The Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11 reading is called Va’etchanan (I Pleaded). It reminds us that after all he had done, Moses was still denied entry into the Promised Land. Yet, in grace, God allowed him to see it from Mount Pisgah. The Hebrew root chanan (grace) reveals Moses’ deep heart in his beseeching, pleading, longing for God’s favor. But the greater story is not about the breathtaking view of the promised land, but about love. Not just God’s love for us, but how that love transforms us. Moses was preparing the people to enter the land, but more than that, he was preparing their hearts to receive the Word of God. If we truly love God, it will show in how we love others. That’s the covenant in action.
Deuteronomy is called Devarim, meaning “Words.” It’s where the man who once said he was “not a man of words” becomes the mouthpiece of God. Moses reviews the commandments, pleads for obedience, and reminds Israel that their relationship with God must be rooted in love. The Shema (Deut. 6:4-5) is the heart of it: “Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength.” Jesus echoed this in Mark 12 and added: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” He wasn’t replacing the law—He was revealing the heart behind it. The law was never meant to be cold rules. It was a mirror of God’s heart, calling us into relationship. And that relationship always starts with love.
If we say we love God, we must also love others. This is the fulfillment of the entire law. That’s why Deuteronomy 6:6 tells us these commandments are to be on our hearts. God never wanted robotic obedience; He wanted hearts that beat in sync with His. Jeremiah 31:33 promised a New Covenant where God would write His law within us, not just around us. That transformation happens through the Holy Spirit, as Paul wrote in Titus 3 and 2 Corinthians 5. We’re not just forgiven, we’re made new. Our very nature begins to change. We stop asking, “What can I get away with?” and start asking, “How can I show God’s love today?” Love becomes the filter, not the afterthought.
The Holy Spirit modifies your behavior by rewriting your heart. That’s the New Covenant: not a list of dos and don’ts, but a new heart that wants to follow God. And that desire spills out in how we treat others, whether they are friends, enemies, strangers, or neighbors. That’s what Jesus meant when He said if you have love for one another, all will know that you are his followers. Our lives become letters, not written in ink, but by the Spirit of the Living God (2 Cor. 3:3). Love is not optional for believers—it’s our new nature. We haven’t reached the fullness of that yet, but one day, when Messiah returns, we will. And on that day, Deut. 6:6 will ring true in every heart: These words… are to be on your heart. As Ezekiel 36:26 says, “And I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you.” Remember love starts in the heart and it’s from God.
