John Calvin Commentary Deuteronomy 5:32

"Ye shall observe to do therefore as Jehovah your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left." — Deuteronomy 5:32 (ASV)

Ye shall observe to do therefore. Again, in this verse also, he does not merely exhort the people to embrace the Law, but at the same time enjoins them to be content with its unadulterated teaching. In fact, to receive as just and right whatever God has commanded is only to be half obedient, unless people also restrain themselves from adding anything else (in addition to His Law).

Likewise, in another passage which I have cited, God no less severely forbids adding to His Law than taking away from it. This is a declaration deserving our special observation because, in its preposterous willfulness, almost the whole world is carried away into false religions. Nevertheless, God has briefly condemned these in a single word when He commands His people so to acquiesce in His appointed Law that they may not seek to be more righteous than they are taught to be.

There is a similar passage at the end of Deuteronomy 12:32, but because it is connected with a particular circumstance and depends on the preceding passage, it will be more conveniently reserved for consideration in that place. He adds, in conclusion, that they will not satisfy the Law unless they keep themselves within its bounds; and so that they may be more disposed to obedience, he gently attracts them by adding the promise.²²⁵

²²⁵ “La promesse accoustumee;” the usual promise. — Fr.