# Deuteronomy 13 đź“–: Warnings Against False Prophets
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[[-Deuteronomy Overview]] | [[Deuteronomy 12]] | [[Deuteronomy 14]]
> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#🧠Chapter Summary]]
> [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application]]
> [[#đź’¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đź”— Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đź“‚ Internal Notes]]
## đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
[[#Verse 01.]] Suppose a prophet or one who foretells by dreams should appear among you and show you a sign or wonder,Â
[[#Verse 02.]] and the sign or wonder should come to pass concerning what he said to you, namely, “Let us follow other gods”—gods whom you have not previously known—“and let us serve them.”Â
[[#Verse 03.]] You must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer, for the Lord your God will be testing you to see if you love him with all your mind and being.Â
[[#Verse 04.]] You must follow the Lord your God and revere only him; and you must observe his commandments, obey him, serve him, and remain loyal to him.Â
[[#Verse 05.]] As for that prophet or dreamer, he must be executed because he encouraged rebellion against the Lord your God who brought you from the land of Egypt, redeeming you from that place of slavery, and because he has tried to entice you from the way the Lord your God has commanded you to go. In this way you must purge evil from among you.
### False Prophets in the Family
[[#Verse 06.]] Suppose your own full brother, your son, your daughter, your beloved wife, or your closest friend should seduce you secretly and encourage you to go and serve other gods that neither you nor your ancestors have previously known,
[[#Verse 07.]] the gods of the surrounding people (whether near you or far from you, from one end of the earth to the other).
[[#Verse 08.]]Â You must not give in to him or even listen to him; do not feel sympathy for him or spare him or cover up for him.
[[#Verse 09.]] Instead, you must kill him without fail! Your own hand must be the first to strike him, and then the hands of the whole community.Â
[[#Verse 10.]] You must stone him to death because he tried to entice you away from the Lord your God, who delivered you from the land of Egypt, that place of slavery.Â
[[#Verse 11.]]Â Thus all Israel will hear and be afraid; no longer will they continue to do evil like this among you.
### Punishment of Community Idolatry
[[#Verse 12.]] Suppose you should hear in one of your cities, which the Lord your God is giving you as a place to live, thatÂ
[[#Verse 13.]] some evil people have departed from among you to entice the inhabitants of their cities, saying, “Let’s go and serve other gods” (whom you have not known before).
[[#Verse 14.]]Â You must investigate thoroughly and inquire carefully. If it is indeed true that such a disgraceful thing is being done among you,
[[#Verse 15.]] you must by all means slaughter the inhabitants of that city with the sword; annihilate with the sword everyone in it, as well as the livestock.Â
[[#Verse 16.]] You must gather all of its plunder into the middle of the plaza and burn the city and all its plunder as a whole burnt offering to the Lord your God. It will be an abandoned ruin forever—it must never be rebuilt again.Â
[[#Verse 17.]] You must not take for yourself anything that has been placed under judgment. Then the Lord will relent from his intense anger, show you compassion, have mercy on you, and multiply you as he promised your ancestors.
[[#Verse 18.]] Thus you must obey the Lord your God, keeping all his commandments that I am giving you today and doing what is right before him.
## đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. In Hebrew Bibles, this chapter runs from 13:2 to 13:19 because 12:32 is numbered 13:1.
2. A prophet's sign coming true did not prove he spoke for God if his message led away from the Lord (13:1-3).
3. The temptation could come from someone very close, even a brother, child, spouse, or close friend (13:6).
4. The phrase "worthless men" (13:13) is literally "sons of Belial" in Hebrew.
5. Paul later uses "Belial" as a name for Satan (2 Corinthians 6:15).
6. Careful investigation was required before judgment (13:14), a strong concern for justice.
7. Deuteronomy also requires two or three witnesses before a serious judgment (17:6).
8. Jesus warned about false prophets who perform great signs (Matthew 24:24).
9. Paul says that even an angel preaching another gospel should be rejected (Galatians 1:8).
10. Verse 4 strings together six verbs of loyalty: follow, fear, obey, listen, serve, and hold fast.
## 🧠Chapter Summary
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the true Prophet whose word never leads away from God (Hebrews 1:1-2). He warned that false messiahs would perform signs to deceive (Matthew 24:24), so we test every message by Him.
## 🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đź’¬ Discussion Questions
1. Even if a sign comes true, a prophet who leads people to other gods must not be followed (13:1-3). Why are signs alone not enough?
2. God says He sometimes tests whether we love Him with all our heart (13:3). How have tests revealed your heart?
3. Before acting on a report, the people were to investigate it thoroughly (13:14). Why is careful investigation important in the church?
## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember
- đź“– verse 3: The Lord tests whether you love Him with all your heart and soul.
- đź“– verse 4: Follow the Lord, fear Him, obey Him, serve Him, and hold fast to Him.
- đź“– verse 14: Investigate thoroughly before acting on a report.
## đź”— Related Passages/Cross Reference
- đź”— [[Matthew 24#Verse 24.|Matthew 24:24]] - False messiahs will perform signs.
- đź”— [[1 John 04#Verse 01.|1 John 4:1]] - Test the spirits.
- đź”— [[Galatians 01#Verse 08.|Galatians 1:8-9]] - Even an angel with another gospel is accursed.
- đź”— [[2 Corinthians 06#Verse 15.|2 Corinthians 6:15]] - What does Christ have in common with Belial?
- đź”— [[Matthew 07#Verse 15.|Matthew 7:15-20]] - You will know them by their fruit.
## 🙏 Devotional Reflection
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đź“‚ Internal Notes