Deuteronomy 32:5Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

St. Moses shrouded the divine message in obscurity to prevent it from being comprehended by the foolish and uninformed Israelites of his time, as well as those in the present and future. He acknowledged this in his profound song, declaring, ‘These people are a perverse and crooked generation’ (Deuteronomy 32:5, 6). The faithless children provoke and irritate the Lord. Consequently, Moses placed a veil over his radiant face to communicate with those who lacked understanding and clung to the wisdom of Egypt.

Through these statements, He makes known that the eternal Lord manifested in human form among this current corrupt and twisted generation, living among people. Concerning the evil of this generation, Moses remarked...

The omniscient Lord foresaw the impending ultimate rebellion of the Jewish people. He announced this betrayal when the Mosaic Law was delivered to the Israelites at Sinai, through the voice of their divinely inspired Lawgiver. "They have sinned," Moses declares regarding the future disobedience of the Jews toward the God-Man, speaking as though it has already taken place, "they have sinned! Not as a child that is corrupt, but as a stubborn and twisted generation."

God calls us to adhere to His commandments, specifically the Ten Commandments. What is evident in our actions is often a manifestation of disbelief, rejection of sound doctrine and apostolic teachings, empty worship, disregard for holy days, disrespect toward parents, adultery, theft, murder, bearing false witness, and coveting the possessions of others. Do we truly offer God recompense for all He has graciously bestowed upon us? The Prophet Moses’ condemnation of the Israelites resonates deeply, as he charges them with repaying the Lord with wickedness in return for His goodness. He questioned, “O wicked and perverse generation, do you repay this to the Lord?”