John Calvin Commentary Deuteronomy 10:17

"For Jehovah your God, he is God of gods, and Lord of lords, the great God, the mighty, and the terrible, who regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward." — Deuteronomy 10:17 (ASV)

He confirms the preceding decree by referring to God's own nature. The miserable and degraded condition of those we deal with often causes us to harm them more recklessly, because they seem completely abandoned.¹⁰² But God declares that their unfortunate situation is no obstacle to His helping them, since He shows no partiality.

The word "person" here refers to either splendor or obscurity—what is commonly called outward appearance—as we can gather from many passages. In short, God distinguishes Himself from people, who are swayed by outward appearance: honoring the rich and despising the poor, favoring the beautiful or eloquent, and looking down on the unattractive.

Προσωποληψία is, therefore, an unjust judgment, which distracts us from the actual issue when our minds are biased by factors that should not be taken into account. Christ, therefore, teaches us that a judgment is righteous, which is not founded upon appearance, (John 7:23), since truth and justice prevail only when we attend to the case itself.

It follows that those who are despised are not harmed without consequence. For although they may lack human help, God, who sits on high, hath respect unto the lowly (Psalms 138:6). Regarding strangers, God shows His care for them by graciously preserving and clothing them. Furthermore, a special reason is given: the Israelites themselves, when they were once strangers in Egypt, needed the compassion of others.

¹⁰² The Fr. gives a different turn to this: “Or Dieu declare que leur pourete et misere n’empechera point de les secourir: d’autant qu’ils ne amusent point a la personne;” Now, God declares, that their poverty and misery shall not prevent their being succored; so that they should not be interested by their . gives a different turn to this: “Or Dieu declare que leur pourete et misere n’empechera point de les secourir: d’autant qu’ils ne amusent point a la personne;” Now, God declares, that their poverty and misery shall not prevent their being succored; so that they should not be interested by their person..

For the Lord your God. So that they would not despise this teaching, he reminds them of God’s fearsome power; for the cause of contempt and negligence is that God’s majesty does not always receive its due reverence. Therefore, he inspires them with fear to deter them from self-indulgence and indifference.