The result of such a severe action would be that all Israel would hear about this extraordinary devotion to the Lord and be afraid to disobey Him (cf. Acts 5:11). This is precisely what Moses was demanding of the people - an extraordinary commitment (superseding all other intimate relationships) to the God who had shown extraordinary grace to the nation (who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery; cf. Ex. 13:3, 14; 20:2; Deut. 5:6; 6:12; 7:8; 8:14; 13:5). This passage may have been in Jesus' mind when He demanded similar commitment of His followers (cf. Matt. 10:34-39; Luke 14:26).

Deuteronomy 13:10-11