The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 238

raises t be question of the 'l'nlne of miracles as credentials of revelation. That they ha,e a nlue is not disputed, but not as mere signs aud wonders. 'l'his will be best sc>c>n by contrasting the sign or wonder gi"Ven by this prophet with the evidence of the earlier re,elat.ion. If we take the Scripture account or the founding of the Mosaic di~prnsa(ion, it is impossible to question the magnificence and convincingnc~s of the displays of Divine power and holiness therein contained. In foundiug his disponsntions (lllosaic and Christi,m), God has not only gi"Vcn evidence, but an amount and kind of e,idence which put the source of the re,·ehtion-admitting the facts to be as stated- beyond all ca,il. For here, it is not merely the fact of miracle which is to be regarded, but the number, nature, magnitude, variety, spiritual quality of the supernatural eYents, in connection "·ith the self-evidencing divineness of the revelation itself. 'l'he difficulty as to whether the miracle pro,es the doctrine, or the doctrine the miracle, or in what proportions the two factors combine, bas little place in the actual evidences of rernlation. The two cannot be separated, either in thought or in fact. Grant the authenticity of the miracles of the Gospels or of the Pentateuch, and it will not be disputed that they originated with God, not with Beelzebub. To this mass of evidence, m·enrbelming in its sublimity and convincingness-evidence embracing the wonders of Egypt, the displays of God's power, love, and grace in the events of the Exodus, the miracles of the desert, the stupendous revelations of Sinai, etc.-the prophet opposes a few stray signs and wonders. \Vhich were the people to believe? Plainly, no sign or wonder would have justified an Israelite in believing a prophet whose teaching contradicted the first principles of his revelation; as no sign or wonder would justify us in belie,·inf! teachings contradictory of the first principles of ours. II. TrrE r.ISE OF FALSE PROPHETS IS TO BE A1''TICIPATED. (Ver. 1.) The passage takes it for granted that they will arise. They did arise in Old Testament times, and they will do so again. Their appearance is predicted in connection with "the; last days" (Malt. xxiL 11; 1 Tim.iv. I; 2 Pet.ii. I). "Signs and wonders"will not be wanting (Matt. xxiv. 24; 2 Thess. ii. 9, 10). False teachers are included under the category of false prophets (Matt. vii. 15; 2 Pet. ii. 1). They assert as the truth of God principles aud doctrines subversive of the revelation God bas given. The readiness of people to believe them arises from want of knowledge (Eph. iv. 14); from the itch for novelties (2 Tim. iv. 3); from a diseased craving for the marvellous-witness the credulity "displayed in connection with spiritualism (2 Thess. ii. 9-13); above all, from the adaptation of their teachings to the inclinat.ions of depraved hearts (2 'l'im. iii. 1-8). !11. THE RISE OF FALSE PROPHETS IS PERMITTED FOR TIIE SIFTII\G OF THE CHURCH. (, er. 3.) God has thus much to do with their appearance that be permits it as a means of proving and sifting the Church. The trial is a searching and real o~e. 'l'he plausibility of their errors may occasion, even to believers, much mental conflict. But out of this conflict they come forth strengthened and purified, with firmer bold upon the truth, and clearer insight into Scripture. Those willing to be deceived are, on the other band, led by the spirit of delusion. False prophets shake all but "the very elect" (Matt. xriv. 24). 'l'be heresies, schisms, controversies, etc., which have agitated the Church, with the teachings of antichristian philosophy and science outside of it, have always had this effect of sifting, while in the end they have subserved the progress of the truth. IV. THE TEACHING OF FALRE PROPHETS IS TO JlE REJECTED. 1. Their doctrine is to be tried by its conformity with the rule of faith (Isa. viii. 20). John bids .us "try the spirits,'' giving as the reason that "many false prophets are gone out mto the world" (1 John iv. 1). 2. Their doctrine, if found contradictory ~f Scripture, is to be unhesitatingly rejected. 3. Of old, the prophet whose teacbmgs struck at the foundations of the theocracy was to be put to death (ver. 5). 'l'his rule no longer applies. But it is the duty of the Church, in the exercise of her judicial functions, to deprive sncb a teacher of office and status in her minisLry (see also 2 John 10, 11).-J. o. Vers. 6-12.-God or our brother. Terribly stern is the duty here laid on the person enticed to idolatry. The law is adapted to an age of stern deeds, and to o people living under a stern dispensation. Yet, reflecting on the nature of the crime, on the constitution of the Jewish state, and on the issues to mankind which hung on the on. xtu. l -18.) TllE 1300:lr OF DEUTERONOMY. 233