Deuteronomy 13:5

And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the Lord thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.

Deuteronomy 13:5 (KJV)

Context

Deuteronomy is part of the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible, which were written by Moses. The book consists primarily of Moses’ final addresses to the Israelites before they entered the Promised Land. In these addresses, Moses reminds the people of God’s laws, their covenant with Him, and the importance of obedience to God.

Deuteronomy 13:5 is part of a passage that addresses the issue of false prophets and dreamers of dreams. The verse specifically refers to a situation where a prophet or dreamer arises among the Israelites, claiming to have a message from God that contradicts the commands and instructions given by God through Moses.

Meaning

The passage begins by describing a scenario where a prophet or dreamer of dreams arises among the Israelites. This person claims to have received a revelation from God. However, the key criterion for identifying a false prophet is that their message contradicts the teachings and commandments of the Lord. Even if such a person performs signs or wonders, the test of a true prophet is fidelity to the LORD’s revealed way, not the performance of miracles.

The verse states that such a prophet or dreamer shall be put to death. This severe punishment reflects the gravity of leading the people astray from the true worship of God. The Israelites were to be a nation wholly devoted to the Lord, and any attempt to turn them away from Him was considered a capital offense. The Targum of Jonathan specifies death by the sword, underscoring the seriousness of the offense.

The verse reminds the Israelites of their history and the great deliverance God had brought about for them. God had redeemed them from slavery in Egypt and brought them out of bondage. The purpose of their deliverance was so that they would follow God’s ways and walk in His commandments. Any attempt to turn them away from God’s path was to be vehemently rejected.

The verse concludes by emphasizing the importance of putting away the evil from their midst. By executing the false prophet or dreamer, the Israelites were purging the community of a corrupting influence that could lead others astray from the true worship of God. This command to purge evil was essential to preserve covenant faithfulness and maintain the purity of worship.

Biblical connections

This verse is part of a larger section in Deuteronomy 13 dealing with enticements to idolatry, including from family members and towns, all of which demand decisive action to maintain purity of worship. The principle is that God’s people must not tolerate teaching that leads away from the exclusive worship of the one true God, even when it comes with supernatural credentials. The historical context of the exodus serves as the foundational reason for obedience: God’s deliverance establishes His claim on Israel’s exclusive loyalty.

Application

While the immediate context of Deuteronomy 13:5 is specific to the Israelites and their unique situation, there are broader principles we can draw from this passage:

• Discernment of false teachings: We are called to exercise discernment when it comes to evaluating spiritual leaders and teachings. We should compare what is being taught to the truths revealed in God’s Word. Any teaching that contradicts or leads away from God’s commands should be rejected.

• Commitment to God’s ways: Just as the Israelites were called to be obedient to God’s commands, we, as followers of Christ, are called to walk in His ways. We should remain steadfast in our devotion to God and not be swayed by deceptive or contrary teachings.

• The seriousness of leading others astray: This passage highlights the seriousness of leading others away from the true worship of God. As believers, we have a responsibility to share and uphold the truth of the Gospel. We should be cautious about what we teach and the influence we have on others, ensuring that we point them towards God and His Word.

Reflection

In summary, Deuteronomy 13:5 serves as a reminder of the importance of remaining faithful to God’s commands and discerning false teachings. It emphasizes the severe consequences of leading others away from God and underscores the need to remove such influences from our midst. The verse does not address the modern application of capital punishment but rather the ancient Israelite theocratic context where covenant violation was a capital offense. The focus is on the principle of guarding the community’s faithfulness to God against deceptive influences.