All things bear record · Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 15

3 witnesses of Christ here.

Jehovah the Redeemer

And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee: therefore I command thee this thing to day. Deuteronomy 15:15

Israel is to free its servants generously because Jehovah first redeemed Israel from slavery. Christ's redemption of us is the reason we show mercy to others.

VerifiedJehovah — the LORDA divine name

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4) · another scripture interprets it of Him

  • interpreted by D&C 136:22 — I am he who led the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.

The servant who chooses to serve for ever

And it shall be, if he say unto thee, I will not go away from thee; because he loveth thee and thine house, because he is well with thee; Deuteronomy 15:16–17

A freed servant who loves his master may choose to serve him for ever, marked by an opened ear. Christians have long seen this as a picture of Christ, who freely chose out of love to be the Servant who does His Father's will (compare Psalm 40:6-8 and Isaiah 50:5, where the Servant's ear is opened).

VerifiedEchoAn echo of Him

How we know: a footnote points to Him · a traditional type, cited

  • a parallel account in Exodus 21:5-6 — The same law of the servant whose ear is bored with an aul at the door.

Sacrifice as a similitude of Christ

All the firstling males that come of thy herd and of thy flock thou shalt sanctify unto the LORD thy God: thou shalt do no work with the firstling of thy bullock, nor shear the firstling of thy sheep. Deuteronomy 15:19–21

Only firstborn males without blemish could be offered. They pointed to Jesus, the Firstborn of the Father and the Lamb without blemish or spot. Adam was taught that offering the firstlings was a likeness of the Only Begotten's sacrifice.

VerifiedProphecy or typeAn ordinance that points to Him

How we know: a footnote points to Him · another scripture interprets it of Him

  • interpreted by Moses 5:5-7 — Offer the firstlings of their flocks ... a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten.
  • a type of what is in 1 Peter 1:18-19 — Redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
  • alludes to Exodus 13:2 — Sanctify unto me all the firstborn.