Hear, O Israel…”) | Christ says this is the greatest commandment (Mark 12:29–30) |
| Deuteronomy 8 | Manna and testing | Jesus uses this to resist Satan in the wilderness (Matthew 4:4) |
| Deuteronomy 18 | Promise of a Prophet like Moses | Fulfilled in Christ, the final Prophet (Acts 3:22–23) |
| Deuteronomy 30 | Life and death set before Israel | Christ is our life and the true choice of life (Colossians 3:4) |
| Deuteronomy 32 | The Song of Moses | Echoed in heavenly worship (Revelation 15:3–4) |
| Deuteronomy 34 | Death of Moses outside the Promised Land | Moses dies outside but Jesus brings us into the true rest (John 1:17; Hebrews 4:8–9) |
Christ and the Law: A Divine Shift #
| Moses’ Covenant | Fulfilled in Christ |
|---|---|
| Tablets of stone | Law written on hearts (Heb. 8:10) |
| External commands | Internal transformation by the Spirit |
| Death outside the Promised Land | Jesus brings us into rest (Heb. 4:9) |
| Conditional blessings | Fulfilled in Christ, now freely given (Eph. 1:3) |
Christ in Deuteronomy #
Though Jesus is not named, He saturates the book:
“For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, because he wrote about Me.”
— John 5:46 (AMP)
He is the Prophet like Moses #
“The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you…”
— Deuteronomy 18:15
Fulfilled in Jesus Christ as the final and perfect Prophet
— Acts of the Apostles 3:22
He is the True Manna #
“…He fed you with manna… to make you understand that man does not live by bread alone…”
— Deuteronomy 8:3
Jesus says:
“I am the Bread of Life. He who comes to Me will never go hungry…”
— John 6:35
He is the One who carried our curse #
“…for he who is hanged is cursed by God…”
— Deuteronomy 21:23
Paul explains:
“Christ purchased our freedom… by becoming a curse for us…”
— Galatians 3:13
He is the Faithful Covenant-Keeper and our Righteousness #
“It will be righteousness for us if we are careful to observe all this commandment…”
— Deuteronomy 6:25
But now:
“For Christ is the end of the law… for righteousness to everyone who believes.”
— Romans 10:4
Meditate #
- Deuteronomy 6:5 – Love God with all your heart
- Deuteronomy 8:2–3 – God humbled you to teach you to rely on His word
- Deuteronomy 18:15 – A Prophet like Moses shall come
- Deuteronomy 30:19 – Choose life
- Romans 10:4 – Christ is the end (goal) of the law
- Galatians 3:24 – Law was a tutor to bring us to Christ
- Hebrews 3:5–6 – Moses was faithful as a servant, but Christ as a Son
In Christ,
Shaliach.
