Synonyms: responsibility, obligation, commitment, obedience, allegiance, loyalty, faithfulness, fidelity, respect, deference, reverence, homage, job, task, chore, assignment, commission, mission, function, charge, part, place, role, concern, requirement, tax, levy, tariff, excise, toll, fee, imposition, impost, exaction, tithe, payment, rate
Showing 1 to 25 of 912 results
1. Obedience Commanded
Deuteronomy 4:1-14
Understanding Series
Christopher J. H. Wright
... in this context was to underline by a negative example how precious a gift was the life God offered in the land, how easily it could be forfeited, and how it was only by their loyalty to Yahweh that Moses’ hearers were still alive today. 4:5–8 Obedience to the law was not for Israel’s benefit alone. It is a marked feature of the OT that Israel lived on a very public stage. All that happened in its history was open to the comment and reaction of the nations at large. Apart from being inevitable ...
Teach the Text
Joe M. Sprinkle
... 19:3–4, 30. A “sacred stone” refers to stelae/pillars, which symbolize a deity and can be worshiped as such. I am the Lord. See “Additional Insights” following the unit on Leviticus 19:1–37. 26:3–13 These verses lay out the consequences of obedience to God’s laws. 26:3–10  If you follow my decrees and . . . obey my commands. “Commands” are all-encompassing, not limited to Leviticus 25–26 (cf. Deut. 30:10, 16). If Israel obeys, God promises that it will be blessed in various ways ...
Teach the Text
Robert B. Chisholm Jr.
... He executes the Amalekite king, making it clear that the deed is one of divine justice (v. 33; note Samuel’s statement, as well as the phrase “before the Lord”). Theological Insights The most important theological theme of this chapter is the priority of obedience over sacrifice (v. 22). This principle, articulated here by the prophet Samuel, is especially prominent in the prophetic literature (Isa. 1:11–17; Jer. 7:21–26; Hosea 6:6–7; Amos 5:7, 10–12, 21–24; Mic. 6:6–8). It is fundamental ...
One Volume
Gary M. Burge
... blameless, living out the Christian life with inner unity and outward holiness in spite of the condition of the world around them (“warped and crooked generation” is an allusion to Deut. 32:5). The purpose of their outward holiness and Christian life of humility, unity, and obedience is to shine the light of Christ into the world (Matt. 5:14–16) as they hold to the truth of the gospel and present the gospel to the world in both word and deed. Paul calls for their Christian lives to be true for their ...
5. Blessings for Obedience
Deuteronomy 28:1-14
Understanding Series
Christopher J. H. Wright
... at all. It is intrinsic to the promise to Abraham and to the covenant relationship. Blessing is the prior reality of God’s grace. It is there to be enjoyed, but can be enjoyed only by living in God’s way in the land God is giving them. Obedience, therefore, like faith, is the means of appropriating God’s grace and blessing, not the means of deserving it. 28:1–14 The opening promise (v. 1), should be read in the light of the commentary on 26:19. The heart of the chapter is really the liturgical ...
6. Obedience
Jeremiah 35:1-19
One Volume
Gary M. Burge
... . 2:55). The Rekabites were a conservative, if not reactionary, group. No evaluation of the rightness or wrongness of their views is given, but their tenacity for obedience is applauded. Theirs is the prospect of a perpetual ministry. Jeremiah’s commentary on the incident (35:12–19) contrasts the absolute and unquestioning obedience of the Rekabites to their ancestor with Judah’s disobedience to the Lord Yahweh. The people’s refusal to learn a “lesson” (Hebrew “discipline” or “correction ...
Understanding Series
Craig C. Broyles
... past and petition for salvation future lie the blessing on those who trust (v. 4), the hymnic praise for Yahweh’s many wonders (v. 5), and the acknowledgment that Yahweh desires obedience above sacrifice (vv. 6–8). Thus, verses 4–8 present the attitude that Yahweh blesses (namely, trust) and, likewise, the behavior that he desires (namely, obedience). 40:1–10 The slimy pit and the mud and mire present the image of a cistern (cf. 69:1–2, 14–15). By contrast, Yahweh’s salvation is depicted in ...
8. Sin and Obedience
Isaiah 50:1-11
One Volume
Gary M. Burge
... was no response. He has the power to avert the exile, as seen in the plagues on Egypt, but he acts freely, deciding to let it happen. Yet, even though he sent them away, he has not divorced or sold Israel to the creditors. Who is this obedient and suffering servant (50:4–9)? Since his suffering is not unto death and he seems to be untouched by the rejection of humanity, the servant is probably the prophet himself. The prophet, in pursuit of his prophetic mission, directs himself to the people of God in ...
9. Reward for Obedience
Leviticus 26:1-13
Understanding Series
W. H. Bellinger, Jr.
... the tabernacle, the source of life for the community. The divine promise I will not abhor you is tied to Israel’s response; Israelites are called not to abhor Yahweh and Yahweh’s instructions. The divine presence will be gracious in this context of obedience and not threatening. God moves among the people as companion and communicator in a mutual relationship. The covenant formula in verse 12 is tied to that presence and to the identification of God as the liberator in the exodus from slavery in Egypt ...
10. Curses for Obedience
Deuteronomy 28:15-68
Understanding Series
Christopher J. H. Wright
... all. It is intrinsic to the promise to Abraham and to the covenant relationship. Blessing is the prior reality of God’s grace. It is there to be enjoyed, but can be enjoyed only by living in God’s way in the land God is giving them. Obedience, therefore, like faith, is the means of appropriating God’s grace and blessing, not the means of deserving it. 28:15–68 Four things may be said about this lengthy tale of suffering. First, it does not spring from morbid imagination. Such things were a matter of ...
Understanding Series
John Goldingay
Four Wake-up Calls and a Departure Call: In 50:4 the subject suddenly changes again—in two senses. The grammatical subject is once again a human “I” rather than a divine “I,” and the thematic subject is the pressure upon this human “I.” In both respects the passage parallels 49:1–6, and it will emerge that 50:4–52:12 forms a sequence parallel to 49:1–50:4, analogous to double sequences we have noted earlier in chapters 40–55. The arrangement of sections is not as tightly parallel as in earlier instances, ...
Teach the Text
Joe M. Sprinkle
Big Idea: Fellowship with God and defiant sinning are incompatible. Understanding the Text Numbers goes from a narrative about scouts (Num. 13–14) to a seemingly unrelated chapter of laws concerning sacrifices, unintentional sins, Sabbath breaking, and tassels. Why this material is placed here rather than with similar material in Leviticus has mystified interpreters. Numbers 15 does contribute one thing to the previous story. In Numbers 14 Israel is told that the adults will not enter the land (Num. 14:20– ...
Teach the Text
C. Marvin Pate
... people in the capital city of the world at that time had been converted to Christianity! In other words, Gentiles in Rome as well as Gentiles east of Rome who had heard the gospel from Paul (see 15:17–22) were now included in the category of “the obedience of faith.” Paul will have more to say on Roman Christianity in 1:9–10, 13–15. 1:9  the gospel of his Son. The gospel is the twofold end-time promise of the Old Testament regarding the restoration of Israel and the conversion of the Gentiles. 1 ...
Teach the Text
C. Marvin Pate
... –10 suggests that the law of the old covenant instigated Israel’s idolatry in the wilderness.5Galatians 3:19; Romans 4:15; 5:20; 7:7–12 concur with Romans 5:13–14 that the law of Moses as the stipulation of the old covenant stirs one to disobedience, not obedience. All of this is to say that Paul believed that the law of Moses and the old covenant are still in Adam and participate in the old humanity.6 7. But the law of Moses is a part of the divine plan in that by increasing sin it prepares the ...
Understanding Series
James R. Edwards
... mid-air. One may obey this master or that, but the choice to obey no master is granted to no one. To be free from one power is simply to be drafted into the service of another; and to serve the one excludes service of the other. The issue of obedience was not, like other problems that Paul discusses in Romans, a problem of sin or the law. The command to obey was given along with the breath of life. It is inherent in being human, for it sets freedom itself in motion and is thus the primal condition of ...
Understanding Series
James R. Edwards
... Christ, will overflow to the many! Adam and Christ may be antitypes, but they are not equally balanced, as Paul’s opening line indicates (the gift is not like the trespass). It took less effort for Adam’s disobedience to release sin and death than for Christ’s obedience to overcome sin and death. It was easier for Adam to lead to ruin than it was for Christ to lead to life. The effects of each are conveyed by the one and many, a familiar distinction in the ancient world. As one led to condemnation, so ...
17. Favoritism Forbidden
James 2:1-13, James 2:14-26
Understanding Series
Peter H. Davids
... and action appear in his example (2:2–4). The command to look at all behavior in the light of judgment fits the situation excellently. The standard of judgment is the law gives freedom, or the law of liberty. The idea has already been mentioned in 1:25, where obedience to this perfect law brings blessing. It is the same as the law of the kingdom of 2:8, namely, the Old Testament as interpreted by Jesus, which will be the standard of judgment (cf. Matt. 7:15–23; Luke 6:43–45). James does not think of ...
18. Abraham Tested
Genesis 22:1-19
Understanding Series
John E. Hartley
... a lamb (v. 8); Abraham saw a ram (v. 13); Yahweh provides (lit. “sees,” v. 14a); and Yahweh appears (“makes himself seen,” v. 14b). The drama has two foci: preparations for the offering of Isaac (vv. 1–10) and the outcome of Abraham’s complete obedience in this matter (vv. 11–19). Both of these begin with a voice from heaven calling Abraham by name (vv. 1, 11). Within these major divisions are eight sections: a prologue (v. 1a), God’s command about sacrificing Isaac (vv. 1b–2), the journey ...
19. Love and Obey the Lord
Deuteronomy 11:1-32
Understanding Series
Christopher J. H. Wright
... response and take the consequences. 11:8–9 The entire section of 11:8–17 is devoted to Israel’s future life in the land. It draws out some of the features first described in 8:7ff., reemphasizing the overall thrust of the critical importance of obedience and adding detail. The opening exhortation in verses 8–9 uses the singular form “all this commandment” (cf. 5:31; 6:1, 25; 7:11; 8:1), indicating the wholeness of the law and the comprehensiveness of the response being called for. The two verses ...
20. Faith and Deeds
James 2:14-26, James 2:1-13
Understanding Series
Peter H. Davids
... and action appear in his example (2:2–4). The command to look at all behavior in the light of judgment fits the situation excellently. The standard of judgment is the law gives freedom, or the law of liberty. The idea has already been mentioned in 1:25, where obedience to this perfect law brings blessing. It is the same as the law of the kingdom of 2:8, namely, the Old Testament as interpreted by Jesus, which will be the standard of judgment (cf. Matt. 7:15–23; Luke 6:43–45). James does not think of ...
21. By Faith
Hebrews 11:1-40
Understanding Series
Donald A. Hagner
... a hero of faith in Jewish literature. Thus, material generally parallel to the emphasis of the present passage may be found, e.g., in Sirach 44:19–21; Wisdom of Solomon 10:5; and Philo, On Abraham and The Migration of Abraham. Our author puts together faith and obedience in a way similar to James 2:14–26. Abraham not only has faith, but he acts congruently with that faith: he obeys God. The word used for go to (exerchomai) is the same verb used in the LXX of Gen. 12:1. The word inheritance occurs only ...
22. Deuteronomy 30:15-20
Deuteronomy 30:11-20
Sweet
Leonard Sweet
... to God’s law, to each and every part of the Torah. *Love for the God who had chosen to establish an eternal, loving, relationship with the people and who continues to offer them life in the presence of the Divine. Loyalty. Obedience. Love. Those are the watchwords of the Deuteronomic call to faithfulness. Moses’ third and final discourse in Deuteronomy runs from 29:1-30:20. Much of what is said here has been said before in Deuteronomy. But in this “condensed” version the treaty or covenant format ...
23. Love the Lord Your God
Deuteronomy 6:1-25
Understanding Series
Christopher J. H. Wright
... was the heart of the matter, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days . . . so that you . . . may fear the LORD your God . . . so that you may enjoy long life . . . so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly. Not that obedience would earn such blessing. The final line of 6:3 recalls that the lush future in the land will be theirs because of God’s faithfulness to the promise made to their forefathers. It was a gift of grace, but to be appropriated and enjoyed through ...
24. John 15:9-17
John 15:1-17
Sweet
Leonard Sweet
... his sacrifice. In the Old Testament only Abraham (2 Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 4:18) and Moses (Exodus 33:11) are called “friends” of God. Now Jesus “re-names” his disciples and declares “I have called you friends” (v.15). It is by showing obedience to Jesus, by following his commandment to “love one another” that followers become “friends.” Note that the text does not say Jesus is a “friend” to those who love and obey him, but rather that the love he extends to his disciples and the ...
Understanding Series
Arthur G. Patzia
... . Ephesians shortens the phrase “in the land the Lord your God is giving you” (Exod. 20:12) to “on the earth.” The promised land is replaced by a more general or universal conception. God rewards a society or a community in which obedience and respect are practiced. It is difficult to demonstrate the fulfillment of this promise in a society where a promise of reward does not always seem to hold true. Most commentators, therefore, interpret the author’s intention in general rather than individual ...
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