John Calvin Commentary Deuteronomy 18:19

"And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him." — Deuteronomy 18:19 (ASV)

So far, I have reviewed The Supplements To The First Commandment, which relate to the Ancient Types and Legal Worship. The Commandment itself will always remain in force, even to the end of the world, and is given not only to the Jews but to us as well. But God formerly made use of the ceremonies as temporary aids; although their use has ceased, their utility still remains, because from them it more clearly appears how God is to be duly served, and the spirit of religion shines forth in them. Therefore, the whole substance is contained in the precept, but in the external exercise, as it were, the form to which God bound only His ancient people.

Now follow The Political Supplements⁵², by which God commands the punishments to be inflicted if His religion is violated. For political laws are not only enacted concerning earthly affairs—so that people should maintain mutual equity with each other and should follow and observe what is right—but also so that they should exercise themselves in the veneration of God.

For Plato also begins here when he lays down the legitimate constitution of a republic, calling the fear of God the preface of all laws. Indeed, no secular author has ever existed who has not confessed that this is the principal part of a well-constituted state: that all with one consent should reverence and worship God.

In this respect, human wisdom was certainly at fault, in that they deemed that any religion they might prefer was to be sanctioned by laws and by punishments. Yet the principle was a just one: that the whole system of law is perverted if the cultivation of piety is ignored by it.

But, while God commends the care and study of religion to the judge and commands that contempt for it should be publicly avenged, He at the same time guards against a common error: that they should not rush into severity with rash and inconsiderate zeal.

For, since the various nations, cities, and kingdoms foolishly invent their own gods, He propounds His own Law, from whose regulation it is sinful to deviate. Human legislators have wisely forbidden people from making private gods for themselves, but all this is vain unless the knowledge of the true God enlightens and directs them.

Therefore, God justly recalls His people to the doctrine He has delivered, so that whoever has defiantly despised it should be punished. But, since it would be insufficient for them to be instructed once in the proper worship of God by a written law unless daily preaching were added, God expressly furnishes His prophets with authority and denounces the punishment to be inflicted if anyone should violate it.

He had previously said that He would raise up prophets, so that the condition of His chosen people would not be worse than that of other nations. Therefore, since He had entrusted to them the treasure of true religion, so that they might be, as it were, its guardians, He now threatens with destruction whoever refuses to obey their commands. It is plain, however, from the expression “in my name,” that He is not speaking of all who might usurp the name of prophet, for it is equivalent to saying that they came from Him and advanced nothing without His command. For, although many may falsely present themselves in God’s name, this honorable distinction does not belong to them unless God ratifies it. But this is truly the characteristic of faithful and approved teachers: that they speak in the name of God. Thus, when Christ promises that where two or three are gathered in His name, there is He in the midst of them (Matthew 18:20).

He does not dignify with such great honor hypocrites, who with sacrilegious audacity usurp His name; but He speaks of the reality, as will also appear more clearly from the reverse law, which follows.

⁵² Les dependences, qui concernent la justice et la police — — Fr.