Deuteronomy 5:8-10 • Title Here

Review & Overview

1. The Introduction & Title

Deuteronomy, is known as Moses’ “Upper Desert Discourse,” which consists of a series of farewell messages.

Moses is 120 years old as he addresses the new generation, those who survived the forty years of wilderness wandering, those who are destined to possess the Land of Promise.

Moses reminds this new generation to learn from the sad example of their parents and obey God.

2. The Theme & Purpose

“Beware lest you forget” is a key theme in Deuteronomy.

Moses emphasizes the danger of forgetfulness because it leads to arrogance and disobedience. They must remember two things:

(1) when they prosper, it is God who has caused it, and

(2) If and when they disobey God, He will discipline them as He did when the previous generation failed to believe Him.

Deuteronomy is a call to obedience as a condition to blessing.

So what we have here is a contract between God and His people.

Israel is a vassal to God, where Israel is required to be loyal and obey God's laws, worship Him alone, and live according to the terms of the covenant or contract.

In return, God promises protection, blessing, and guidance.

3. The Outline

1. Moses’ First Discourse: The History of Israel Ch. 1:1-4:43

Here Moses recounts the history of Israel, especially God's deliverance of Israel from Egypt and their journey through the wilderness.

2. Moses’ Second Discourse: The Stipulations for Israel Ch. 4:44-26

All the laws and commandments are reiterated and clarified by God to Israel

3. Moses’s Third Discourse: The Future of Israel Ch. 27-34

In this section we have a detailed account of all the the blessings and curses that would follow Israel's obedience or disobedience to the covenant.

4. Previous Study’s Review

Deuteronomy 5:1-5 • Old Promises, New Commitments

1. Listen and Learn Vs. 1

Renew and Confirm Vs. 2-3

Fear and Year Vs. 4-5

5. Current Study’s Overview

That brings us to Ch. 5:6 and our portion of today’s scripture. Where we will hear Moses begin his second message his second discourse. Read…

The Title of Today’s Message is: Written in Stone

Because as you saw in our quick reading of today’s scripture....

If you are taking notes we want to look at 4 points regarding this second message that Moses preaches involving the 10 commandments…

The Foundational Relationship Vs. 6

The Vertical Relationship Vs. 7-15

The Horizontal Relationship Vs. 16-21

The Universal Relationship Vs. 22

When we talk about the Ten Commandments, they’re often called the “ten words,” even though that specific phrase isn’t mentioned here.

Still, that’s clearly what’s being referred to in this passage, just like in Exodus 34:28 or earlier in Deuteronomy 4:13 and 10:4.

These commandments were written on two stone tablets, which has led to some debate about how they were divided up.

Some people think half of the commandments were written on one tablet and the other half on the second.

Others believe that, following how ancient covenants worked, the two tablets were actually identical copies—one for God and one for the people, like how both parties in a contract keep a copy.

That makes sense when you compare it to other historical documents during that time.

There’s also a tradition that says the commandments were split into two categories: our relationship with God (the vertical) and our relationship with others (the horizontal).

Some suggest one tablet covered the “God-focused” commandments, and the other focused on how we treat people. This idea is interesting, but there’s no solid ancient evidence to confirm it.

At the end of the day, though, how the commandments were arranged on the tablets doesn’t change their deeper meaning.

The Ten Commandments are all about those two main relationships: loving God and loving people.

In fact, Jesus summed it all up by saying the greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and the second is like it, love your neighbor as yourself.

Matthew 22:37–40 NKJV

37 Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

So, when we look at this portion of scripture, it makes sense to first focus on the commandments that deal with loving God (Deut 5:6–15) and then those about loving others (Deut 5:16–21). That’s the heart of what the Ten Commandments are all about.

introduction) and then a historical prologue (a summary of what’s happened).

We see the same pattern here in verse 6: “I am the LORD your God” (the preamble) and “who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery” (the historical prologue).

This setup frames the commandments as part of God’s covenant relationship with His people.

because the commandments aren’t just random rules—they’re part of a covenant. They’re deeply relational, showing what it looks like to live in a committed relationship with God.