Deuteronomy 6:25
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The verse highlights that obeying God's commands isn't just about following rules, but about actively demonstrating the deep love and gratitude they owe Him for their redemption. This obedience is what God calls "righteousness," not as a way to earn salvation, but as the natural outflow of a heart devoted to Him.
And it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to do all this commandment before the LORD our God, as he has commanded us.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
In the preceding verses, Moses has just explained that God gave them His commands for their own good, to preserve their lives and prosper them. He concludes by stating that following these commands will be considered their righteousness, a sign of their sincere obedience and love for God that demonstrates their gratitude for His deliverance and ongoing care. This act of obedience is presented not as a way to earn salvation, but as the proper response from a people already redeemed and loved by God.
What does it mean to be 'righteous' in God's eyes? This verse suggests it's tied to our actions, but not in the way you might first think.
In Deuteronomy, God’s people are called to obey His commands. This obedience isn't just about following rules; it's a demonstration of their covenant relationship with God. When they carefully follow His instructions, it serves as evidence – their 'righteousness' – that they are indeed His people, living under His authority and loving Him with all their heart.
A Covenant Defined by Action
Think of a covenant like a solemn agreement. For Israel, obeying the Law was the outward sign of their commitment to this agreement. It proved they were living out their faith, not just professing it. This righteousness wasn't something they earned to get into the covenant, but rather the way they lived within it.
Can we really 'do all this commandment'? This verse touches on a truth that led many to despair, but God provided a way.
The command to 'do all this commandment' perfectly and consistently is an incredibly high standard. As scholars have noted, it’s impossible for sinful human beings to keep every single command flawlessly. The Law, in its perfect requirement, reveals our sinfulness and our inability to save ourselves through our own actions.
The Purpose of the Law
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This is precisely why the Law was given. It wasn't designed to be a ladder we could climb to reach God on our own. Instead, it was meant to expose our need for grace. By showing us our failure, it drives us to Christ, who did perfectly obey every command. His righteousness is then credited to us through faith, fulfilling the Law's demand on our behalf. So, while the verse speaks of obedience as righteousness, the ultimate righteousness comes through Christ's obedience, imputed to believers.
Understand the original words
tsedaqah · Hebrew Noun
The state of being in a right relationship with God, aligned with His moral standards, and justified by Him through faithfulness to His revealed will.
mitsvah · Hebrew Noun
The authoritative revealed will of God, encompassing His expectations for human conduct, moral living, and covenant loyalty.
This passage shows someone trying to 'earn' righteousness by obeying the law, but Jesus redirects them to love God and neighbor, highlighting that true righteousness stems from a transformed heart rather than just outward actions.
Romans 3:20Paul directly states that no one will be declared righteous in God's sight by observing the law, directly contrasting the idea that perfect obedience to the law *is* righteousness itself, pointing instead to faith in Christ.
Galatians 3:21This verse acknowledges that if a law had been given that could impart life, righteousness would indeed come from observing it, but then immediately asserts that the law cannot do this, further emphasizing that the Law given at Sinai couldn't be the ultimate source of righteousness.
Philippians 3:9Paul speaks of having a righteousness that comes through faith in Christ, rather than his own righteousness derived from the law, illustrating the New Testament understanding of how believers are made righteous before God.
gillDeuteronomy 6:25: "And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us."
And it shall be our righteousness,.... Or a mercy, benefit, and blessing to us; or this shall be reckoned our righteousness, and that by which we shall be justified: if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as he hath commanded us; in order to have such a justifying righteousness, a man must keep all the commandments of Go…
calvinDeuteronomy 6:20-25: "And when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What mean the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD our God hath commanded you?"
- And when thy son asketh thee. The sole point which Moses urges in these verses is, that the people should testify their gratitude by obeying the Law, and that the same religion, [232] which he commands the fathers to teach, should descend to their posterity. The sum is, that there was good reason why all the p…
The verse highlights that obeying God's commands isn't just about following rules, but about actively demonstrating the deep love and gratitude they owe Him for their redemption. This obedience is what God calls "righteousness," not as a way to earn salvation, but as the natural outflow of a heart devoted to Him.
In the preceding verses, Moses has just explained that God gave them His commands for their own good, to preserve their lives and prosper them. He concludes by stating that following these commands will be considered their righteousness, a sign of their sincere obedience and love for God that demonstrates their gratitude for His deliverance and ongoing care. This act of obedience is presented not as a way to earn salvation, but as the proper response from a people already redeemed and loved by God.
In the preceding verses, Moses has just explained that God gave them His commands for their own good, to preserve their lives and prosper them. He concludes by stating that following these commands will be considered their righteousness, a sign of their sincere obedience and love for God that demonstrates their gratitude for His deliverance and ongoing care. This act of obedience is presented not as a way to earn salvation, but as the proper response from a people already redeemed and loved by God.
"And it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to do all this commandment before the LORD our God, as he has commanded us.’" — The verse highlights that obeying God's commands isn't just about following rules, but about actively demonstrating the deep love and gratitude they owe Him for their redemption. This obedience is wh…
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Last reviewed October 2026
