February 26, 2025
Offerings, Tithes, Prayer, Blessing, and Curses?
Deuteronomy 26-27
Gabby Ouimet
Big Book Idea
There are three sermons from Moses, but the greater Moses is still to come.
Key Verse | Deuteronomy 26:18-19
"And the LORD has declared today that you are a people for His treasured possession, as he has promised you, and that you are to keep all his commandments, and that he will set you in praise and in fame and in honor high above all nations that he has made, and that you shall be a people holy to the LORD your God, as he promised."
Deuteronomy 26-27
Chapter 26
Offerings of Firstfruits and Tithes
1 When you come into the land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance and have taken possession of it and live in it, 2 you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from your land that the LORD your God is giving you, and you shall put it in a basket, and you shall go to the place that the LORD your God will choose, to make his name to dwell there. 3 And you shall go to the priest who is in office at that time and say to him, ‘I declare today to the LORD your God that I have come into the land that the LORD swore to our fathers to give us.’ 4 Then the priest shall take the basket from your hand and set it down before the altar of the LORD your God.
5 And you shall make response before the LORD your God, ‘A wandering Aramean was my father. And he went down into Egypt and sojourned there, few in number, and there he became a nation, great, mighty, and populous. 6 And the Egyptians treated us harshly and humiliated us and laid on us hard labor. 7 Then we cried to the LORD, the God of our fathers, and the LORD heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression. 8 And the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great deeds of terror, 1 26:8 Hebrew with great terror with signs and wonders. 9 And he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. 10 And behold, now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground, which you, O LORD, have given me.’ And you shall set it down before the LORD your God and worship before the LORD your God. 11 And you shall rejoice in all the good that the LORD your God has given to you and to your house, you, and the Levite, and the sojourner who is among you.
12 When you have finished paying all the tithe of your produce in the third year, which is the year of tithing, giving it to the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, so that they may eat within your towns and be filled, 13 then you shall say before the LORD your God, ‘I have removed the sacred portion out of my house, and moreover, I have given it to the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, according to all your commandment that you have commanded me. I have not transgressed any of your commandments, nor have I forgotten them. 14 I have not eaten of the tithe while I was mourning, or removed any of it while I was unclean, or offered any of it to the dead. I have obeyed the voice of the LORD my God. I have done according to all that you have commanded me. 15 Look down from your holy habitation, from heaven, and bless your people Israel and the ground that you have given us, as you swore to our fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey.’
16 This day the LORD your God commands you to do these statutes and rules. You shall therefore be careful to do them with all your heart and with all your soul. 17 You have declared today that the LORD is your God, and that you will walk in his ways, and keep his statutes and his commandments and his rules, and will obey his voice. 18 And the LORD has declared today that you are a people for his treasured possession, as he has promised you, and that you are to keep all his commandments, 19 and that he will set you in praise and in fame and in honor high above all nations that he has made, and that you shall be a people holy to the LORD your God, as he promised.”
Chapter 27
The Altar on Mount Ebal
1 Now Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, “Keep the whole commandment that I command you today. 2 And on the day you cross over the Jordan to the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall set up large stones and plaster them with plaster. 3 And you shall write on them all the words of this law, when you cross over to enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you. 4 And when you have crossed over the Jordan, you shall set up these stones, concerning which I command you today, on Mount Ebal, and you shall plaster them with plaster. 5 And there you shall build an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones. You shall wield no iron tool on them; 6 you shall build an altar to the LORD your God of uncut 2 27:6 Hebrew whole stones. And you shall offer burnt offerings on it to the LORD your God, 7 and you shall sacrifice peace offerings and shall eat there, and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God. 8 And you shall write on the stones all the words of this law very plainly.”
Curses from Mount Ebal
9 Then Moses and the Levitical priests said to all Israel, “Keep silence and hear, O Israel: this day you have become the people of the LORD your God. 10 You shall therefore obey the voice of the LORD your God, keeping his commandments and his statutes, which I command you today.”
11 That day Moses charged the people, saying, 12 “When you have crossed over the Jordan, these shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. 13 And these shall stand on Mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. 14 And the Levites shall declare to all the men of Israel in a loud voice:
15 ‘Cursed be the man who makes a carved or cast metal image, an abomination to the LORD, a thing made by the hands of a craftsman, and sets it up in secret.’ And all the people shall answer and say, ‘Amen.’
16 ‘Cursed be anyone who dishonors his father or his mother.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
17 ‘Cursed be anyone who moves his neighbor's landmark.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
18 ‘Cursed be anyone who misleads a blind man on the road.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
19 ‘Cursed be anyone who perverts the justice due to the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
20 ‘Cursed be anyone who lies with his father's wife, because he has uncovered his father's nakedness.’ 3 27:20 Hebrew uncovered his father's skirt And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
21 ‘Cursed be anyone who lies with any kind of animal.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
22 ‘Cursed be anyone who lies with his sister, whether the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
23 ‘Cursed be anyone who lies with his mother-in-law.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
24 ‘Cursed be anyone who strikes down his neighbor in secret.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
25 ‘Cursed be anyone who takes a bribe to shed innocent blood.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
26 ‘Cursed be anyone who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
Table of Contents
Introduction to Deuteronomy
Timeline
Theme
Deuteronomy, the final book in the Pentateuch, contains Moses’ last three sermons and two prophetic poems about Israel’s future. Reflecting on the nation’s past mistakes, Moses urges the people not to repeat those errors when they enter the Promised Land. Possessing Canaan will fulfill the promises made to the patriarchs, but if the people fall into idolatry or fail to keep the law, they will be exiled.
Purpose and Background
Deuteronomy is largely a sermon, or set of sermons, preached by Moses to all of Israel shortly before his death. It is a motivational sermon, urging Israel’s faithful obedience to the covenant laws given 40 years previously at Sinai (Exodus 19–40).
The sermon is especially important because of Israel’s earlier failure to conquer the land (see Deut. 1:19–46). Now that they are back at the eastern border of the Promised Land, Moses wants to ensure that the people will be obedient this time. The sermon encourages obedience by constantly reassuring them of God’s faithfulness and his power to keep his promises. God is still faithful, despite Israel’s persistent sin (e.g., 1:19–46; 9:1–29). He is merciful to his sinful people, for the sake of his promises to Abraham.
In Deuteronomy, Moses urges Israel to trust and obey, and to conquer the land. He highlights God’s uniqueness (e.g., ch. 4), his power over other nations and armies (e.g., 2:1–23), and his grace and faithfulness. He reminds the people that God promised the land, that God’s gift of the land is undeserved (9:4–6), and that the land is full of good things (e.g., 6:10–12).
Moses emphasizes the importance of God’s law, given at Sinai (e.g., see 5:1–3). The large central section of Deuteronomy (12:1–26:19) recites the law and urges Israel to keep it. The law is wide-ranging, incorporating all areas of life (economics, family and sexual relationships, religious observance, leadership, justice, guidance, food, property, and warfare). The details of the laws expand upon the great command of 6:5, that Israel is to love the Lord with all its heart, soul, and strength. Chapters 12–16 show what such total love of God will look like and provide examples of what the Ten Commandments (ch. 5) mean in practice.
Key Themes
- God’s uniqueness (4:1–40).
- Israel’s election (4:37–38; 7:6–8; 10:14–15; 14:2).
- The land’s goodness (1:25; 6:10–11; 8:7–13; 11:8–15).
- God’s faithful promise-keeping (1:8, 19–46; 7:1–26; 8:1–20; 9:1–10:11).
- God’s power to defeat the enemies in the land (2:1–3:11; 4:1–40; 7:1–26).
- Exhortations to Israel to love, serve, fear, and obey God (6:5; 10:12–13; 13:4).
- Warnings against idolatry and instruction for proper worship of God (4:9–31; 5:6–10; 7:1–5; 8:19–20; 12:1–32; 13:1–18).
- The impact of God’s laws (12:1–27:26).
- Moses’ imminent death (1:37; 3:26; 4:21; 32:51; 34:1–12).
Outline
- Prologue (1:1–5)
- Moses’ First Speech: Historical Prologue (1:6–4:43)
- Moses’ Second Speech: General Covenant Stipulations (4:44–11:32)
- Moses’ Second Speech: Specific Covenant Stipulations (12:1–26:19)
- Moses’ Third Speech: Blessings and Curses (27:1–28:68)
- Moses’ Third Speech: Final Exhortation (29:1–30:20)
- Succession of Leadership (31:1–34:12)
The Setting of Deuteronomy
c. 1406 B.C.
The book of Deuteronomy records Moses’ words to the Israelites as they waited on the plains of Moab to enter Canaan. Moses begins by reviewing the events of Israel’s journey from Mount Sinai to the plains of Moab.
Fact: Genesis through Deuteronomy
Genesis through Deuteronomy are the foundation of the Bible. They introduce the key promises that show God’s purposes in history and prepare for the coming of Jesus Christ.
Fact: The Sadducees
The Sadducees were a small but powerful group of Jewish leaders who did not believe in the resurrection (12:18). This may have been because of their emphasis on the Pentateuch (Genesis–Deuteronomy), which does not seem to explicitly mention the resurrection. But Jesus showed them that the idea of resurrection can, in fact, be found in the Pentateuch (Mark 12:26–27).
Fact: Was Deuteronomy a treaty?
Was Deuteronomy a treaty? There are many similarities between the book of Deuteronomy and various ancient Near Eastern treaties that date from the time of Moses. When a nation made a treaty with a less powerful nation, the document began with the past relationship between the countries. Next, the treaty stated the laws that would govern the relationship from that point on. Finally, the treaty concluded with a list of blessings and punishments for obedience or disobedience.
Fact: A book of sermons?
A book of sermons? Deuteronomy consists of at least three addresses or sermons from Moses to Israel. Moses encourages Israel to obey all the commandments of God.
Fact: Jesus quoted from
Jesus quoted from the book of Deuteronomy more than any other OT book. He quoted 8:3 when tempted by Satan (Matt. 4:4).
Fact: The Book of the Law of the Lord
The Book of the Law of the Lord. The high priest discovered this forgotten book while the temple was being repaired (34:14). After reading the Law, King Josiah called the nation to further measures of repentance and reform. The book may have included part or all of Deuteronomy.
Fact: Mount Ebal
At more than 3,000 feet (914 m) high, Mount Ebal is one of the highest points in Samaria.
The Setting of Deuteronomy
c. 1406 B.C.
The book of Deuteronomy records Moses’ words to the Israelites as they waited on the plains of Moab to enter Canaan. Moses begins by reviewing the events of Israel’s journey from Mount Sinai to the plains of Moab.
Ancient Treaty Structures and Deuteronomy
| Ancient Treaty Structure | Deuteronomy |
|---|---|
| Preamble | 1:1–5 |
| Historical Prologue | 1:6–4:49 |
| General Stipulations | 5:1–11:32 |
| Specific Stipulations | 12:1–26:19 |
| Blessings and Curses | 27:1–28:68 |
| Document Clause | 31:9–29 |
| Witnesses | 32:1–47 |
Deut. 26:2 first of all the fruit. This law acknowledges the faithfulness of God and the goodness of the land (v. 3). place that the LORD your God will choose. See 12:5 and note on 12:5–6.
Deut. 26:4 the priest shall take. See note on 18:3–4.
Deut. 26:5–10 These verses could be seen as a statement of faith, used in Israel’s worship to remember God’s faithfulness. Aramean refers to Jacob, who married the daughters of his uncle Laban, an Aramean (Gen. 28:5). down into Egypt. See Ex. 1:1–7. treated us harshly. See Exodus 1–2. cried to the LORD. See Ex. 2:23–24. signs and wonders. The plagues of Egypt (Ex. 7:14–12:32). milk and honey. See Deut. 6:3.
Deut. 26:12 in the third year, which is the year of tithing. See 14:28–29 and note.
Deut. 26:14 Offered . . . to the dead describes a forbidden pagan practice.
Deut. 26:15 Look down from your holy habitation. God dwells in heaven, though on earth his name and presence also dwell in the central place of worship. See 4:36 and note on 12:5–6; compare 1 Kings 8:27–30.
Deut. 26:16 with all your heart. See 4:29; 6:5 and note.
Deut. 12:1–26:19 Moses’ Second Speech: Specific Covenant Stipulations. In this second part of Moses’ second speech, he discusses in more detail the things he discussed in the first part of the speech (chs. 5–11). This second part of the speech seems to follow the order of the Ten Commandments.
Deut. 26:1–19 The final section of specific laws deals with the offering of firstfruits and tithes in the land.
Deut. 26:18–19 treasured possession . . . holy to the LORD. See 7:6.
Deut. 27:2–3 on the day. Not necessarily the precise day but simply “when.” plaster them with plaster. White plaster provides a backdrop for the writing. write on them all the words of this law. This is in addition to the permanent written record (31:24–26).
Deut. 27:4–5 today. See note on vv. 2–3. Mount Ebal is north of Shechem (see 11:29). wield no iron tool. Israel’s altars were to be of unhewn stone (Ex. 20:25).
Deut. 27:6–7 Burnt offerings were the basic sacrifices dealing with sin (Leviticus 1). After sins are atoned for, peace offerings celebrate fellowship with God (Leviticus 3).
Deut. 27:1–8 Moses looks ahead to a covenant ceremony after arriving in the land.
Deut. 27:9 you have become the people of the LORD. Compare Ex. 19:5–6; Deut. 7:6; 14:2. The covenant of Horeb is renewed here in Moab (29:1). After the conquest, it will be renewed again at Shechem (Joshua 24).
Deut. 27:12–13 Mount Gerizim is south of Shechem. Shechem is on the shoulder of the two mountains, Gerizim and Ebal (see 11:29 and note on 27:4–5). These verses describe a ceremony in which Israel hears blessings and curses concerning the law. In this chapter, however, there are only curses read by the Levites. See Josh. 8:30–35 for the carrying out of these instructions (compare Joshua 24).
Deut. 27:14 Levites must refer to the Levitical priests, since the rest of the tribe of Levi are on Mount Gerizim (see v. 12).
Deut. 27:15 On image, see 5:8–10. “Amen.” All the people express their acceptance of God’s justice and judgment.
Deut. 27:16 On dishonoring father and mother, see 5:16.
Deut. 27:17 On neighbor’s landmark, see 19:14.
Deut. 27:18 On misleading the blind, see Lev. 19:14.
Deut. 27:19 On perverting justice, see 24:17–18.
Deut. 27:20–22 On uncovering one’s father’s nakedness, see 22:30; Lev. 18:8. On lying with an animal, see Lev. 18:23. On lying with one’s sister, see Lev. 18:9.
Deut. 27:24 On striking down one’s neighbor, see 19:11.
Deut. 27:25 On taking a bribe, see 16:19.
Deut. 27:26 The list of 12 curses is merely a sample of the law. It is not meant to include all situations. Paul quotes this verse in Gal. 3:10 to show that no human can perfectly obey God’s law, and that therefore all need his grace.
Fact: Mount Ebal
At more than 3,000 feet (914 m) high, Mount Ebal is one of the highest points in Samaria.
What's up with all these curses?
Listen NowDive Deeper | Deuteronomy 26-27
Moses opens by refocusing the Israelites on the goodness and faithfulness of God and reminding them of His promises. He reminds them of God's promise to give them land and instructs them on what to do once they enter the land: their first act of worship will be to collect their firstfruits and sacrifice them before the Lord.
The term firstfruits is used throughout the Old Testament to describe an offering the Israelites sacrificed to the Lord as an expression of gratitude and acknowledgment of His provision, something we Christians, in principle, still practice.
Giving our first and best back to the Lord is a practical way we remind ourselves of our roles as stewards, knowing that everything we have is from God and for God. By physically giving God our time, talents, and treasures, we demonstrate trust, gratitude, and obedience.
This isn't easy, though! After 40 long years of agonizing anticipation, I'm sure the Israelites were READY to enter the land and finally eat those grapes, drink that milk, and gorge on some honeycomb. God knows how quick we are to focus our attention on the gift and forget the Giver; how kind of Him to re-center our attention on Him and remind us of His faithfulness!
Chapter 26 ends with a command for Israel to keep all God's statutes and rules, referring to the laws laid out in chapters 12-26, and a promise of blessing for those who keep His commandments. This is where we find our key verse for the day. Praise God that we are His treasured possession!
In chapter 27, Moses and the elders lead the Israelites in building an altar and presenting a list of "curses." In light of the Ten Commandments, the sins listed in these verses are not new concepts to the Israelites; we see God continue to lead the Israelites with clarity, all for the purpose of keeping them safe, holy, and set apart. Now, we can read these curses and rules through the lens of the cross, grateful that Christ has canceled the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13).
This month's memory verse
"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might."
– Deuteronomy 6:4-5
Discussion Questions
1. How have I seen the Lord be faithful to provide in my life this week? This month? This year?
2. What does it look like for me to give God my first and best?
3. Read 1 Corinthians 15:20. What does it mean that Christ is "the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep"?
4. Where do I need to take my eyes off of the gift and refocus them on the Giver?
5. Read Galatians 3:13. How does the perspective of this verse change how you read Deuteronomy 27?