Deuteronomy 18:15
The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to him.
The LORD your God
This phrase emphasizes the covenant relationship between Yahweh and the Israelites. "LORD" is translated from the Hebrew "YHWH," the sacred and personal name of God, which signifies His eternal presence and unchanging nature. "Your God" underscores the personal and communal relationship God has with His people, highlighting His role as their protector and provider. This relationship is foundational to the identity of Israel as a nation chosen by God.

will raise up
The Hebrew root for "raise up" is "qum," which means to establish or set up. This indicates a divine action, where God Himself initiates the provision of a leader or prophet. It suggests a future promise and assurance that God will continue to guide His people through appointed individuals, ensuring His will and word are communicated.

for you
This phrase personalizes the promise, indicating that the action God will take is specifically for the benefit of the Israelites. It reflects God's care and concern for His people, ensuring that they have guidance and leadership tailored to their needs and circumstances.

a prophet
The term "prophet" comes from the Hebrew "navi," which means one who is called or appointed to speak on behalf of God. Prophets in Israel were not merely foretellers of the future but were primarily God's spokespersons, conveying His messages, warnings, and guidance. This role was crucial in maintaining the spiritual and moral direction of the nation.

like me
Here, Moses is speaking, and "like me" refers to a prophet who will have a similar role and authority as Moses himself. Moses was unique in his direct communication with God and his leadership in delivering Israel from Egypt and giving the Law. This sets a high standard for the coming prophet, indicating that he will have a significant and authoritative role in guiding the people.

from among your brothers
This phrase indicates that the prophet will be an Israelite, one of their own, ensuring that he understands their culture, history, and struggles. It emphasizes the continuity of God's work within the community of Israel and the importance of shared identity and experience in leadership.

You must listen to him
The command to listen underscores the authority of the prophet and the importance of obedience to God's word. Listening implies not just hearing but also heeding and acting upon the prophet's message. This is a call to faithfulness and responsiveness to God's guidance, which is essential for the well-being and spiritual health of the nation.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The speaker of this verse, Moses is the leader of the Israelites and a prophet of God. He is delivering God's message to the people of Israel.

2. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant God of Israel, who promises to raise up a prophet for His people.

3. The Israelites
The audience of Moses' message, they are the chosen people of God, journeying towards the Promised Land.

4. The Prophet
A future figure like Moses, who will be raised up by God to lead and guide the people.

5. The Promised Land
The destination of the Israelites, representing God's promise and faithfulness.
Teaching Points
The Role of Prophets
Prophets are God's chosen messengers, tasked with guiding His people and revealing His will. Understanding their role helps us appreciate the continuity of God's plan through history.

Jesus as the Fulfillment
Recognizing Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment of this prophecy strengthens our faith in God's promises and the unity of Scripture.

Listening to God's Voice
The command to "listen to him" emphasizes the importance of heeding God's word, as revealed through His prophets and ultimately through Jesus.

God's Faithfulness
This prophecy demonstrates God's faithfulness to His people, providing guidance and leadership throughout generations.

The Importance of Obedience
The call to listen and obey God's chosen prophet underscores the necessity of obedience in our relationship with God.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding Moses' role as a prophet help us appreciate the significance of this prophecy in Deuteronomy 18:15?

2. In what ways does Jesus fulfill the role of the prophet like Moses, and how does this impact our understanding of His ministry?

3. How can we apply the command to "listen to him" in our daily lives, particularly in the context of modern distractions and competing voices?

4. What does this prophecy reveal about God's character and His relationship with His people?

5. How can we draw parallels between the Israelites' journey to the Promised Land and our own spiritual journey, using this verse as a guide?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Acts 3:22-23
Peter references this prophecy, identifying Jesus as the fulfillment of the prophet like Moses.

John 1:21
The people question John the Baptist if he is the prophet, showing the expectation of this prophecy's fulfillment.

Hebrews 3:1-6
Compares Jesus to Moses, highlighting Jesus' superiority and fulfillment of the prophetic role.

Matthew 17:5
During the Transfiguration, God commands the disciples to listen to Jesus, echoing the command in Deuteronomy 18:15.

John 5:46
Jesus speaks of Moses writing about Him, indicating the prophetic connection.
Christ the Greatest of the ProphetsCunningham Geikie, D. D.Deuteronomy 18:15
Moral and Typical Character of MosesJ. Burns, D. D.Deuteronomy 18:15
Moses a Type of ChristJ. Burns, D. D.Deuteronomy 18:15
Moses a Type of ChristM. T. Spencer, M. A.Deuteronomy 18:15
Moses the Type of ChristJ. H. Newman, D. D.Deuteronomy 18:15
Of Christ's Prophetical OfficeWatson, ThomasDeuteronomy 18:15
Our Great ProphetJ. Irons.Deuteronomy 18:15
The Acceptance of Christ as a ProphetGeorge A. Gordon.Deuteronomy 18:15
The Need of a Mediator Between God and Man Felt and AcknowledgedEssex RemembrancerDeuteronomy 18:15
The Prophet Like unto MosesSpurgeon, Charles HaddonDeuteronomy 18:15
The Prophetic Office of ChristJ. Forbes, D. D.Deuteronomy 18:15
The Resemblance Between Moses and ChristH. Melvill, B. D.Deuteronomy 18:15
The Resemblance of Jesus to MosesJames Robertson, M. A.Deuteronomy 18:15
The Similarity Between Moses and ChristW. M. Taylor, D. D.Deuteronomy 18:15
The Prophet Like unto MosesJ. Orr Deuteronomy 18:15-19
ProphecyJ. Orr Deuteronomy 18:15-20
Presages of the True ProphetD. Davies Deuteronomy 18:15-22
The Promised ProphetR.M. Edgar Deuteronomy 18:15-22
People
Levi, Levites, Moses
Places
Beth-baal-peor, Horeb
Topics
Brethren, Brothers, Countrymen, Ear, Hearken, Heed, Listen, Midst, Prophet, Raise
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Deuteronomy 18:15

     1340   consistency
     5103   Moses, significance
     8351   teachableness

Deuteronomy 18:15-18

     2318   Christ, as prophet
     5104   Moses, foreshadower of Christ
     5467   promises, divine
     5630   work, divine and human
     7773   prophets, role

Library
Prophets and the Prophet
'When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. 10. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, 11. Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Moses the Type of Christ.
"The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto Him ye shall hearken."--Deut. xviii. 15. The history of Moses is valuable to Christians, not only as giving us a pattern of fidelity towards God, of great firmness, and great meekness, but also as affording us a type or figure of our Saviour Christ. No prophet arose in Israel like Moses, till Christ came, when the promise in the text was fulfilled--"The Lord thy God," says Moses, "shall
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VII

Appendix xiv. The Law in Messianic Times.
THE question as to the Rabbinic views in regard to the binding character of the Law, and its imposition on the Gentiles, in Messianic times, although, strictly speaking, not forming part of this history, is of such vital importance in connection with recent controversies as to demand special consideration. In the text to which this Appendix refers it has been indicated, that a new legislation was expected in Messianic days. The ultimate basis of this expectancy must be sought in the Old Testament
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Christ's Prophetic Office
'The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet,' &c. Deut 18:85. Having spoken of the person of Christ, we are next to speak of the offices of Christ. These are Prophetic, Priestly, and Regal. 'The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet.' Enunciatur hic locus de Christo. It is spoken of Christ.' There are several names given to Christ as a Prophet. He is called the Counsellor' in Isa 9:9. In uno Christo Angelus foederis completur [The Messenger of the Covenant appears in Christ alone].
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

The Inheritance
Gerhard Ter Steegen Deut. xviii. 1, 2 Am I not enough, Mine own? enough, Mine own, for thee? Hath the world its palace towers, Garden glades of magic flowers, Where thou fain wouldst be? Fair things and false are there, False things but fair. All shalt thou find at last, Only in Me. Am I not enough, Mine own? I, for ever and alone, I, needing thee?
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen, Suso, and Others

Meditations of the True Manner of Practising Piety on the Sabbath-Day.
Almighty God will have himself worshipped, not only in a private manner by private persons and families, but also in a more public sort, of all the godly joined together in a visible church; that by this means he may be known not only to be the God and Lord of every Singular person, but also of the creatures of the whole universal world. Question--But why do not we Christians under the New, keep the Sabbath on the same seventh day on which it was kept under the Old Testament? I answer--Because our
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

God's Last Arrow
'Having yet therefore one son, his well-beloved, he sent him also last unto them.'--Mark xii. 6. Reference to Isaiah v. There are differences in detail here which need not trouble us. Isaiah's parable is a review of the theocratic history of Israel, and clearly the messengers are the prophets; here Christ speaks of Himself and His own mission to Israel, and goes on to tell of His death as already accomplished. I. The Son who follows and surpasses the servants. (a) Our Lord here places Himself in
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The First Disciples
John i. 19 TO ii. 12 97. After the withdrawal of Jesus into the wilderness, John the Baptist continued his ministry of preaching and baptizing, moving northward up the Jordan valley to Bethany, on the eastern side of the river, near one of the fords below the Sea of Galilee (John i. 28). Here Galilee, doubtless, contributed more to his audience than Judea. It is certain that some from the borders of the lake were at this time among his constant attendants: Andrew and Simon of Bethsaida, John the
Rush Rhees—The Life of Jesus of Nazareth

Humility is the Root of Charity, and Meekness the Fruit of Both. ...
Humility is the root of charity, and meekness the fruit of both. There is no solid and pure ground of love to others, except the rubbish of self-love be first cast out of the soul; and when that superfluity of naughtiness is cast out, then charity hath a solid and deep foundation: "The end of the command is charity out of a pure heart," 1 Tim. i. 5. It is only such a purified heart, cleansed from that poison and contagion of pride and self-estimation, that can send out such a sweet and wholesome
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

The Twofold Testimony of John - the First Sabbath of Jesus's Ministry - the First Sunday - the First Disciples.
THE forty days, which had passed since Jesus had first come to him, must have been to the Baptist a time of soul-quickening, of unfolding understanding, and of ripened decision. We see it in his more emphasised testimony to the Christ; in his fuller comprehension of those prophecies which had formed the warrant and substance of his Mission; but specially in the yet more entire self-abnegation, which led him to take up a still lowlier position, and acquiescingly to realise that his task of heralding
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Not that Light, but a Witness.
(John I. 8.) "Nothing resting in its own completeness Can have worth or beauty; but alone Because it leads and tends to farther sweetness, Fuller, higher, deeper than its own. "Spring's real glory dwells not in the meaning, Gracious though it be, of her blue hours; But is hidden in her tender leaning To the summer's richer wealth of flowers." A. A. PROCTOR. Resentment of the Sanhedrim--The Baptist's Credentials--Spiritual Vision--"Behold the Lamb of God"--The Baptism of the Spirit The baptism and
F. B. Meyer—John the Baptist

Messiah's Entrance into Jerusalem
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: He is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. -- And He shall speak peace unto the heathen. T he narrowness and littleness of the mind of fallen man are sufficiently conspicuous in the idea he forms of magnificence and grandeur. The pageantry and parade of a Roman triumph, or of an eastern monarch, as described in history, exhibit him to us
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1

More Particularly, in what Respect Christ is Called the Truth.
But for further explaining of this matter, we would see more particularly, in what respects it is, that he is called the truth; and this will make way to our use-making of him. So, First, He is the Truth, in opposition to the shadows and types of him, under the law. Hence, as "the law," the whole Levitical and typical dispensation, "came by Moses, so grace and truth came by Jesus Christ," John i. 17. They were all shadows of him, and he is the substance and body of them all, Col. ii. 17; and this
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

The Messianic Prophecies in the Pentateuch.
In the Messianic prophecies contained in Genesis we cannot fail to perceive a remarkable progress in clearness and definiteness. The first Messianic prediction, which was uttered immediately after the fall of Adam, is also the most indefinite. Opposed to the awful threatening there stands the consolatory promise, that the dominion of sin, and of the evil arising from sin, shall not last for ever, but that the seed of the woman shall, at some future time, overthrow their dreaded conqueror. With the
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

First Withdrawal from Herod's Territory and Return.
(Spring, a.d. 29.) Subdivision B. Feeding the Five Thousand. ^A Matt. XIV. 13-21; ^B Mark VI. 33-44; ^C Luke IX. 11-17; ^D John VI. 2-14. ^c 11 But { ^a and} the multitudes heard thereof [heard of Jesus and his disciples crossing the lake], ^b 33 And they saw them going, and ^c perceiving it, ^b many knew them, ^d 2 And a great multitude followed him, because they beheld the signs which he did on them that were sick. ^b and they ran together there on foot from all the cities, and outwent them. ^a
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Plan for the Coming of Jesus.
God's Darling, Psalms 8:5-8.--the plan for the new man--the Hebrew picture by itself--difference between God's plan and actual events--one purpose through breaking plans--the original plan--a starting point--getting inside. Fastening a Tether inside: the longest way around--the pedigree--the start. First Touches on the Canvas: the first touch, Genesis 3:15.--three groups of prediction--first group: to Abraham, Genesis 12:1-3; to Isaac, Genesis 26:1-5; to Jacob, Genesis 28:10-15; through Jacob,
S. D. Gordon—Quiet Talks about Jesus

Balaam's Prophecy. (Numb. xxiv. 17-19. )
Carried by the Spirit into the far distant future, Balaam sees here how a star goeth out of Jacob and a sceptre riseth out of Israel, and how this sceptre smiteth Moab, by whose enmity the Seer had been brought from a distant region for the destruction of Israel. And not Moab only shall be smitten, but its southern neighbour, Edom, too shall be subdued, whose hatred against Israel had already been prefigured in its ancestor, and had now begun to display Itself; and In general, all the enemies of
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

In the Temple at the Feast of Tabernacles.
(October, a.d. 29.) ^D John VII. 11-52. ^d 11 The Jews therefore sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he? [It was now eighteen months since Jesus had visited Jerusalem, at which time he had healed the impotent man at Bethesda. His fame and prolonged obscurity made his enemies anxious for him to again expose himself in their midst. John here used the word "Jews" as a designation for the Jerusalemites, who, as enemies of Christ, were to be distinguished from the multitudes who were in doubt
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

John's First Testimony to Jesus.
(Bethany Beyond Jordan, February, a.d. 27.) ^D John I. 19-34. ^d 19 And this is the witness of John [John had been sent to testify, "and" this is the matter of his testimony], when the Jews [The term "Jews" is used seventy times by John to describe the ruling classes of Judæa] sent unto him [In thus sending an embassy they honored John more than they ever honored Christ. They looked upon John as a priest and Judæan, but upon Jesus as a carpenter and Galilæan. It is probable that
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Formation of the Old Testament Canon
[Sidenote: Israel's literature at the beginning of the fourth century before Christ] Could we have studied the scriptures of the Israelitish race about 400 B.C., we should have classified them under four great divisions: (1) The prophetic writings, represented by the combined early Judean, Ephraimite, and late prophetic or Deuteronomic narratives, and their continuation in Samuel and Kings, together with the earlier and exilic prophecies; (2) the legal, represented by the majority of the Old Testament
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old Testament

The Angel of the Lord in the Pentateuch, and the Book of Joshua.
The New Testament distinguishes between the hidden God and the revealed God--the Son or Logos--who is connected with the former by oneness of nature, and who from everlasting, and even at the creation itself, filled up the immeasurable distance between the Creator and the creation;--who has been the Mediator in all God's relations to the world;--who at all times, and even before He became man in Christ, has been the light of [Pg 116] the world,--and to whom, specially, was committed the direction
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

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