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DEUTERONOMY | 28:58 fear — DEUT1552 God declares in plain words that it is t...

DEUT1552 God declares in plain words that it is the object of all religious acts to produce in man fear of God and obedience to His word--the state of mind which we have demonstrated in this chapter for those who desire to know the truth, as being our duty to seek. Comp. [this verse]. Consider how clearly it is stated here that the only object and aim of "all the words of this law" is to (make man) fear "the glorious and fearful name." That this end is attained by certain acts we learn likewise from the phrase employed in this verse: "If thou wilt not observe to do… that thou mayest fear." For this phrase clearly shows that fear of God is inculcated (into our hearts) when we act in accordance with the positive and the negative precepts. But the truths which the Law teaches us--the knowledge of God's Existence and Unity--create in us love of God, as we have shown repeatedly. You know how frequently the Law exhorts us to love God. Comp. "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all they might." (Deuteronomy 6:5 ) The two objects, love and fear of God, are acquired by two different means. The love is the result of the truths taught in the Law, including the true knowledge of the Existence of God, whilst fear of God is produced by the practices prescribed in the Law. Guide of the Perplexed, III, chap. 52. (Maimonides)

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Verse28:58
Keyword(s)fear
Source Page(s)149-150
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