Matthew Henry’s Modern English CommentaryDeuteronomy 13

Deuteronomy 13:1-5: Cautions Against Idolatry In this section, Moses warns the Israelites to be very careful about anyone who tries to lead them into idolatry, even if that person claims to be a prophet or performs signs or wonders. The main lesson is that God’s people must never let anyone, no matter how convincing, turn them away from worshipping the one true God. God sometimes allows these tests to see if His people truly love and obey Him.vv. 1-2: Moses presents a surprising scenario: someone among the Israelites might pretend to be a prophet and try to persuade the people to follow other gods (v. 1, 2 ). It seems hard to believe that someone with knowledge of God could act this way, but it can happen—even today, when people encourage others to worship God in the wrong way or honor saints and angels as if they were gods. It is also strange that this false prophet’s sign or wonder might actually happen, but Moses says the people must not believe him if he tells them to serve other gods. The truth about God must never be changed, no matter what miracles are claimed (Gal. 1:8; 2 Thess. 2:9 ).

v. 3: If such a test happens, it is allowed by God to see if the people really love Him with all their heart and soul (v. 3 ). God wants to know who is faithful, so He allows these situations to test their loyalty and faithfulness.

v. 4: Moses commands the people not to listen to the false prophet or even consider the temptation. Instead, they must walk after the LORD, keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and hold tightly to Him (v. 4 ). Staying close to God and following His ways protects them from being led astray. When faced with temptation, they should remember what is written: You shall walk after the LORD and cleave unto Him.

v. 5: The punishment for a false prophet who tries to turn the people away from God is death (v. 5 ). This is necessary both to punish the wrong and to stop the evil from spreading among the people. Removing the guilty person is called putting away the evil. If the community does not deal with the false prophet, they share responsibility for his actions. Taking action quickly prevents greater harm, just like cutting off a diseased limb to save the body.

Deuteronomy 13:6-11: Even Family Must Not Lead Us into Idolatry In this section, Moses gives more warnings about idolatry, focusing on what to do if someone close to us—like a family member or a dear friend—tries to secretly lead us away from God. The teaching is strong: we must always put God first, even above our closest relationships. The law here shows how serious it is to protect the worship of the one true God, even if the temptation comes from those we love most.vv. 6-7: Moses warns that the temptation to worship other gods can come from anyone, even a brother, a child, a wife, or a close friend (v. 6 ). The tempter may try to persuade us in secret, because idolatry is something done in darkness. They might say that everyone around them worships these other gods, so it seems normal. But Moses points out that these gods are not the ones known by their ancestors (v. 7 ). If someone grew up learning about the true God, they should remember their family’s faith and not turn away, even if others do.

v. 8: We must not give in to the temptation, even for the sake of pleasing a loved one (v. 8 ). The Bible says, If sinners entice thee, consent thou not (Prov. 1:10 ). We should never break God’s law to make friends or family happy.

v. 9: Not only should we refuse to join in, but we must also report the one who tries to lead us into idolatry (v. 9 ). The person who was tempted must act as a witness against the tempter, and be the first to punish him. This shows that protecting God’s honor comes before even our closest human relationships.

v. 10: The punishment for trying to turn someone away from the Lord

v. 11: The result of this strict punishment is that all Israel will hear about it and be afraid (v. 11 ). This fear is meant to stop others from committing the same terrible sin. When people see that even family ties cannot protect someone from punishment, they will take the warning seriously and avoid idolatry.

Deuteronomy 13:12-18: The Case of a City Led into Idolatry In this section, Moses describes what should be done if an entire city in Israel turns away from the Lord

v. 13: The people who lead the city into idolatry are called “children of Belial,” meaning they are lawless and reject all authority, even God’s (v. 13 ). These leaders tempt others to follow new gods and quickly the whole city can be influenced. The apostle Paul uses “Belial” as another name for the devil (2 Cor. 6:15 ).

v. 14: Before taking action, the leaders must investigate carefully (v. 14 ). They should not act on rumors, but should make a thorough search to be sure the city is truly guilty. God Himself showed this principle by investigating Sodom before judging it (Gen. 18:21 ). According to Jewish tradition, such a case was heard by the highest court and efforts were made to warn the city to repent first.

v. 15: If the city is found guilty and does not turn back, all its people and animals must be put to the sword (v. 15 ). This act is very severe, but it shows how dangerous idolatry is for the whole nation.

v. 16: All the city’s goods must be gathered in the center and burned, and the city itself must be destroyed and never rebuilt (v. 16 ). This shows that everything connected to idolatry must be completely removed.

v. 17: None of the destroyed city’s possessions may be kept by anyone (v. 17 ). Everything is devoted to the Lord

v. 18: God promises to show mercy to Israel and bless them if they listen to His commands and do what is right (v. 18 ). The destruction of one sinful city may save the rest of the land from God’s judgment. The New Testament reminds Christians not to join with idolaters, for this provokes God’s jealousy (1 Cor. 10:21, 22 ).