John Calvin Commentary Deuteronomy 17:12

"And the man that doeth presumptuously, in not hearkening unto the priest that standeth to minister there before Jehovah thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel." — Deuteronomy 17:12 (ASV)

He pronounces a similar punishment on those who stubbornly reject the judgment of the priests. We have already seen that the prophetic office was united with the priesthood, since, according to Malachi 2:4, the covenant of God was with Levi, that his descendants might be the guardians of His knowledge and the interpreters of His law. Yet God often punished the laxity of the priests by setting other teachers over His people. At any rate, both were ambassadors for Him. Since, therefore, the authority of the prophets had been sanctioned previously, the same rights are now conferred upon the priests. Nor is this surprising, for it was no trivial crime to despise God, the appointer of this order.

Yet we must remember what I have stated elsewhere: that the priests were not armed with tyrannical authority, so that it was sinful to reject whatever they might have decreed according to their own whim. For God neither dethroned Himself when He appointed them, nor did He bind men’s consciences to obey their ordinances without distinction. Instead, He only intended to put reins on the audacity of those who have no scruple in undervaluing the government of the Church. For this must be considered: the disorder would be foul and horrible if people were indiscriminately permitted to reject whatever the rulers of the Church might appoint. It would be ridiculous that people should be called to govern to whom no dignity is given. Therefore, natural reason itself shows and dictates that the reverence demanded here is due to all lawful commands.

God was the author of the priesthood; He, too, ordained judges. What could be more absurd than that those who presided in the name and by the command of God should be despised and laughed at with impunity? But He has never exalted a mortal man so high as to abdicate His own rights; indeed, it was often necessary boldly to reject what the priests had commanded. Urijah the priest built a profane altar in the style of the one at Damascus, which Ahaz had sent, and offered a sacrifice on it⁵⁵ (2 Kings 16:12). Was it necessary that Isaiah should acquiesce in this? No, detestable was the adulation of all who assented to the decree of a wicked and treacherous priest. Moreover, we see that the prophets were very often so far from agreeing with the priests, that they waged open war with them.

But the whole of this matter is decided by the words of Moses, for he does not unreservedly condemn all who do not obey, but restricts his law by the addition of a special mark, namely, if the contempt arises from presumption or arrogance. Therefore, disobeying the priest or the judge was not otherwise a capital crime, unless anyone insolently and proudly opposed himself to the ordinance established by God. Otherwise, this exception would have been introduced without reason. In short, the priests of old were to be obeyed, as far as it concerned public peace that the pastors ordained by God should be reverently honored, yet in such a way that there would be no departure from God Himself, the one Head and Prince of all pastors. We have seen elsewhere how foolishly the Papists apply this to themselves.⁵⁶

⁵⁵ “Ce vilein traistre Urie y offroit;” that vile traitor Urijah offered on it. — ;” that vile traitor Urijah offered on it. — Fr..

⁵⁶ “Combien les Papistes sont sots et badins, voulant faire leur profit de ce passage;” how silly and trifling the Papists are, in seeking to make their profit of this passage. — ;” how silly and trifling the Papists are, in seeking to make their profit of this passage. — Fr.