John Calvin Commentary Deuteronomy 18:17

"And Jehovah said unto me, They have well said that which they have spoken." — Deuteronomy 18:17 (ASV)

They have well spoken. Moses relates how this desire of the people was approved by the judgment and the voice of God. This does not mean that whatever the foolish caprice of men might absurdly urge them to ask should therefore be immediately granted. Instead, when God’s consent and, so to speak, His vote coincides with it, then whatever He shows to be pleasing to Him should stand firm and inviolable.

Therefore, it follows that God, in sending the Prophets, provided for the salvation of men as was most beneficial. Moreover, He asserts that when pious teachers arise, who faithfully show the way of salvation, it is an extraordinary proof of His favor. He takes the praise to Himself when He repeats it again,²⁹⁶

“I will raise them up a Prophet” (Deuteronomy 18:18).

Paul also teaches this:

“And how shall they preach except they be sent?” (Romans 10:15).

The same Apostle also bears witness that no one will be found sufficient for this office, and that the power of teaching rightly is received from God (2 Corinthians 2:14 and 4:1). Therefore, it follows that God, by a certain evidence of His presence, declares His favor toward us whenever He enlightens with the gifts of His Spirit and raises up faithful and true teachers.

Moses afterwards reminds them that God so governs His Church through the work of men as not to detract from Himself; for He retains this as His attribute: to put into the mouths of His Prophets, so to speak, what they are to say; neither does He permit them to say or promote more than He has commanded.

So we perceive that pastors were appointed from the beginning, not so that they themselves should rule or subject the Church to their own fancies, but only to be instruments of the Holy Spirit. And those who in these days usurp greater power should be entirely deposed from their sacrilegious despotism.

²⁹⁶ S. M. says, in his note on this verse, “Some of the Hebrews understand by that Prophet, Joshua, who succeeded Moses as ruler; others think Jeremiah must be meant, who rebuked the people in the same terms as Moses had done. But Christians who devoutly assert that this passage speaks of Christ, confute the Jews by referring to what is said in the last chap. of Deut., — ‘There arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses,’ etc. This passage must be prophetic of some other remarkable Prophet who should not be inferior to Moses, especially as the text says, says, in his note on this verse, “Some of the Hebrews understand by that Prophet, Joshua, who succeeded Moses as ruler; others think Jeremiah must be meant, who rebuked the people in the same terms as Moses had done. But Christians who devoutly assert that this passage speaks of Christ, confute the Jews by referring to what is said in the last chap. of Deut., — ‘There arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses,’ etc. This passage must be prophetic of some other remarkable Prophet who should not be inferior to Moses, especially as the text says, like thee, ‘that as thou didst deliver the people from corporal bondage, so shall the prophet whom I will raise up for them deliver them from the bondage of sin.’” — ‘that as thou didst deliver the people from corporal bondage, so shall the prophet whom I will raise up for them deliver them from the bondage of sin.’” — W..