Daily Bible Verse - 10/29/2007 - Ecclesiastes 12:13

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.

Ecclesiastes 12:13

Commentary

Solomon's final word on the issues raised in this book, as well as life itself, focus on one's relationship to God. All of the concern for a life under the sun, with its pleasures and uncertainties, was behind Solomon. Such things seemed comparatively irrelevant to him as he faced the end of his life. But death, in spite of the focused attention he had given to it in Ecclesiastes, was not the greatest equalizer. Judgment/retribution is the real equalizer as Solomon saw it, for God will bring every person's every act to judgment. Unbelievers will stand at the Great White Throne judgment (cf. Rev. 20:11-15) and believers before Christ at the Bema judgment (cf. 1 Cor. 3:10-15; 2 Cor. 5:9, 10). When all is said and done, the certainty and finality of retribution give life the meaning for which David's oft-times foolish son had been searching. Whatever may be one's portion in life, accountability to the God, whose ways are often mysterious, is both eternal and irrevocable.

MacArthur, J. J. (1997, c1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed.) (Ec 12:13). Nashville: Word Pub.

Did you know?
The name of the book (Ecclesiastes) comes from the word the writer uses to describe himself: Teacher or Assembly Leader. In Greek, this word is ekklesiastes.

Miller, S. M., & Gross, P. (1998). How to get into the Bible. Includes index. (164). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.