When we read these words in english we generally pass over them.
The word statutes is translated from the Hebrew word, chukim —the singular is chok. Some versions of the Bible translate this word as statutes, or decrees. What are statutes (chukim)? Statutes are laws from the Holy One that are constant and never change. Jeremiah 31:35-36 "Thus saith the YHWH, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The YHWH of hosts is his name:
If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the YHWH, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever."
The word ordinances is actually derived from the Hebrew word chok. These verses capture the true essence of chukim. Chukim are statutes that will never pass away. They are constant and as predictable as the laws of nature governing the movement of the heavenly bodies. Did you know that the Holy Days—Mo'edim—are referred to as chukim in Leviticus 23? Now that you know the Scriptural definition of a chok, if someone said to you, "The Biblical Holy Days were only valid until the death and resurrection of Yeshua," what should your response be? Not True. The Moedim are instructions defined in the Torah as Chukim, which are statutes that will never pass away. They are constant and predictable as the of nature governing the movement of the heavenly bodies. Therefore the Moedim could not have passed away with the death and resurrection of Yeshua.
The word judgments is translated from the Hebrew word mishpatim. Some versions of the Bible translate this word as judgments, ordinances or laws. What are judgments (mishpatim)? A judgment (mishpat) is a decision/judgment that must be made between two claims.
The word commandments is translated from the Hebrew word mitzvot--the singular is mitzvah.
Deut. 11:26-32 "Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the YHWH your Elohim, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the YHWH your Elohim, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known. And it shall come to pass, when the YHWH thy Elohim hath brought thee in unto the land whither thou goest to possess it, that thou shalt put the blessing upon mount Gerizim, and the curse upon mount Ebal. Are they not on the other side Jordan, by the way where the sun goeth down, in the land of the Canaanites, which dwell in the champaign over against Gilgal, beside the plains of Moreh? For ye shall pass over Jordan to go in to possess the land which the YHWH your Elohim giveth you, and ye shall possess it, and dwell therein. And ye shall observe to do all the statutes and judgments which I set before you this day. "
What is the main understanding of Deut. 11:26-32? Those who obey the commandments (mizvot), the statutes (chukim) and the judgments (mishpatim) will receive the blessing. Those who do not obey will receive the curse.
The primary function/purpose of the Torah is to bring LIFE to those who obey it and that those who disobey the Torah will receive DEATH. This verse continues that theme. Obedience or lack of obedience to the Torah is a matter of LIFE AND DEATH!
Great explanation on statutes, judgements and commandments from Restoration of Torah, http://restorationoftorah.org/WeeklyParsha/MBMReeh.pdf
Blessings!!!
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