What does Deuteronomy 11:20 teach about the importance of God's Word in families? The Text of Deuteronomy 11:20 “Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates.” What the Command Meant to Israel • “Them” refers to God’s commandments just rehearsed (vv. 18–19). • Doorposts and gates were the most visible structural points of a home and community. Affixing God’s words there made His truth the first and last thing seen each day. • The practice created continual reminders for parents, children, and guests that the household belonged to the LORD. Timeless Principles for Families Today • God’s Word is to be woven into the ordinary fabric of home life, not confined to worship services. • Scripture is meant to be displayed, discussed, and delighted in where family identity is formed. • The home is God’s primary classroom for passing faith from one generation to the next (cf. Deuteronomy 6:6-9; 2 Timothy 3:15). Practical Ways to “Write” the Word in Our Homes • Visible reminders – Place framed verses in high-traffic areas (kitchen, entryway). – Use Scripture art on walls, mugs, or screensavers. • Spoken reminders – Read a short passage aloud at breakfast or bedtime. – Work a verse into everyday conversation when making decisions. • Musical reminders – Play worship songs based on Scripture while doing chores. – Teach children simple Scripture memory songs. • Routine reminders – Memorize a family “verse of the week” and recite it together. – Mark key family dates (birthdays, anniversaries) with a verse of thanksgiving. • Community reminders – Share favorite verses with guests, modeling a Word-centered home. – Let neighborhood gatherings include a brief reading or testimony of what God’s Word is teaching. Blessings Promised When the Word Shapes the Family • Spiritual heritage: “So that your days and the days of your children may be many...” (Deuteronomy 11:21). • Steadfast hearts: Hiding His Word guards against sin (Psalm 119:11). • Generational faithfulness: Children grow “wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15). • Household testimony: “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15). Deuteronomy 11:20 calls every family to make Scripture unmistakably central—seen, heard, and lived—so that God’s truth anchors the present generation and lights the path for the next. |