John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 3. Thou shall not hearken to the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams , etc.] Even though he does give the sign, and work the wonder; for it might be reasonably concluded there must be fallacy in him, and that neither he nor his miraculous sign could come from God, who would never send a person to enable him to do signs and wonders, to persuade men to believe and act contrary to a former declaration of his mind and will; to break a plain law of his, as in ( Deuteronomy 5:7-9), this would be to contradict and deny himself; whatever therefore is contrary to a known law or established doctrine, either of law or Gospel, let it come from whom it will, or pretend to be confirmed by miracles, is not to be received; (see Galatians 1:8,9), for the Lord your God proveth you, whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul ; for should they be prevailed upon by such a prophet to hearken to his doctrine, and embrace it, and act according to it, it would be a plain case that they did not cordially love the Lord, since they could so easily, and by such pretences, be drawn aside from the true worship of him, and serve other gods; on the other hand, it would be a proof of their sincere affection for God, and of their close and strict attachment to him, that notwithstanding such specious pretences made, and such miracles wrought, yet abode by him and his worship, and could not be wrought upon to forsake him and follow other gods and serve them; (see 1 Corinthians 11:19).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-5 - Moses had cautioned against the peril that might arise from the Canaanites. Here he cautions against the rise of idolatry amon themselves. It is needful for us to be well acquainted with the truth and precepts of the Bible; for we may expect to be proved by temptations of evil under the appearance of good, of error in the guis of truth; nor can any thing rightly oppose such temptations, but the plain, express testimony of God's word to the contrary. And it would be a proof of sincere affection for God, that, notwithstanding speciou pretences, they should not be wrought upon the forsake God, and follo other gods to serve them.
Original Hebrew לא3808 תשׁמע8085 אל413 דברי1697 הנביא5030 ההוא1931 או176 אל413 חולם2492 החלום2472 ההוא1931 כי3588 מנסה5254 יהוה3068 אלהיכם430 אתכם853 לדעת3045 הישׁכם3426 אהבים157 את853 יהוה3068 אלהיכם430 בכל3605 לבבכם3824 ובכל3605 נפשׁכם׃5315
