Such a prophet or dreamer must be put to death, because he has advocated rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery; he has tried to turn you from the way in which the LORD your God has commanded you to walk. So you must purge the evil from among you. Such a prophet or dreamerThe Hebrew term for "prophet" is "navi," which traditionally refers to someone who speaks on behalf of God. In this context, however, it refers to a false prophet, one who claims divine inspiration but leads people away from God. The "dreamer" is someone who claims to have received divine messages through dreams. In ancient Israel, dreams were often considered a means of divine communication, but here, the emphasis is on discernment and the danger of false messages. must be put to death
This phrase underscores the severity of leading others away from God. In the theocratic society of ancient Israel, spiritual purity was paramount, and the community was responsible for maintaining it. The death penalty reflects the seriousness of idolatry and rebellion against God, emphasizing the need for communal holiness and the protection of the covenant relationship with God. because he has advocated rebellion
The Hebrew word for "rebellion" is "sarah," which implies a turning away or apostasy. This rebellion is not merely a personal sin but an act that threatens the entire community's faithfulness to God. It highlights the danger of false teachings that can lead the people away from their covenant obligations. against the LORD your God
The use of "LORD" (YHWH) signifies the personal and covenantal name of God, reminding the Israelites of their unique relationship with Him. This phrase emphasizes that the rebellion is not just against a set of rules but against the very God who has chosen and redeemed them. who brought you out of the land of Egypt
This phrase serves as a reminder of God's past faithfulness and mighty acts of deliverance. The exodus from Egypt is a foundational event in Israel's history, symbolizing God's power and love. It reinforces the idea that turning away from God is a rejection of His saving acts and a denial of His sovereignty. and redeemed you from the house of slavery
The term "redeemed" (Hebrew "ga'al") conveys the idea of being bought back or rescued. It is a powerful reminder of God's grace and mercy in liberating the Israelites from bondage. This redemption is both physical and spiritual, calling the people to live in gratitude and obedience. That prophet or dreamer tried to turn you
The phrase "tried to turn you" indicates an active effort to lead the people astray. It highlights the insidious nature of false teachings and the importance of vigilance in maintaining faithfulness to God's commands. from the way the LORD your God commanded you to follow
"The way" refers to the path of righteousness and obedience outlined in God's law. It is a metaphor for living according to God's will. The emphasis here is on the importance of adhering to God's commandments as a demonstration of faith and loyalty. You must purge the evil from among you
The command to "purge" (Hebrew "ba'ar") means to remove or eradicate. This phrase underscores the necessity of maintaining the community's spiritual integrity by removing influences that lead to sin. It reflects the call to holiness and the need to protect the community from corruption. Persons / Places / Events 1. Prophet or DreamerIndividuals claiming to have divine revelations or dreams, potentially leading people away from God. 2. The LORD your GodThe covenant name of God, Yahweh, emphasizing His relationship with Israel. 3. Land of EgyptThe place of Israel's bondage, symbolizing sin and oppression. 4. House of SlaveryRefers to Israel's past condition in Egypt, from which God redeemed them. 5. IsraelThe nation chosen by God, called to follow His commandments and remain faithful. Teaching Points Discernment and VigilanceBelievers must be discerning and vigilant against false teachings that lead away from God. This requires a deep understanding of Scripture and a commitment to truth. The Seriousness of IdolatryIdolatry is not just the worship of physical idols but includes any teaching or influence that leads us away from God. It is a serious offense that requires decisive action. Faithfulness to God's CommandmentsOur loyalty to God is demonstrated through obedience to His commandments. This passage underscores the importance of remaining faithful to God's revealed will. Community ResponsibilityThe call to "purge the evil" highlights the community's responsibility to maintain purity and faithfulness. This involves holding each other accountable and addressing false teachings. Redemption and IdentityRemembering God's redemption from Egypt is crucial for understanding our identity and purpose. It reminds us of God's faithfulness and our call to live in response to His grace. Bible Study Questions 1. How can we identify modern-day "prophets or dreamers" who might lead us away from God's truth? 2. In what ways does remembering our "redemption from the house of slavery" influence our daily walk with God? 3. How can we apply the principle of "purging the evil" in a New Testament context, especially within the church community? 4. What steps can we take to ensure we are discerning and vigilant against false teachings in our personal and communal faith journeys? 5. How do the warnings in Deuteronomy 13:5 connect with Jesus' teachings in the New Testament about false prophets and teachers? Connections to Other Scriptures Exodus 20The Ten Commandments, emphasizing the call to worship God alone and reject idolatry. Matthew 7Jesus warns about false prophets, highlighting the need for discernment. Galatians 1Paul speaks against those preaching a different gospel, stressing the importance of adhering to the true message of Christ. 1 John 4Encourages testing the spirits to see if they are from God, reinforcing vigilance against false teachings. People MosesPlaces Beth-baal-peor, EgyptTopics Apostacy, Aside, Bondage, Bringing, Commanded, Counseled, Death, Draw, Dream, Dreamer, Dreams, Drive, Egypt, Evil, Follow, Forcing, Free, Hast, Leave, Midst, Orders, Perversion, Preached, Prison-house, Prophet, Purge, Purpose, Ransomed, Rebellion, Redeemed, Remove, Revolt, Seduce, Servants, Slavery, Spoken, Taught, Thrust, Tried, Turn, Turning, WalkDictionary of Bible Themes Deuteronomy 13:5 1315 God, as redeemer
1409 dream
4020 life, of faith
4123 Satan, deceiver
4125 Satan, agents of
6222 rebellion, against God
8326 purity, moral and spiritual Deuteronomy 13:1-5 7774 prophets, false Deuteronomy 13:1-9 8771 idolatry, objections Deuteronomy 13:1-11 8706 apostasy, warnings Library Fifthly, as this Revelation, to the Judgment of Right and Sober Reason,
appears of itself highly credible and probable, and abundantly recommends itself in its native simplicity, merely by its own intrinsic goodness and excellency, to the practice of the most rational and considering men, who are desirous in all their actions to have satisfaction and comfort and good hope within themselves, from the conscience of what they do: So it is moreover positively and directly proved to be actually and immediately sent to us from God, by the many infallible signs and miracles …
Samuel Clarke—A Discourse Concerning the Being and Attributes of GodKnox's Writings from Abroad: Beginning of the Scottish Revolution, 1556-1558
Knox was about this time summoned to be one of the preachers to the English at Geneva. He sent in advance Mrs. Bowes and his wife, visited Argyll and Glenorchy (now Breadalbane), wrote (July 7) an epistle bidding the brethren be diligent in reading and discussing the Bible, and went abroad. His effigy was presently burned by the clergy, as he had not appeared in answer to a second summons, and he was outlawed in absence. It is not apparent that Knox took any part in the English translation of the …
Andrew Lang—John Knox and the Reformation With, Before, After
'Enoch walked with God,'--GENESIS v. 22. 'Walk before Me.'--GENESIS xvii. 1. 'Ye shall walk after the Lord your God.'--DEUTERONOMY xiii. 4. You will have anticipated, I suppose, my purpose in doing what I very seldom do--cutting little snippets out of different verses and putting them together. You see that these three fragments, in their resemblances and in their differences, are equally significant and instructive. They concur in regarding life as a walk--a metaphor which expresses continuity, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture The Feeding of the Four Thousand - to Dalmanutha - the Sign from Heaven' - Journey to Cæsarea Philippi - what is the Leaven of The
THEY might well gather to Jesus in their thousands, with their wants of body and soul, these sheep wandering without a shepherd; for His Ministry in that district, as formerly in Galilee, was about to draw to a close. And here it is remarkable, that each time His prolonged stay and Ministry in a district were brought to a close with some supper, so to speak, some festive entertainment on his part. The Galilean Ministry had closed with the feeding of the five thousand, the guests being mostly from …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Fifth Sunday after Epiphany
Text: Colossians 3, 12-17. 12 Put on therefore, as God's elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering; 13 forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against any; even as the Lord forgave you, so also do ye: 14 and above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to the which also ye were called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16 Let the Word …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. II Concerning the Power of the Civil Magistrate in Matters Purely Religious, and Pertaining to the Conscience.
Concerning the Power of the Civil Magistrate in Matters purely Religious, and pertaining to the Conscience. Since God hath assumed to himself the power and Dominion of the Conscience, who alone can rightly instruct and govern it, therefore it is not lawful [1226] for any whosoever, by virtue of any authority or principality they bear in the government of this world, to force the consciences of others; and therefore all killing, banishing, fining, imprisoning, and other such things which are inflicted …
Robert Barclay—Theses Theologicae and An Apology for the True Christian Divinity The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
THE FALL OF NINEVEH AND THE RISE OF THE CHALDAEAN AND MEDIAN EMPIRES--THE XXVIth EGYPTIAN DYNASTY: CYAXARES, ALYATTES, AND NEBUCHADREZZAR. The legendary history of the kings of Media and the first contact of the Medes with the Assyrians: the alleged Iranian migrations of the Avesta--Media-proper, its fauna and flora; Phraortes and the beginning of the Median empire--Persia proper and the Persians; conquest of Persia by the Medes--The last monuments of Assur-bani-pal: the library of Kouyunjik--Phraortes …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 8 Jewish Homes
It may be safely asserted, that the grand distinction, which divided all mankind into Jews and Gentiles, was not only religious, but also social. However near the cities of the heathen to those of Israel, however frequent and close the intercourse between the two parties, no one could have entered a Jewish town or village without feeling, so to speak, in quite another world. The aspect of the streets, the building and arrangement of the houses, the municipal and religious rule, the manners and customs …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life Deuteronomy
Owing to the comparatively loose nature of the connection between consecutive passages in the legislative section, it is difficult to present an adequate summary of the book of Deuteronomy. In the first section, i.-iv. 40, Moses, after reviewing the recent history of the people, and showing how it reveals Jehovah's love for Israel, earnestly urges upon them the duty of keeping His laws, reminding them of His spirituality and absoluteness. Then follows the appointment, iv. 41-43--here irrelevant (cf. …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Deuteronomy 13:5 NIVDeuteronomy 13:5 NLTDeuteronomy 13:5 ESVDeuteronomy 13:5 NASBDeuteronomy 13:5 KJV
Deuteronomy 13:5 Commentaries
Bible Hub |
