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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 13:6-11

Further provision is made by this branch of the statute against receiving the infection of idolatry from those that are near and dear to us. I. It is the policy of the tempter to send his solicitations by the hand of those whom we love, whom we least suspect of any ill design upon us, and whom we are desirous to please and apt to conform ourselves to. The enticement here is supposed to come from a brother or child that are near by nature, from a wife or friend that are near by choice, and are... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 13:6

If thy brother, the son of thy mother ,.... A brother by mother's side, which is generally supposed to be the nearest relation, at least most out of question, so more liable to be regarded as being beloved: or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom ; most dearly beloved by him, as indeed each of these relations are by a man, there being none nearer or dearer to him: or thy friend, which is as thine own soul ; as dear to him as himself, and so strictly united in... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 13:6

If thy brother - or thy son - The teacher of idolatry was to be put to death; and so strict was this order that a man must neither spare nor conceal his brother, son, daughter, wife, nor friend, because this was the highest offense that could be committed against God, and the most destructive to society; hence the severest laws were enacted against it. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 13:6

Verse 6 6If thy brother, the son of thy mother. The punishment which he had commanded to be inflicted on false teachers, is now extended to each one of the people. For although it is a lighter offense in a private individual to draw others with him into error, both because his ignorance is excusable, and the profession of a teacher does not increase his responsibility, yet a falling away from religion, from whencesoever it arises, is intolerable to God. Only, those two points, to which we have... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 13:1-6

False prophets. In viewing the bearings of this passage on the credentials of revelation, two points should be observed. 1. The case supposed is one in which the prophet contradicts a revelation already received. 2. The prophet does not dispute the evidence of that earlier revelation. On the contrary, he admits it. He stands within the lines of it. He professes to speak under its authority. Yet he asks the people to violate its fundamental laws. This of itself was sufficient to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 13:1-18

Temptations to depart from God to be resisted at all costs. In the preceding chapter we had directions with regard to the worship of the true God. Here Israel is told what to do in case of temptation arising to worship false gods. The chapter in its entirety deals with this one topic. From it we might open up two main homiletic themes: The second, however, we reserve till we come to Deuteronomy 18:21 . The first, therefore, only, we deal with now. In doing this we must remember that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 13:1-18

Idolatry to be treated as a capital crime. This chapter relates to the Israelites themselves. As the government was a theocracy, idolatry in any form was treason against the Divine King, and justly punishable with death. The previous chapter (verses 29-32) affords timely warning against sinful curiosity about heathen practices; and in this chapter the people are warned against all who would tempt them towards idolatry. The three cases mentioned are worthy of separate study. I. THE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 13:1-18

God's executioners upon idolaters. No respecter of persons is God. The sin of all sins is idolatry, and such overt rebels against the supreme God shall be summarily punished, whether they be Amorites or Hebrews. As a rule, complete retribution is reserved for the future state; the full effect of evil ways is not seen in this life. Yet there are sins so flagrant—so mischievous in their present influence, that God employs his agents, personal or impersonal, to execute his verdicts promptly... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 13:6

Thy brother, the son of thy mother ; thy full brother, allied to thee by the closest fraternal tie. The wife of thy Bosom; the object of thy tenderest affection, Whom it is thine to protect and cherish (cf. Deuteronomy 28:54 , Deuteronomy 28:56 ; Micah 7:5 ). Thy friend, which is as thine own soul ; i . e . whom thou lovest as thyself. The word translated "friend" ( רֵעַ , for רֵעֶהֹ ) is from a verb which signifies to delight in, and conveys primarily the idea not merely... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 13:6-11

A second case supposed is that of temptation to apostasy proceeding from some near relative or intimate friend. Not only was this to be resisted, but no consideration of affection or bend of friendship was to be allowed to interfere with the stern sentence which doomed the tempter to death; on the contrary, the person tempted was to be the first to lay hands on the tempter and put him to death. This was to be done by stoning, and the person he had tried to seduce was to cast the first stone. read more

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