John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 18:13
Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God. Sincerely serve and worship him, faithfully adhere to his word, laws, statutes, and ordinances, and walk uprightly before him. read more
申命记 18:13 Cuvs
John Gill
John Calvin
John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 18:13
Verse 13 13.Thou shalt be perfect. He refers to the mutual obligation of that holy covenant whereby as on the one side He had pledged Himself to the Jews, so on the other He had made them His debtors, not to prostitute themselves to idols, or to hanker after strange religions, whereby men’s minds are led astray. This perfectness, then, is opposed to all those mixtures or corruptions which withdraw us from the sincere worship of the one true God; because the simplicity which retains us in... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 18:9-14
Spiritualism condemned. In the verses forming this paragraph, there are nine terms or phrases, each with its own special meaning, £ pointing to some pagan superstition, against which Moses is warning the people. The variety and number of such terms show us how great a bold a spurious "spiritualism" had upon the people. The phenomena connected therewith, however, present to us an aspect of history that is worthy of careful study. In some sort, the pagan customs of olden times connected... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 18:9-14
Divination forbidden. The process of divination, in its different forms here referred to—"divination," "observing the heavenly bodies," "enchantment," "witchcraft," "charming," "consultation of spirits," "sorcery," and "necromancy" was an effort to discover secrets by unwarrantable methods. It was man's longing for revelation undergoing degradation through the imaginations of men. It had been practiced by the predecessors in Canaan, and in consequence they were being cast out. The... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 18:9-14
Magic. I. A STERN PROHIBITION OF CANAANITISH PRACTICES . The practice of magic is known to have been extensively developed in ancient Egypt and Chaldea. Numerous indications occur of its existence among the Canaanites ( e . g . 1 Samuel 28:7-10 ). The lower kinds of magic are of rank growth in all barbarous and semi-civilized communities. The priests combine the functions of diviners, prophets, exorcists, thaumaturgists, physicians, and makers of idols and amulets. The... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 18:9-14
Gross superstition the alternative of true religion. The popular superstitions of every age are very seductive. Our only safeguard against them is complete loyalty to the living God. The indwelling Spirit is a Guide and a Defense. I. MAN GENERICALLY CRAVES TO UNRAVEL THE FUTURE . In every sane mind the inquiry arises, "What is beyond phenomena? What is to happen tomorrow?" The present enjoyment may satisfy animals; it does not satisfy man. He has a faculty that lives in... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 18:9-22
Moses was not only the leader and ruler of the people, he was also the medium through which God communicated with the people, gave them his laws, and conveyed to them his word and will. In this respect his place could be supplied neither by priest nor by king. In the prospect of his demise, therefore, there required to be instituted another office, that of a prophet, one who should be between God and the people, as the channel through which Divine communications might pass to them. This office... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 18:13
Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God . The word translated "per-feet" properly means entire , whole , answering to the Latin integer ; it is used only in a moral sense, and is best rendered by "upright;" the Israelites were to be upright and sincere with, i . e . in relation with, Jehovah their God. read more
Albert Barnes
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Deuteronomy 18:13
Perfect - As in Genesis 17:1; Job 1:1; Matthew 5:48. The sense is that Israel was to keep the worship of the true God wholly uncontaminated by idolatrous pollutions. read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 18:9-14
One would not think there had been so much need as it seems there was to arm the people of Israel against the infection of the idolatrous customs of the Canaanites. Was it possible that a people so blessed with divine institutions should ever admit the brutish and barbarous inventions of men and devils? Were they in any danger of making those their tutors and directors in religion whom God had made their captives and tributaries? It seems they were in danger, and therefore, after many similar... read more