Deuteronomy 5:3Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

However, when this truth and love for God were forgotten and faded during their time in Egypt, it became essential for God, out of His boundless grace towards humanity, to manifest Himself through a voice and to deliver the people from bondage in Egypt with great power, so that humanity could once again become disciples and followers of God. He struck down the disobedient to ensure they did not scorn their Creator, and He provided them with manna so that they might partake of spiritual nourishment; as Moses stated in Deuteronomy: “and nourished thee with manna which thy fathers knew not, that thou mightest know that man liveth not by bread alone, but by every word of God which proceedeth out of His mouth man liveth” (Deut. 8:3). He commanded love for God and emphasized justice toward one’s neighbor, instructing humanity not to act unjustly or unworthily before God. Through the Ten Commandments, He provided for humanity in His friendship and fostered harmonious relationships with their neighbors; this, of course, ultimately served man's benefit, since God requires nothing from humanity.

It is evident that although this reference to the Sinai covenant directly addresses those present during the events, as highlighted in the full biblical text (to you only, ye are here all ye live today), it signifies the entire nation and all future generations. When Moses addressed the people, not all who had witnessed Sinai were present—only those under twenty years old at that time remained, as the others had perished in the wilderness. However, the law was intended not just for that generation or those who survived but for all future generations, as underscored by the repeated call to observe the commandments throughout the days that Israel would inhabit the promised land (Deuteronomy 4:10).