Read Deuteronomy 6:20–25
Questions from the Scripture text: Who will ask something, when (Deuteronomy 6:20)? What will he ask about? What will they tell their children that they had been (Deuteronomy 6:21)? What else will they tell them that the Lord did in Egypt (Deuteronomy 6:22)? What else will they tell them that the Lord did after that (Deuteronomy 6:23)? What will they say that the Lord told them to do (Deuteronomy 6:24)? Through which the Lord would do what? What would obedience be for them (Deuteronomy 6:25)?
How are we to teach our children God’s law? Deuteronomy 6:20–25 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we should teach our children the law in the context of the gospel.
This passage implies important duties of future generations of Israelites.
Would they read and speak God’s “testimonies, statutes, and judgments” (v20) enough that their children would wonder and ask about them?
Would they be so intent upon “doing” the statutes (v24, more literal than NKJ) and “doing” the commandments (v25) that their earnestness to put God’s Word into practice in life would demand an explanation from their children?
Reading the rest of the Old Testament, it is apparent that this passage would condemn most of those generations.
We would do well to ask those questions of our own home, church, and generation, lest this passage also testify against us.
If, by God’s grace, we do read and speak and live out the testimonies, statutes, and judgments of our God, then our job is not done. If our children do not ask, we need to prompt them to ask. And we need to answer.
The Lord has redeemed us! For Israel, it was especially the Exodus (v21), although certainly a godly Israelite would also want to answer with the greater redemption such as described in Psalm 32 or Psalm 130.
The Lord has shown His almighty arm (v22)! Again, this has been true in wonderful ways throughout history, and all the more so spiritually.
The Lord is keeping His promises to us (v23)!
It is in this context of the Lord’s redemption, the Lord’s power, and the Lord’s faithfulness that we then tell our children about His commandments (v24–25).
These commandments are the way by which He brings us into what He has promised (v24).
And these commandments are the right way of relating to our God, before Whom (“before YHWH our God,” v25) we live.
Dear reader, let us not only tell our children God’s commandments. In order that we might not enslave them in a soul-destroying, God-dishonoring legalism, let us make sure to tell them in the context and manner in which He has instructed us!
How are you living in such a way that children would wonder why God’s law is so important? How does your instruction to them put the law into the context of the gospel?
Sample prayer: Lord, thank You for giving us Your good law to live by, as You faithfully bring us into what You have promised, by way of Your almighty power. Grant unto us not only to live this way, but to communicate this to the next generation of Your church, we ask through Christ, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP78B “O Come, My People to My Law” or TPH550 “Let Children Hear the Mighty Deeds”
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