Today’s DAILY BIBLE VERSE

Deuteronomy chapter 10 verses 12–13

¹²And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, ¹³To keep the commandments of the Lord, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?

VERSE CONTEXT

The book of Deuteronomy is part of the Torah—the first five books of Moses—written as a final address to the children of Israel before they entered the Promised Land. Moses, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, is reminding this new generation of God’s covenant, God’s mercy, and God’s expectations. The name “Deuteronomy” means “second law,” not because the Law changed, but because Moses is repeating and re-teaching it for those who were born during the wilderness journey.

In this chapter, Moses is recounting how Israel had sinned by making the golden calf, how he interceded for them, and how God graciously renewed His covenant and gave them a second set of tablets. Verses 12–13 serve as a kind of spiritual summary. After all that disobedience, all that mercy, and all that deliverance, Moses asks: “Now, what does the Lord require of you?”

This is not a burdensome list of religious rules—it’s a call to relationship. Let’s break it down with key definitions and commentary.

“And now, Israel…”

Here Moses is transitioning. After retelling God’s past works and mercy, he turns to the present responsibility of Israel. “Now” implies an immediate response to what God has already done. The people are not being commanded blindly; they are being asked to respond in love to a God who saved and sustained them.

“…what doth the Lord thy God require of thee…”

This word “require” means to seek out, to desire, to ask for. It’s not cold legalism—it’s like a father saying, “This is what I want from you as my child.” It emphasizes God’s relational expectations, not just legal obligations.

“…but to fear the Lord thy God…”

The word “fear” here does not mean terror or dread, but reverent awe. It involves recognizing God’s holiness, power, justice, and mercy—and responding with humility and submission. It’s not a fear that drives us away, but one that draws us into obedience.

Commentator Matthew Henry (1662–1714, Nonconformist) wrote: “Fear is the root of all true religion. A reverence of God’s majesty, and a dread of His wrath, are essential to the beginning of wisdom.”

“…to walk in all his ways…”

“Walk” means to live or conduct yourself. This shows that worship is not confined to ritual or temple—it’s about daily life. “All his ways” includes His justice, mercy, faithfulness, holiness. We are to imitate God’s character in how we live.

“…and to love him…”

This is the heart of it all. Not cold obedience. Not empty ritual. God wants love. Real love leads to real obedience. As Jesus said in John chapter 14 verse 15: “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

This is also a major theme throughout Deuteronomy. Love was not a new idea in the New Testament—it’s been part of God’s covenant expectations from the beginning.

“…and to serve the Lord thy God…”

“Serve” means to work for, to labor for, or to worship. It’s the Hebrew equivalent of someone devoting their life to a king. God is not asking for part-time devotion—He wants all of us.

“…with all thy heart and with all thy soul…”

In Hebrew thought, the “heart” is the center of thought and will, and the “soul” is the seat of emotion and life. In modern terms: love and serve God with everything you are—your mind, your emotions, your choices, your life.

Commentator John Gill (1697–1771, Baptist) said: “This is not a mere bodily service, nor a constrained one, but that which springs from a heart truly affected with the love and fear of God.”

In Scripture, the word “heart” does not mean the physical organ pumping blood, nor does it refer to emotional love as in modern Valentine’s culture. Biblically, the heart is the center of one’s intellect, will, emotions, desires, intentions, and conscience.

It is the deepest part of a person’s being, the core of who they are. It includes:

• Your thoughts – what you dwell on, entertain, and plan.
• Your desires – what you long for, pursue, or fantasize about.
• Your motivations – why you do what you do.
• Your moral compass – how you determine right and wrong.
• Your decisions – what you ultimately choose.

God isn’t looking for hollow ritual or shallow praise—He is asking for the full surrender of your internal world. Not just your behavior, but the invisible engine room of your life.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714, Nonconformist) emphasizes this: “He must have the innermost and uppermost place in the affections; they must love him above all rival loves, and their hearts must be carried out towards him with the utmost sincerity and fervency.”

Henry is saying: God doesn’t want a portion of your loyalty or some kind of Sunday morning affection. He wants the whole operating system—not a temporary Valentine’s Day commitment, but a total life takeover from the inside out.

John Gill (1697–1771, Baptist) goes further: “With all thy heart — with sincerity and integrity of soul, and not in a formal and hypocritical way; and with all thy soul — with the utmost fervency of spirit, and readiness to suffer everything, even death itself, for his sake.”

Notice Gill brings in sincerity, integrity, and sacrifice—showing that this heart-service means you don’t serve God as an act of convenience, but with total surrender, even to the point of laying down your life.

Jesus said in Mark chapter 7 verse 21–23: “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”

Notice the first thing mentioned: evil thoughts. That’s the spark that lights the fire. So when God commands us to serve Him with all our heart, He is commanding that our thoughts be governed by truth.

That’s why Paul urges believers in Romans chapter 12 verse 2: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…”

Heart transformation begins with mind transformation. If the heart is your inner sanctuary, the mind is the altar. If Christ sits there, sin is cast out.

Verse 13: “To keep the commandments of the Lord, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?”

“To keep the commandments of the Lord…”

The word “keep” in this context means to guard, observe, preserve, or give careful attention to. This is not casual or forgetful obedience. God is asking His people to intentionally guard His commandments—treat them like something precious, not optional.

The “commandments” refer to the direct moral laws of God, such as those found in the Ten Commandments (Exodus chapter 20). These reflect God’s holy character—truthfulness, purity, justice, reverence, and faithfulness.

In other words, worship isn’t just expressed through songs or sacrifices, but by how seriously we handle what God has already said. True worship includes honoring His Word with care and commitment.

“…and his statutes…”

“Statutes” means appointed laws or ordinances—rules that God set in place for the benefit and order of His people. These were often specific instructions for worship, justice, purity, and social ethics. Together, “commandments and statutes” cover both the moral and ceremonial laws of the Old Testament.

In New Testament terms, while ceremonial laws were fulfilled in Christ, the moral law still stands as a reflection of God’s holy standards. Jesus didn’t abolish righteousness—He fulfilled the law and gave us power through the Spirit to live it out (see Romans chapter 8 verse 4: “That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

What the argument that these are all old testament scriptures that no longer exist because of Jesus? You would not be wrong to recognize that Jesus changed everything—but the idea that He abolished the law or canceled the Old Testament is a misunderstanding of Scripture and the nature of God’s covenant continuity.

Matthew chapter 5 verse 17: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”

Jesus didn’t come to erase the law—He came to embody it, complete it, and show what it always pointed toward. He lived it perfectly, and through Him, the ceremonial aspects (like animal sacrifice and temple rituals) were fulfilled once and for all. But He never said, “Ignore God’s moral and righteous expectations.” In fact, in the same passage, He says in Matthew chapter 5 verse 19: “Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven…”

That means we must rightly distinguish between what was fulfilled and closed (like sacrifices, priestly garments, temple architecture) and what remains morally binding (like holiness, sexuality, justice, humility, and love).

The apostles consistently teach God’s moral expectations, even after the resurrection of Christ.

• Galatians chapter 5 verses 19–21 lists works of the flesh like fornication, hatred, drunkenness, and heresies—all things governed by Old Testament statutes.
• First Peter chapter 1 verse 16: “Be ye holy; for I am holy.” — direct quote from Leviticus.
• Second Timothy chapter 3 verse 16: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God…” — and when Paul said this, the Old Testament was the Scripture he meant.

Grace Doesn’t Cancel Obedience—It Empowers It

Titus chapter 2 verses 11–12: “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly…”

Grace doesn’t remove God’s standards—it teaches us how to live them. Statutes don’t disappear under grace; they get written on the heart (see Jeremiah 31:33 and Hebrews 10:16). Yes, they are Old Testament statutes—but no, that does not mean they are irrelevant. You must ask, Did Jesus fulfill this statute in a way that sets it aside (like animal sacrifice)? Or does this statute still reflect God’s holy expectations for how His people live (like justice, sexual purity, and care for others)?

“…which I command thee this day…”

This reminds us that God’s expectations are present, not theoretical or future only. Moses speaks urgently and presently: “this day” means now. God wasn’t just giving Israel a philosophy or national identity—He was calling them to immediate obedience.

It’s also a reminder of Moses’ prophetic authority. He doesn’t speak from himself, but under God’s command. His words aren’t optional suggestions—they are binding truth.

“…for thy good?”

This final phrase is tender and profound. God’s commands are not burdens designed to oppress His people. They are gifts meant to protect, guide, and bless.

This directly refutes the lie that God’s laws are restrictive or joy-stealing. In fact, the opposite is true. God’s laws are a fence around freedom—they preserve joy, life, family, justice, and worship.

Charles Spurgeon (1834–1892, Baptist) wrote: “The Lord’s commands are like rails on a high mountain path—they do not restrict us but keep us from plunging to destruction.”

So when God says, “Fear Me, love Me, obey Me,” it’s not selfishness—it’s fatherly love. Just as a parent says, “Don’t play in the street” or “Eat your vegetables,” God commands what is for our good, even when we don’t immediately understand it.

BROADER CONTEXT

The book of Deuteronomy is the final book of the Torah, written by Moses under divine inspiration. Its name comes from the Greek Deutero-nomos, meaning “second law,” not because a new law was given, but because Moses is repeating and re-teaching God’s law to a new generation of Israelites before they enter the Promised Land. The first generation had died in the wilderness due to unbelief and rebellion (Numbers 14:29–30), so now Moses is preparing their children to live as God’s covenant people in Canaan.

Chapter 10 is part of a larger section (chapters 9–11) where Moses reminds Israel of their repeated rebellion—especially the golden calf incident (Exodus 32)—and the mercy God extended despite their failures. Early in chapter 10, Moses retells how God restored the covenant by giving a second set of tablets (Deuteronomy 10:1–5), placed in the Ark of the Covenant (verse 5), and how he again interceded on their behalf.

By the time we reach verses 12–13, Moses is pivoting from history to heart. After recounting their sin and God’s mercy, he asks: “And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee?”

This is not just a rhetorical question. It’s a theological turning point—a summary of what true covenant relationship looks like. God doesn’t merely want rituals, temples, or sacrifices. He wants fear (reverence), love, obedience, and whole-hearted service. These verses are a blueprint for biblical worship and a clear articulation of how God wants to be worshipped, not only under the Old Covenant but in spirit throughout redemptive history.

Deuteronomy is structured around a series of sermons by Moses, and these verses sit near the center of the first major sermon (chapters 5–11). That sermon includes:

• A repeat of the Ten Commandments (chapter 5)
• The Shema—“Hear, O Israel…” (chapter 6)
• Warnings against forgetting God (chapters 6–8)
• Lessons from past failure (chapters 9–10)
• A call to wholehearted obedience and blessing (chapters 10–11)

These chapters emphasize that obedience is the fruit of love, not just law-keeping. God is not asking for a checklist; He’s asking for covenant loyalty.

Now, as discussed earlier, some may object: “But aren’t statutes and commandments for Old Testament Israel only?” That’s where understanding biblical continuity is critical. Moses is not laying down temporary rules for an ancient people—he’s revealing the character of a holy God who desires a set-apart people.

The commandments reflect God’s moral will. The statutes demonstrate how that will is lived out in daily life—governing everything from worship to justice, relationships to honesty. As has been the case for thousands of years, people try to discard these as “Old Covenant stuff,” but the New Testament reaffirms these truths. Jesus quoted Deuteronomy repeatedly (see Matthew 4:4, 4:7, 4:10) and summarized the whole Law with: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” (Matthew chapter 22 verse 37) That’s a direct echo of Deuteronomy 10:12 and Deuteronomy 6:5.

Furthermore, as we already examined, statutes are not abolished in Christ—they are fulfilled, clarified, and written on the heart (Hebrews 10:16). God still wants a people who:

• Love Him from the heart
• Obey His revealed will
• Serve Him in truth
• Walk in righteousness
• Reject idolatry, immorality, and injustice

APPLICATION

Appreciating God’s Greatness

When God asks, “What does the Lord thy God require of thee?”, we are not hearing from a cold lawgiver—we are hearing from a loving Redeemer. He has delivered, forgiven, sustained, and carried His people. In return, He asks not for lifeless rituals, but for love, loyalty, and a life given back to Him.

What makes God so great here is His fatherly heart. He gives commands not to burden us, but to bless us: “…which I command thee this day for thy good?” (Deuteronomy 10:13)

No human ruler gives laws purely for the good of the people. But God does. He is majestic and merciful, holy and near, commanding and compassionate—all at the same time. He doesn’t want half of us—He wants all of us. That is greatness not just in power, but in personal love.

For the Believer

These verses call every believer back to the core of discipleship. Not routine. Not appearance. Not selective obedience. But full devotion—from the inside out.

God wants our heart (our thoughts, desires, emotions, intentions), and our soul (our life, passion, and purpose). When we give Him those, our actions—our obedience—naturally follow. Why? Because Obedience is the fruit of love.

If we love God, we will want to live like Him. If our minds are fixed on Him, sinful thoughts cannot take root. And when we serve Him with joy, even hard obedience becomes a pleasure.

Call to Action for Believers:

• Examine your heart today. Is your love for God whole, or divided?
• Surrender your thoughts—every private imagination, fear, and fantasy—into obedience to Christ.
• Serve with your soul—not out of duty, but devotion. Don’t let church activity become a checklist. Let it be love in motion.
• Trust that His commands are for your good. He is not trying to take anything from you—but to protect, purify, and prosper your life.

For the Unbeliever

If you’ve ever thought that God is just a rule-maker in the sky waiting to punish people, this verse shatters that lie. He’s not trying to make you religious. He’s trying to bring you into relationship—real, eternal, loving relationship.

Deuteronomy chapter 10 verses 12–13 show that God wants your heart, not just your habits. He wants your trust, not just your time. He’s not calling you to clean yourself up first—He’s calling you to surrender yourself to Him and let Him do the cleaning.

He is not harsh. He is holy. He is not distant. He is drawing near. And He is not waiting for you to earn His love—He already proved His love by sending His Son to die for you.

Call to Action for the Unbeliever:

• Lay down your resistance.
• Let God have all of you—your past, your wounds, your doubts.
• Call on the name of Jesus, the fulfillment of this covenant, who makes it possible for you to love and serve God with all your heart and soul.

FINAL ENCOURAGEMENT

In a world that tells us to follow our hearts, God tells us to give Him our hearts. Not because He wants control, but because He wants closeness. These verses are not a list of rules to fear, but a call to relationship—rooted in reverence, built on love, lived out in service.

God is not asking for something you don’t have—He’s asking for what He gave you in the first place: your heart, your soul, your life. And He doesn’t ask for it to make your life harder. He asks because He knows that obedience is the only way to true freedom, lasting joy, and eternal life.

So if you love Him—let it show in your obedience. Let love lead the way. Let surrender be your worship. And remember, every statute, every commandment, and every calling He gives is not to tear you down, but to build you up for your good.

If you’ve found these daily verses encouraging, enlightening, or fruitful, please consider sharing them with your Facebook friends and family. Help us spread the truth and light of God’s Word by sharing the mission of Believers of Biblical Truth (BBT) with others who may need it just as much as we do.

You are loved—so much in fact, that we want you to know and be Believers of Biblical Truth.

Shalom Shalom.