The first five books of the Bible are books of the Law called, collectively, the Pentateuch (meaning five books).  Most scholars attribute their writing to Moses. 

The word Deuteronomy (a Septuagint Greek translation of the Hebrew) comes from the Greek Deuteronomion  that means Second Law. It recounts the Law to Israel who, within one month’s time, would cross the River Jordan and enter the Promised Land.

The Book was delivered to the Israelites by Moses.  Actually, he addressed them three times throughout the book. 

Two notable inclusions in Deuteronomy are: 

1) Distinct warnings concerning obedience and disobedience and the consequences of such (blessings and curses) found in Ch. 28.  This thesis would stand for Jews for all time.

2) The responsibility of each successive king of Israel to write a personal copy of the Law, and to read it each day (daily readings) (Deut. 17). 

1:37      Moses says ‘the Lord was angry with me for your sakes’ because Moses reaction – Num 20:12 – because Moses failed to give God the glory, but Moses was angry because of Israel’s behaviour. In this situation no one benefited! How often do we undermine a brother or sister’s faith by our words or actions?

V.39 The modern versions read "TO DAY" rather than "THAT DAY". This indicates that they knew not good and evil at this time. The children had not been partakers of the ways of the people some 38 years earlier, they had been spared to obtain the privilege which their unbelieving parents had been denied. God's ways are not as man's ways (Isa 55:8-9)

1:16The way in which Moses speaks of the people judging righteously forms the basis for Jesus teaching – John 7:24

1:2-3    The comment about the length of journey – 11 days – and ‘fortieth year’ presented so matter of fact in the narrative highlights the whole point of the book of Deuteronomy. It was to remind Israel what had happened in what could have been an eleven day journey. We often go a long way to achieve a little in our lives. Hopefully we see God’s hand at work. The length of the journey is not as important as how much we learn n the journey.

1:4 In mentioning the killing of Sihon and Og we realise that the two tribes have already been given their inheritance by the time that the words of Deuteronomy were spoken.

1:27,28 we read how the children of Israel 'murmured' (lit = grumbled) in their tents. We feel comfortable in our homes (tents) and this is where we can be boldest about how we feel in the truth, about our fellow brethren and sisters and also how we feel about our Father.  This can also continue when we have our brethren and sisters to visit in our homes.  We are always to be aware of the affect of our words and actions on our brethren and sisters which work both positively and negatively, and also how this can precipitate.

1:10 In describing the people as ‘the stars of heaven for multitude’ Moses is reminding the people of the promises to Abraham – Gen 15:5

A guilty conscience does terrible things to a person, says Prov 28:1. But godly people are much more stable.

V.22  The expression evil eye has been seen before in the Proverbs (23:6).  It is not some mystical state or power that some have over others.  It is simply a Hebrew phrase (ayin ra) which is synonymous to mean or stingy.  Here, the mean or stingy person is in haste to become rich, and, in doing so, has no regard for the poor.  The one who ignores the poor will not go unpunished (vs.20,27).

28:4  This behavioural pattern is still seen today. We live in a time when men say evil is good – Isa 5:20 - . We must take are not to be influenced by such attitudes which are often dressed up as being the ‘correct; way to view things.

28:7 Do we ever consider that our waywardness shames God?

28:1 The behaviour of the wicked is here the response of a man who has a guilty conscience. He presumes that others know of his actions even they were performed in secret. The man with a guilty conscience is always trying to hide his actions. Are we happy for our lives to be ‘naked and open’ before God - Heb 4:13.

28:5 It is manifestly obvious that the man that seeks God does not ‘understand all things’. There is a spiritual lesson here rather than a simple statement. The servant of God has the understanding that God knows everything and will reveal it to His servants – Amos 3:7

V.27  The word "IN" should be rendered "INTO" It is necessary for an individual to believe into the Lord Jesus Christ, and thus becomes spiritually and idealistically part of His person.

V.9  Israel has about twelve hours of daylight year round.  However, there can be some fluctuations.  In April, thirteen hours of daylight in Israel can occur.  However, the Passover to which Jesus is relating could have taken place earlier when there were, indeed, twelve hours of daylight.

11:33   Jesus did not ‘groan in spirit’ because Lazarus was dead. His groaning was because of the unbelief of those around him.

Jesus heard of the serious ilness of Lazarus while, in the eyes of those around him, he could still have been healed. Yet Jesus decided to wait two further days to go and see him. After this decision he still had several days walk before he arrived. So it's no wonder that Lazarus was already dead, and had been in the tomb four days.

We tend to think of Jesus as a strong, mystical, untouchable character, yet the stress of making this decision was very real. Firstly, he decided to wait an extra two days, which he knew would be extremely upsetting for his loved ones. Maybe this is why he cried in v33-35. He felt he had been the cause of their distress. Secondly, he had to wrestle with unbelief. He had not seen anyone raised from the dead in such a powerful way before (i.e. after 4 days in the grave). He had to have faith that God would do this miracle through him. The penalty of failure would mean he would find it impossible to go through with his own death. Thirdly, and maybe most difficult of all, this decision to go and heal Lazarus would cost him his own life. Have you ever thought of it in that way?

The Jews had been seeking to kill him for a long time now, and Jerusalem was their stronghold and where they had most power to carry it out. In the gospel of John alone there are many references to this threat, and the only reason Jesus had been saved so far was that it "was not yet his time" (John 5:18; 7:8,19,25,30,32; 8:20,37,40,59; 10:31,39). Going to heal Lazarus meant certain death for Jesus, yet he believed in the saving power of his Father and went nonetheless. The reason he did all this was "that they might believe" (v4,15). This act of giving himself, by placing himself in danger, bought their faith, and by it their eternal salvation.  Jesus did this for all of us too (Gal 1:4).

11:24 Martha’s words ‘I know that my brother shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day’ is one of the clearest indications that faithful Jews in Jesus day – before his resurrection – had a clearly defined belief in in the resurrection and 2 the last day. Clearly this understanding must have come from the Old Testament.

11:33  ‘groaned’ is the same word as we find in Rom 8:26.  Thus we see the depth of feelings that our prayers as spoken of in Romans 8 should be.

11:2 Here we see that John records an event before it took place – Mary anointed Jesus in John 12:3 – John is not claiming to provide a chronological record. Rather, for those who would read his record after the vents, he provides data to help to fit people and events together thematically into the record.

Jesus waited for two days because he needed to be sure Lazarus was dead. Had he been alive, or had Jesus been there when he fell ill, Jesus would have healed him like so many of the other sick he had healed. No one would have learned anything from the incident.

Sometimes in our own lives the difficult incidents we go through are made worse than they could have been just so we can learn from them. Just as Jesus waited for Lazarus to fall asleep, allowing the situation worsen so that ultimately it would increase the faith of his loved ones, so he also waits for us. We may pray urgent prayers, but have to wait for things to deteriorate before the prayer is answered. This is hard to accept but works for our long term benefit (v4,15,42,45).

11:9 In speaking of walking in the day Jesus is returning to a theme he started in John 9:9