John Calvin Commentary Deuteronomy 6:1

"Now this is the commandment, the statutes, and the ordinances, which Jehovah your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go over to possess it;" — Deuteronomy 6:1 (ASV)

Now these are the commandments. In these three verses, he repeats what we have already seen in many previous passages. Since God deals so generously with the Israelites, they would be exceedingly stubborn if such great kindness did not draw them to love the law.

We must also remember what I have already mentioned: that although I have deferred to another place the promises by which Moses urged the people to strive to keep the Law, I have still intentionally placed before my exposition of the Law those passages in which, by setting the promised land, so to speak, before the people’s eyes, he prepares their minds for submission and makes the rule of such a bountiful Father pleasant and delightful.

Since, then, they were appointed to inherit the land, Moses, when he invites them to its enjoyment, commands them to gladly embrace the doctrine for which reason they were adopted, and to devote themselves, for their part, to obedience to God, by whose free goodness they had been anticipated.

Just as in chapters 8 and 11 he praised the richness of the land, so he now also confirms the same statement, or rather, later more fully explains what he briefly touches upon here. They all agree on this: that the happy state of life before their eyes ought to awaken the people’s gratitude, lest such remarkable kindness should be spent on them in vain.

Moses therefore declares that he had presented to them laws and statutes by which they might be instructed in the fear of God. At the same time, he reminds them how shameful it would be for them not to be powerfully drawn to the love of God and of His law by the delightfulness and abundance of the land.

I will not repeat what I have already explained, namely, that he taught nothing on his own authority but was the faithful interpreter of God, and also that he commands the doctrine to be passed on to their descendants, so that it may never be lost.

Hence it appears how difficult it is for people to be properly prepared for keeping the law, since God does not in vain so often stir up their laziness. For a silent rebuke is conveyed concerning either their laziness or instability when God continually insists on what it would have been enough to point out in a single word.

We must also note the definition of righteousness: that they should do what is right in the sight of the Lord; in opposition to the reasoning and judgment of the flesh.