Verses 1-18

Warnings against Temptations to Idolatry

The people are warned against three possible sources of temptation to idolatry, viz. the false prophet (Deuteronomy 13:1-5), an erring member of the family (Deuteronomy 13:6-11), and an apostate city (Deuteronomy 13:12-18). In each case the tempter or tempters must he put to death without mercy.

2. A sign or a wonder is not enough to establish the credentials of a prophet. If he seeks to turn the people from the worship of Jehovah, he confesses himself thereby a tempter to evil, and must be put to death: cp. Matthew 24:24; 2 Thessalonians 2:9; Revelation 13:13, Revelation 13:14.

6. Even should the tempter to apostasy be the nearest and dearest, no mercy must be shown to him (Deuteronomy 13:8): cp. the zeal of the Levites (Exodus 32:25-29) and of Phinehas (Numbers 25:7-8) and our Lord's words, Matthew 10:37; Luke 14:26. The same principle is enunciated in Matthew 5:29, Matthew 5:30.

12-18. An instance of this may be read in Judges 19, 20.

13. Men of Belial] RV 'base fellows' or 'sons of worthlessness.' Belial is nota proper name: cp. Deuteronomy 15:9 mg; Judges 20:13; RM 1 Samuel 25:25; 1 Kings 21:13;

16. The street is the open square or market-place of the city. The word rendered every whit is the same as that used to denote the 'whole burnt offering,' so that the clause may be translated 'as a whole burnt offering to Jehovah thy God.'

17. Cursed thing] RV 'devoted thing': see on Deuteronomy 7:26; Leviticus 27:26-29.