9 "When you enter the land which the Lord your God gives you, you shall not learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations . 10 "There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire , one who uses divination , one who practices witchcraft , or one who interprets omens , or a sorcerer , 11 or one who casts a spell , or a medium e , or a spiritist , or one who calls up the dead . 12 "For whoever does these things is detestable to the Lord ; and because of these detestable things the Lord your God will drive them out before e you. 13 " You shall be blameless before the Lord your God . 14 "For those nations , which you shall dispossess , listen to those who practice witchcraft and to diviners , but as for you, the Lord your God has not allowed you to do so .
15 " The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen , you shall listen to him. 16 "This is according to all that you asked of the Lord your God in Horeb on the day of the assembly , saying , 'Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God , let me not see this great fire anymore , or I will die .' 17 " The Lord said to me, 'They have spoken well . 18 'I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth , and he shall speak to them all that I command him. 19 ' It shall come about that whoever e will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name , I Myself will require it of him. 20 'But the prophet who speaks a word presumptuously in My name which I have not commanded him to speak , or which he speaks in the name of other gods , that prophet shall die .' 21 "You may say in your heart , 'How will we know the word which the Lord has not spoken ?' 22 " When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord , if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken . The prophet has spoken it presumptuously ; you shall not be afraid of him.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Deuteronomy 18:9-22
Commentary on Deuteronomy 18:9-14
(Read Deuteronomy 18:9-14)
Was it possible that a people so blessed with Divine institutions, should ever be in any danger of making those their teachers whom God had made their captives? They were in danger; therefore, after many like cautions, they are charged not to do after the abominations of the nations of Canaan. All reckoning of lucky or unlucky days, all charms for diseases, all amulets or spells to prevent evil, fortune-telling, &c. are here forbidden. These are so wicked as to be a chief cause of the rooting out of the Canaanites. It is amazing to think that there should be any pretenders of this kind in such a land, and day of light, as we live in. They are mere impostors who blind and cheat their followers.
Commentary on Deuteronomy 18:15-22
(Read Deuteronomy 18:15-22)
It is here promised concerning Christ, that there should come a Prophet, great above all the prophets; by whom God would make known himself and his will to the children of men, more fully and clearly than he had ever done before. He is the Light of the world, John 12:48. Woe then to those who refuse to hearken to His voice, to accept His salvation, or yield obedience to His sway! But happy they who trust in Him, and obey Him. He will lead them in the paths of safety and peace, until He brings them to the land of perfect light, purity, and happiness. Here is a caution against false prophets. It highly concerns us to have a right touchstone wherewith to try the word we hear, that we may know what that word is which the Lord has not spoken. Whatever is against the plain sense of the written word, or which gives countenance or encouragement to sin, we may be sure is not that which the Lord has spoken.