THEOSISTheodoret of Cyrus
How are we to interpret the following statement: If anyone hears the words of this oath and inwardly claims, Let it be agreeable to me, for I will follow the deceitfulness of my heart (Deuteronomy 29:19)? These words illustrate an individual who acts in opposition to God’s commandments. Many violate the divine precepts out of carelessness, while others dismiss the commandments driven by pride and arrogance. Moses depicts this person as one who has chosen a misguided path, opting for a falsehood over the righteous way, thus warning him of inevitable destruction, serving as a warning against wrongdoing for those who observe and listen.
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By instructing the Israelites that everything done in secrecy is known to God, He emphasized: ‘To the Lord our God are secret matters, revealed to you and your children’ (Deuteronomy 29:29)—meaning that just as you are aware of what occurs openly, so too are the very secrets of your thoughts revealed to me. However, he also introduces a notion of repentance, stating: ‘If, after falling short of the divine commandments, you find yourself under these oaths, burdened in captivity, and then, with a pure mind, seek to understand the reasons for your bondage and appeal to the lawgiver, He will graciously restore you and return to you the inheritance of your ancestors’ (Deuteronomy 30:1, 5). This promise has been fulfilled on multiple occasions, as evidenced in the accounts of Judges, Kings, and Chronicles. Ultimately, when the Israelites rebelled against the Savior, they were dispersed across the earth and the seas, and after four hundred years, they remained exiled. Nevertheless, God made clear the simplicity of adhering to His laws, stating: ‘This commandment that I give you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, Who will ascend into heaven for us to get it and proclaim it to us, so we may obey it? or Who will cross the sea to get it for us and proclaim it to us, so we may obey it?’ (Deuteronomy 30:11-13)—indicating that you need not fly or sail to understand your duties. ‘The word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, so you may obey it’ (Deuteronomy 30:14). Here, ‘mouth’ signifies engagement with the Divine Word, ‘heart’ denotes fervent devotion, and ‘hands’ represent the active fulfillment of the commandments. The Apostle Paul echoed this testimony, declaring: ‘If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved’ (Romans 10:9-10). The Lawgiver established the consequences for obeying and violating the laws—namely life and death.