Matthew Henry Commentary Deuteronomy 18
Matthew Henry Commentary
Deuteronomy 18
Matthew Henry Commentary
Deuteronomy 18
"The priests the Levites, [even] all the tribe of Levi, shall have no portion nor inheritance with Israel: they shall eat the offerings of Jehovah made by fire, and his inheritance. And they shall have no inheritance among their brethren: Jehovah is their inheritance, as he hath spoken unto them. And this shall be the priests` due from the people, from them that offer a sacrifice, whether it be ox or sheep, that they shall give unto the priest the shoulder, and the two cheeks, and the maw. The first-fruits of thy grain, of thy new wine, and of thine oil, and the first of the fleece of thy sheep, shalt thou give him. For Jehovah thy God hath chosen him out of all thy tribes, to stand to minister in the name of Jehovah, him and his sons for ever. And if a Levite come from any of thy gates out of all Israel, where he sojourneth, and come with all the desire of his soul unto the place which Jehovah shall choose; then he shall minister in the name of Jehovah his God, as all his brethren the Levites do, who stand there before Jehovah. They shall have like portions to eat, besides that which cometh of the sale of his patrimony." — Deuteronomy 18:1-8 (ASV)
Care is taken that the priests do not entangle themselves with the affairs of this life, nor enrich themselves with the wealth of this world; they have better things to attend to. Care is likewise taken that they do not lack the comforts and conveniences of this life. The people must provide for them. Anyone who has the benefit of solemn religious assemblies should contribute to the comfortable support of those who minister in such assemblies.
"When thou art come into the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found with thee any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one that useth divination, one that practiseth augury, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer, or a charmer, or a consulter with a familiar spirit, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For whosoever doeth these things is an abomination unto Jehovah: and because of these abominations Jehovah thy God doth drive them out from before thee. Thou shalt be perfect with Jehovah thy God. For these nations, that thou shalt dispossess, hearken unto them that practise augury, and unto diviners; but as for thee, Jehovah thy God hath not suffered thee so to do." — Deuteronomy 18:9-14 (ASV)
Was it possible that a people so blessed with Divine institutions could ever be in any danger of making those whom God had made their captives their teachers? They were in danger; therefore, after many similar cautions, they are charged not to follow 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, etc., 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 ours. They are mere impostors who blind and cheat their followers.
"Jehovah thy God will raise up unto thee a prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; according to all that thou desiredst of Jehovah thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of Jehovah my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not. And Jehovah said unto me, They have well said that which they have spoken. I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee; and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. 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. But the prophet, that shall speak a word presumptuously in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die. And if thou say in thy heart, How shall we know the word which Jehovah hath not spoken? when a prophet speaketh in the name of Jehovah, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which Jehovah hath not spoken: the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously, thou shalt not be afraid of him." — Deuteronomy 18:15-22 (ASV)
It is promised here concerning Christ that a Prophet would come, great above all the prophets. By Him, God would make Himself and His will known to the children of men more fully and clearly than He had ever done before.
He is the Light of the world (John 8:12). He is the Word by whom God speaks to us (John 1:1; Hebrews 1:2).
In His birth, He would be one of their nation. In His resurrection, He would be raised up at Jerusalem, and from there His doctrine would go forth to all the world.
Thus God, having raised up His Son Christ Jesus, sent Him to bless us. He would be like Moses, only above him. This prophet has come, even Jesus; He is He that should come, and we are to look for no other. The view of God which He gives will not terrify or overwhelm, but encourages us. He speaks with fatherly affection and Divine authority united.
Whoever refuses to listen to Jesus Christ shall find it is at his peril; He who is the Prophet is also to be his Judge (John 12:48). Woe then to those who refuse to listen to His voice, to accept His salvation, or yield obedience to His rule! But happy are those 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 with which to test the word we hear, so that we may know what word the Lord has not spoken. Whatever is against the plain sense of the written word, or which condones or encourages sin, we may be sure is not what the Lord has spoken.
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