14 And the Levites shall declare and say unto all the men of Israel with a loud voice: 15 Cursed be the man that maketh a graven or molten image, an abomination to Jehovah, a work of the craftsman's hand, and putteth it up secretly! And all the people shall answer and say, Amen. 16 Cursed be he that slighteth his father or his mother! And all the people shall say, Amen. 17 Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour's landmark! And all the people shall say, Amen. 18 Cursed be he that maketh the blind to wander out of the way! And all the people shall say, Amen. 19 Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow! And all the people shall say, Amen. 20 Cursed be he that lieth with his father's wife; for he uncovereth his father's skirt! And all the people shall say, Amen. 21 Cursed be he that lieth with any manner of beast! And all the people shall say, Amen. 22 Cursed be he that lieth with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother! And all the people shall say, Amen. 23 Cursed be he that lieth with his mother-in-law! And all the people shall say, Amen. 24 Cursed be he that smiteth his neighbour secretly! And all the people shall say, Amen. 25 Cursed be he that taketh reward to smite mortally [shedding] innocent blood! And all the people shall say, Amen. 26 Cursed be he that confirmeth not the words of this law to do them! And all the people shall say, Amen.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Deuteronomy 27:14-26
Commentary on Deuteronomy 27:11-26
(Read Deuteronomy 27:11-26)
The six tribes appointed for blessing, were all children of the free women, for to such the promise belongs, Galatians 4:31. Levi is here among the rest. Ministers should apply to themselves the blessing and curse they preach to others, and by faith set their own Amen to it. And they must not only allure people to their duty with the promises of a blessing, but awe them with the threatenings of a curse, by declaring that a curse would be upon those who do such things. To each of the curses the people were to say, Amen. It professed their faith, that these, and the like curses, were real declarations of the wrath of God against the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, not one jot of which shall fall to the ground. It was acknowledging the equity of these curses. Those who do such things deserve to fall, and lie under the curse. Lest those who were guilty of other sins, not here mentioned, should think themselves safe from the curse, the last reaches all. Not only those who do the evil which the law forbids, but those also who omit the good which the law requires. Without the atoning blood of Christ, sinners can neither have communion with a holy God, nor do any thing acceptable to him; his righteous law condemns every one who, at any time, or in any thing, transgresses it. Under its awful curse we remain as transgressors, until the redemption of Christ is applied to our hearts. Wherever the grace of God brings salvation, it teaches the believer to deny ungodliness and wordly lusts, to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, consenting to, and delighting in the words of God's law, after the inward man. In this holy walk, true peace and solid joy are to be found.