Deuteronomy 13:1 - Meaning and Application

Here is a very unusual case, Deuteronomy 13:1-2. First, it is strange that anyone among them, especially someone claiming to have visions and prophecy, should try to lead others away to serve other gods. How could a person know enough about God’s ways to pretend to be a prophet, and yet know so little about God’s nature and will that he would do this himself and drag his neighbors after him? Could an Israelite really be so godless? Could a sensible person be so foolish? We see such things even in our own day, so it should not seem too strange. Many who claim both learning and religion still stir up worship of God through images, and even give divine honor to saints and angels. That is no better than going after other gods to serve them. Such is the power of strong delusion.

It is even more surprising that the sign or wonder used to support this false teaching should actually happen. Could God himself give any support to such a wicked thing? Did any false prophet ever do a true miracle? This is only supposed for two reasons. First, it makes the warning stronger. Even if he could work a real miracle, you must not believe him if he tells you to serve other gods, because God’s law against that is fixed and lasting. This is like Galatians 1:8, where Paul says that even if we or an angel from heaven preach another gospel, we must reject it. That does not mean an angel could really preach another gospel. It simply shows how certain and unchanging the true gospel is.

Second, this warns against fraud and lying wonders (2 Thessalonians 2:9). Suppose the prophet’s proof is so cleverly forged that you cannot detect the trick or refute it. Even then, if his message leads you to serve other gods, that is enough to expose him. No proof can stand against such a clear truth as the unity of God, that is, that there is only one true God, and against such a plain command as worshiping him alone. We cannot imagine that the God of truth would seal a lie with miracles, and such a gross lie as, “Let us go after other gods.”

If someone asks why this false prophet is allowed to counterfeit God’s seal, the answer is given in Deuteronomy 13:3. “The Lord your God is testing you.” He allows such a temptation so he can prove your loyalty, and so both the faithful and the false may be shown for what they are. It is a test, so make sure you stand firm.

The charge in this case is very necessary. First, do not give in to the temptation: “Do not listen to the words of that prophet,” Deuteronomy 13:3. You must not only refuse the thing he urges, you must not even patiently listen to the temptation. Reject it at once, with full disgust. A suggestion like this should not even be discussed. Shut your ear against it. “Get behind me, Satan.” Some temptations are so openly wicked that they do not deserve a debate, and we should not even give them a hearing.

What follows in Deuteronomy 13:4 may be taken in two ways. It can be seen as a guard against the temptation: keep close to your duty, and you will stay out of danger. God never leaves us until we leave him. Or it can be taken as an answer to the temptation. Say, “It is written that I must walk after the Lord and hold fast to him, so what do I have to do with idols?”

Second, do not spare the tempter, Deuteronomy 13:5. That prophet must be put to death, both to punish him for his attempt, even if no one was led astray by him, and to stop him from doing more harm. This is what it means to put away evil. There is no way to remove the guilt without removing the guilty person. If such a criminal is not punished, then those who should punish him share in the blame. In this way the evil must be removed. The infection must be stopped before it spreads, like cutting off a diseased limb and removing those who cause trouble. Such dangerous sicknesses must be dealt with in time.