Deuteronomy 29:29 Meaning of the Secret Things Belong to the Lord Our God

Deuteronomy 29:29
“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.”

Explanation and Commentary of Deuteronomy 29:29

Capping off a chapter of warning to the Israelites to keep their covenant with God, Moses says the words of this verse. It shows a fundamental truth about the Creator. There are things that God knows, and he does not reveal them. Jesus himself said that he did not know when he was going to return, but that only the Father knew that (Mt 24:36). We also see that dying and going to heaven will not mean that we will receive the full revelation of all that is in God’s mind. “They called out in a loud voice, ‘How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood’” (Rev 6:10). These are the dead in Christ. Some things God chooses to keep to himself for his own good purposes.

And yet, there is much more revealed to us than most Christians even dare to take in. These things are given to us, and so they “belong to us and to our children forever.” The reason for this is so “that we may follow all the words of this law.” God has revealed himself, his ways, and his desires for a purpose. There are many angles by which we can approach God’s Word, but the most important way to approach it is with the mind to obey it. For the Christian, we are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and love our neighbor as ourselves (Mt 22:37). We are to walk by the Spirit and bear Spiritual fruit, while at the same time fleeing from sin and to God. It is never too late to begin to follow Jesus.

Breaking Down the Key Parts of Deuteronomy 29:29

#1 “The secret things belong to the Lord our God,”
There are still great mysteries concerning the Lord, the nature of things, and the future. The most important “secret” thing is the exact time of the second coming of Christ. While we don’t know when that will be, we are to always be ready (Mk 13:37).

#2 “but the things revealed…”
The whole Bible is the chronicle of the “things revealed.” We should take great care going outside of it for revelation. Even true prophetic knowledge must be tested by the Word of God in Scripture.

#3 “belong to us…”
Anything that God has ordained to “belong to us” is ours to steward. There is an abiding principle that God has baked into the world that says each one must make the most of what he or she is given. This is stewardship, and we are judged our whole lives, and then on the great day according to this principle (Lk 19:11-27).

#4 “…and to our children forever,”
We are responsible to pass on what God has revealed to our children, to “bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord” (Eph 6:4).

#5 “that we may follow all the words of this law.”
God desires obedience from us. When he reveals his will, he expects us to live accordingly.

Expert Overview of Deuteronomy

Biblical Translations of Deuteronomy 29:29

NIV
The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.

NLT
The Lord our God has secrets known to no one. We are not accountable for them, but we and our children are accountable forever for all that he has revealed to us, so that we may obey all the terms of these instructions.

ESV
The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

KJV
The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

NKJV
The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.