Deuteronomy 4:1-2 New International Version (NIV)
Obedience Commanded
4 Now, Israel, hear the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. 2 Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.
We are not to add or subtract from God’s commands. What does that mean? The laws were the Word of God. They were complete. A human being with limited wisdom and knowledge cannot edit or change God’s perfect laws. If the laws were added to, that would make them a burden. If the laws were diminished or subtracted from, they would not be complete. Have you or anyone you may know added or subtracted from God’s perfect commands? The religious leaders in Jesus’ time were doing just that. They were elevating their own laws to the same level as God’s. Jesus rebuked them for this. Be very careful to follow God’s commands and do not add or subtract from them.
