● According to Deuteronomy 6:8, 9, the Israelites were commanded to ‘tie God’s law as a sign upon their hand’ and have it serve as a ‘frontlet band between their eyes.’ Is this to be understood literally?​—U.S.A.

Many Jewish commentators have applied this injunction literally. This is also one of the Biblical passages used to support the practice of wearing phylacteries (small cases containing texts from the Holy Scriptures). However, an examination of the context and other scriptures definitely points to a figurative application.

And you must tie them as a sign upon your hand, and they must serve as a frontlet band between your eyes; and you must write them upon the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

It should be noted that this passage does not say that the commands were to be written on something and then worn between the eyes or on the hand or attached to the doorposts and gates. The commands themselves were to be ‘tied as a sign upon the hand’ and were to serve as a ‘frontlet band between the eyes.’ Evidently, therefore, the thought conveyed is much like that expressed at Proverbs 7:2, 3: “Keep my commandments and continue living, and my law like the pupil of your eyes. Tie them upon your fingers, and write them upon the tablet of your heart.” Clearly this is not literal. It would be impossible literally to write commandments upon the heart, and to tie written commands to one’s fingers would only hinder one from accomplishing work. No useful purpose would be served.

The Israelites were not just to retain God’s law in their hearts and teach it to their children. They were also to demonstrate by action (as expressed by the hands) that they adhered to it. Just as if God’s law were written between their eyes for all to see, they were to identify themselves publicly as its upholders. This would be a far more effective way to maintain faithfulness than the literal wearing of passages from God’s law on their person or writing such passages on their doorposts or gates.

Even a hypocritical person could wear scripture-containing cases. In fact, Jesus Christ censured the Pharisees for ‘broadening the scripture-containing cases that they wore as safeguards.’ (Matt. 23:5) By enlarging these cases, they apparently wanted to impress others with their zeal for the Law. But they disregarded its real purpose. Hence, their outward manifestations meant nothing.

Surely we today should want to prove ourselves to be obedient servants of Jehovah from the heart. This means our hearts should move us to respond with appreciative obedience to the guidance of God’s written Word. Our minds should be on the serious, righteous, lovable, virtuous, chaste and praiseworthy things. (Phil. 4:8) In whatever we are doing, we should “work at it whole-souled as to Jehovah, and not to men.” (Col. 3:23) Yes, our every action should prove that God’s commands are always before us.