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📖 Teacher’s Outline Guide

Passage: Deuteronomy 30:11–20 (KJV)
Theme: The Choice of Life or Death

🔄 Recap of Last Lesson (Deuteronomy 28:1–6, 15–19)

• Verses 1–6 (Blessings of Obedience):
  God promised Israel abundant blessings if they obeyed His commandments — prosperity in the city and field, fruitfulness in family and land, victory over enemies, and His favor upon their daily life.
  Key NT Cross-Reference: Matthew 6:33 — ³³ But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
• Verses 15–19 (Curses of Disobedience):
  Conversely, disobedience would bring curses — hardship in city and field, barrenness, defeat, and frustration in daily life.
  Key NT Cross-Reference: Galatians 6:7 — ⁷ Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
• Discussion Question: How do these blessings and curses illustrate the seriousness of covenant obedience today?

📘 Quick Overview of Deuteronomy 29

• Renewal of the Covenant: Moses reminds Israel of God’s mighty works in Egypt and the wilderness.
• Call to Obedience: Israel is urged to keep the covenant to prosper in the land.
• Warning Against Idolatry: Turning to other gods would bring destruction and exile.
• Hidden Things Belong to God: Verse 29 emphasizes that God’s secret purposes are His, but His revealed Word is for us to obey.

Discussion Question: Why is covenant renewal important for each generation of believers?

🟢 Opening Statement

Last time, we saw in Deuteronomy 28 how obedience brings blessing and disobedience brings cursing. In Deuteronomy 29, Moses reminded Israel of God’s covenant and warned against turning to idols. Now, in Deuteronomy 30:11–20, the focus shifts to the heart of the matter: God’s Word is near, His commands are clear, and every person must choose between life and death, blessing and cursing. This passage calls us to recognize that obedience is not beyond our reach — it is a matter of the heart, and it is a matter of choice.

📖 Deuteronomy 30:11–20 (Verse-by-Verse)

Verse 11

¹¹ For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off.

“For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off.”

• Commentary: God’s Word is accessible and understandable. Obedience is not impossible.
• NT Cross-Reference: Romans 10:8 — ⁸ But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
• Discussion: Why does God emphasize the accessibility of His Word?

Verse 12

¹² It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?

“It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven…?”

• Commentary: No mediator is needed to fetch God’s Word; it is already given.
• NT Cross-Reference: John 1:14 ¹⁴ And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
• Discussion: How does Christ fulfill this truth as the Living Word?

Verse 13

¹³ Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?

“Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us…?”

• Commentary: God’s Word is not distant or inaccessible.
• NT Cross-Reference: Colossians 1:6 ⁶ Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:
• Discussion: What excuses do people make today for not obeying God’s Word?

Verse 14

¹⁴ But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.

“But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.”

• Commentary: God’s Word is internalized — meant to be spoken and lived.
• NT Cross-Reference: James 1:22 — ²² But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
• Discussion: How can we keep God’s Word both in our mouth and heart?

Verse 15

¹⁵ See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;

“See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil.”

• Commentary: God presents a clear choice — obedience brings life, disobedience brings death.
• NT Cross-Reference: Matthew 7:13–14 — ³ Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: ¹⁴ Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
• Discussion: Why does God give us the freedom to choose?

Verse 16

¹⁶ In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

“In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God…”

• Commentary: Love is the foundation of obedience. Blessing flows from walking in His ways.
• NT Cross-Reference: John 14:15 — “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
• Discussion: How does love for God transform obedience from duty into delight?

Verse 17–18

¹⁷ But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; ¹⁸ I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it.

“But if thine heart turn away… ye shall surely perish.”

• Commentary: Turning away from God leads to destruction and loss of inheritance.
• NT Cross-Reference: Hebrews 2:1–3
• ​¹ Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. ² For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; ³ How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
• Discussion: What are modern dangers that can turn our hearts away from God?

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Verse 19

¹⁹ I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you…”

• Commentary: God sets witnesses to the covenant choice — life or death, blessing or cursing.
• OT Reference: Joshua 24:15 — “¹⁵ And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
• Discussion: How does this verse highlight the seriousness of our daily choices?

Verse 20

²⁰ That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

“That thou mayest love the LORD thy God… for he is thy life…”

• Commentary: God Himself is the source of life and longevity in the land.
• NT Cross-Reference: John 14:6 — ⁶ Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
• Discussion: How does recognizing God as our life change the way we live?

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🔴 Closing Statement

Deuteronomy 30 reminds us that God Himself is our life. His Word is not distant, but near — ready to be believed, spoken, and lived. Each day we stand at the crossroads of life and death, blessing and cursing. The choice is ours, but the invitation is clear: choose life, love the Lord, and walk in His ways. In Christ, this choice is not only possible, it is empowered by His Spirit. May we leave here resolved to live as people who have chosen life, and to help others see that same choice before them.

✨ Closing Application

• God’s Word is near, clear, and actionable.
• Every believer faces the daily choice of life or death, blessing or cursing.
• Christ fulfills this passage as the Living Word, making obedience possible through His Spirit.

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