ENTICEMENT TO IDOL WORSHIP In the previous chapter he spoke firmly and openly against those who persist on idolatry. Now, being impartial, God speaks against the Israelites who entice their brethren to idolatry. The prophet Mosses deals with this negative aspect of the first commandment, concerning demolishing every trace of idolatry. If it seems too harsh, let us remember that the earth, to be purified, Canaanite idolaters had to be utterly destroyed. And every Israeli, who falls into the same transgression had to meet the same destiny. The Canaanite worship was based upon divination, magic etc., things that were utterly banned by God. That is why, having spoken of demolishing every trace of idolatry, to prepare the atmosphere for worshipping the living God alone; he deals with the subject of false prophets, and those who entice others toward idolatry, whether those who performed signs and miracles, or were close relatives or even represented a whole city. After concentrating on the holy sacrifice in the temple of the one Lord, he warns us against the sources of diversion, as it is fitting for us to bear the spirit of discernment that keeps us from being deceived by them. These sources are: 1. False prophecy (1-6): In every era there are false prophets who deceive the simple people by performing signs and wonders, like what the magicians in the days of Moses did (see 2 Thessalonians 2:9; Matthew 24:23-25; Revelation 13:13-14). 2. Family or blood-relatives (7-11): Like what happened with king Solomon, who followed the gods of his foreign wives. We should, without hesitation, cut off any relationship that may interfere with our eternity. 3. Collective diversion (12-18): Many among us, may tend to be diverted under collective pressure, so as not to be accused of being odd. St. Athanasius the Apostolic, believing that he was doing the work of God, strongly proclaimed: [I am against the world.] Although we should love everyone, and be compassionate to all, yet we should not let ourselves be swept by any current; but should keep committed to walk according to the principles of our holy mission. 1. The false prophet 1–5. 2. The enticing relative 6–11. 3. The enticing town 12–18. Ways of enticement: Some believe that the prophet Moses, in this chapter, presents the following three ways of enticement that work in every era to destroy faith: a. The philosophies of atheists: The atheist philosophers, like the false prophets, present their philosophies in attractive and sweet ways, which are similar to the signs and wonders that deceive the simple. b. The corrupt social and family atmosphere draw man away from the living fellowship with God. c. The public opinion: When man bows before the prevailing view, to spare himself from being counted as an odd member of the society; even when this view is destructive to his eternity. 1. THE FALSE PROPHET “If prophets or those who divine by dreams appear among you and promise you omens or portents; and the omens and the portents declared by them take place, 7 and they say, ‘Let us follow other gods’ (whom you have not known) ‘and let us serve them,’ you must not heed the words of those prophets or those who divine by dreams; for the Lord your God is testing you, to know whether you indeed love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul” (Deut. 13:1-3) The false prophet was a familiar character in the Old Testament, and is still familiar in the New Testament, serving the devil, enticing men toward evil (Matthew 24:24; Revelation 19:20); claiming to receive divine proclamations in some way or another; like through dreams; and confirming his claim by doing signs and deceiving wonders. Having received the Law, it was not difficult for the people to expose the false prophets. The word of God is capable of distinguishing between the true prophet and the false one. Whereas, doing signs and wonders are not the right measures of their authenticity, as they are often deceiving. Do not marvel at the possibility of having some persons among the people who claim to be prophets, and are capable of performing signs and wonders, to divert believers away from the truth. That is why the prophet Paul warns us, saying: “If we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that one be accursed” (Galatians 1:8). “For false Messiahs and false prophets will appear and will produce great signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, even the elect” (Matthew 24:24). And “Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14), to deceive the believers. The Lord Christ Himself warns us, saying: “Then, if anyone says to you, ‘look! Here is the Messiah,’ or, ‘There he is!’ – do not believe it. For false Messiahs and false prophets will appear and produce great signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. Take note, I have told you beforehand” (Matthew 24:23-25). St John Chrysostom says: [He is speaking here about the antichrist, the false Messiahs and prophets, who appeared even in the days of the apostles, and will appear more often before the second coming of the Lord Christ.] The antichrist and his followers use every deceitful way possible, producing signs and omens. The life of virtue in the Lord, and not the signs, distinguishes between those who are with Christ and who are against Him. And according to St. Augustine: [The Lord warns us that the wicked can produce certain miracles that even the saints cannot produce. And yet, it is not because of them that they are counted better before the Lord.] God allows for the appearance of false prophets to test the believers, in order to be justified, and be crowned, for loving Him from their whole heart and their whole soul. He warns us against following the false prophets and the diviners with false dreams, and against giving them our ears: “You must not heed their words;” in order to avoid the fall of our mother Eve, who gave her ears to the serpent. In time of temptations, it is fitting for us to say together with the Lord Christ: “Away with you Satan!” God seems here like an able Physician who, realizing that a false prophet is like a cancer cell that, if left in the body would completely destroy it; He takes the decision to cut it off. King Ahab and his wife Jezebel, because they were left among their people, they ended up drawing thousands of them to idolatry, to fall under the divine verdict; to be killed, or to become humble slaves to the Assyrians, who treated them like animals. Was it not better to stone those false prophets to spare the people all that destruction?! Somebody may say: ‘what should we do? These diviners and magicians often 8 reveal to us real signs concerning the future! The Holy Bible warns us against such people, and advices us saying: ‘You must not heed these prophets, even if they seem as though they tell the truth,’ “for the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you indeed love the Lord your God” (3)1. Fr. Caesarius of Arles Many refer the name of Christ to themselves, to deceive, if possible, even the believers. Fr. Theophlactius Then, the devil will act with his full might through the antichrist, in an amazingly vain way… deceiving the dead senses by performing actual wonders, to lead people astray from the truth, counting them as divine works. St. Augustine Christ is the Truth; and the antichrist is against it. Christ is the Wisdom, whereas the antichrist, efficiently, bears the appearance of wisdom. All the excellent things apply to Christ, whereas all the deceitful virtues, apply to the antichrist. Every kind of goodness expressed by Christ for the edification of believers, the devil will find some fooling way to imitate it to deceive them2. Origen The antichrist (and the false prophets) corrupts the concepts of the Holy Bibles, to make the desolating sacrilege stand in the holy place of the Lord (Matthew 24:15). By the ‘holy place’ is meant, everything written in the Holy Bible, spoken by the prophets from Moses to the evangelists and the apostles. In this holy place of the Holy Bibles, the antichrist mostly stands; the vain word is ‘the desolating sacrilege3’. Origen. Saying “God Himself tempts no one” (James 1:13) does not imply that God tempts no one by all kinds of temptations; but He does not by certain kinds. It is written, “The Lord is testing you” (Deut. 13:3); but not by the kind of temptation that leads us to sin; but by the one that tests our faith. What does he mean by Saying; “to know” does not imply that God needs to test us, in order to know. But it means to let us discover ourselves what is inside us. But at all events that Scripture, “The Lord your God proves you, that He may know whether you love Him,” cannot be taken in any other sense, then, that you by Him may know, and that it may be made evident to yourselves, what progress you have made in His love4. It means that He makes us “know5.” Again, saying: “Rise up, O Lord” (Psalm 3:7), means ‘Make us rise up.’ Likewise, saying: “Even the Son does not know that day,” does not imply that He is not aware of it; but that He would not reveal it to those who do not yet know it6. St. Augustine Thus, on the negative aspect, we should refrain from listening to this foreign voice; whereas on the positive aspect, he says: “The Lord your God you shall follow; Him alone you shall fear; His 1 Sermon 54:3. 2 Comm. On Matthew, 32. 3 Commentary on Matthew, 42. 4 St. Augustine: On Ps. 5. 5 St. Augustine: On Ps. 6. 6 St. Augustine: On Ps. 6. 9 commandments you shall keep; His voice you shall obey; Him you shall serve; and to Him you shall hold fast” (Deut. 13:4). So we should dedicate our life to the fellowship with God, by following Him, fearing Him, keeping His commandments, and sanctifying our ears to listen to Him. Here, the extent of the crime becomes apparent, when He commands putting to death the criminal himself; to save the faith of the others. “But those prophets or those who divine by dreams shall be put to death for having spoken treason against the Lord your God – who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery – to turn you from the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk. So you shall purge the evil from your midst” (Deut. 13:5) Because it was difficult for the people to discern between the illness and the ill; when the illness has gone too far, and has become extremely contagious, the ill should be put to death, to avoid having more victims Considering the false prophet as a public enemy of the people, a traitor to the country and to God, the King of kings, he should be stoned to death. In the Old Testament, God warned His people against the false prophets. And in the New Testament, He connected the appearance of false prophets and false Messiahs to the end of days (Matthew 24:11; 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Peter 2:1); And said that signs and omens will be deceiving (Matthew 24:24; 2 Thessalonians 2:9, 10). The false teachers were included among the list of false prophets (Matthew 7:15; 2 Peter 2:1). Because of the great thirst of mankind for knowledge, and seeking to know something new, they unwisely fall in their deceit (Ephesians 4:14). Prophets are tested through the Law and the word of God (Isaiah 8:20); and, according to St. John the beloved, we should “test the spirits” (1 John 4:1). If their teachings are contradictory to the word of God, they should be rejected. “Do not receive into the house or welcome anyone who comes to you and does not bring this teaching; for to welcome is to participate in the evil deeds of such a person” (2 John 10, 11). 2. THE ENTICING RELATIVE As the pestilence of idolatry has been far too serious, the Law commands putting to death anyone who entices it, whatever close his relationship or friendship is. It is fitting for the believer to make his position clear: Is he on the side of God or on the other side?! Although God counts our love for others as though it is for Him; yet, if this love makes us loose our fellowship with God, we shall have to choose between either of them. By the same spirit: “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:37). “Whoever comes to Me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:26). “If someone secretly entices you – even if it is your brother, your father’s son or your mother’s son, or your own son or daughter, or the wife you embrace, or your most intimate friend – saying: ‘Let us go worship other gods, whom neither you nor your ancestors have known, any of the gods of the peoples that are around you, whether near you or far from you, from one end of the earth to the other, you must not yield or heed any such persons. Show them no pity or compassion and do not shield them. But you shall surely kill them; your own Hand shall be first against them to execute them, and afterwards the hand of all the people. Stone them to death” (Deut. 13:6-10) The ‘brother’ in Hebrew is any relative. In our days, we notice how family 10 relationships may entice many to apostasy; and how temptations may attack us even through our own households. “Your mother’s son,” not only him who is like a brother to you, but even your own flesh and blood. “The wife you embrace;” namely, the wife to whom you are committed to embrace and protect. “Your intimate friend;” the word ‘friend’ in Hebrew means in whose company you find joy and pleasure. It is not strange to speak of the brother, the sister, the son, the daughter, or the friend, who secretly tries to entice man to sin; as the devil has previously used Eve to entice her man Adam; and thought that he was also capable of doing the same to Jesus Christ through His disciple Peter. Enticement to evil turns a relative into an enemy, as he becomes a soul killer. Those whom we love and cherish, if they misuse this love, enticing us to the perdition of our souls; they turn into enemies who draw us to fatal sins. Whoever accuses a relative or friend of enticing another to idolatry, would have to start stoning him. First to bear the responsibility before God that he is true in accusing him, and secondly to proclaim that God comes before any relative or friend, is above everyone. “For trying to turn you away from the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” Then all Israel shall hear and be afraid, and never again do any such wickedness” (Deut. 13:10, 11) Although the enticement might be secret (6), yet the punishment should be public (10), to become a lesson to whoever entices others in secret, and to make it clear that this new ordainment will be strictly followed in the new land (see also Act 5:11). 3. THE ENTICING TOWN What if a whole city rebelled against the covenant with God, and served foreign gods? “If you hear it said about one of the towns that the Lord your God is giving you to live in that scoundrels from among you have gone out and led the inhabitants of the town astray, saying: ‘Let us go and worship other gods,’ whom you have not known, then you shall inquire and make a thorough investigation. If the charge is established that such an abhorrent thing has been done among you, you shall put the inhabitants of that town to the sword, utterly destroying it and everything in it – even putting its livestock to the sword. All of its spoil you shall gather into its public square, then burn the town and all its spoil with fire, as a whole burnt offering to the Lord your God. It shall remain a perpetual ruin, never to be rebuilt. Do not let anything devoted to destruction stick to your hand” (Deut. 13:12-17) It is to be noticed: (1) He says “One of the towns;” namely, a town in Israel. We do not have to judge those outside, as according to the apostle Paul: “For what have I to do with judging those outside? Is it those who are inside that you are to judge? God will judge those outside” (1 Corinthians 5:12, 13). The town that used to worship the living God, then wholly diverted to idolatry, tends to become an offense to the other Israeli towns. And as the apostle St. Peter says: “It would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than; after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment that was passed on to them” (2 Peter 2:21). 11 (2) He calls some of those men who enticed the people “scoundrels” (corrupt or perverted men) as they were in the episode of Gibeah (Judges 19:22; 20:13), or sometimes translated as ‘the sons of Belial;’ those who have neither the fear of God, nor of people; who oppose their conscience and break the laws. The apostle says: “What agreement has Christ with Belial?” (2 Corinthians 6:15); Putting ‘Belial’ in the place of the devil, makes his children ‘the devil’s sons.’ Thus, those people have become a corrupt leaven that in turn corrupted the whole dough, to bear the corrupt nature of the devil. The Holy Bible warns us against the wicked ones, saying: “One sinner destroys much good” (Ecclesiastes 9:18); and: “Bad company ruins good morals” (1 Corinthians 15:33). (3) As it concerns the destruction of a whole town, it has to be well investigated to make sure of the real facts. When God intended to destroy Sodom, He said: “I must go down and see…” (Genesis 18:21) Some Jewish scholars say that when an individual is accused of enticing someone to idolatry, he is to be judged before a minor tribunal. Whereas if it is a town that is accused of this offense, it is to be judged before the assembly of the Sanhedrim; which, would first dispatch two learned delegates to give counsel and advice. If the town in question receives their counsel well, and presents a true repentance, it would be pardoned, and left in peace; but if it persists on idolatry, they will have to make war against it and destroy it, in order to keep away its bad influence from infiltrating to other towns of Israel. (4) If there is a few believing minority, they would be allowed to get out of the town, before men, women, and children are put to the sword (15). All of its spoil would then be gathered into its public square; then the whole town and its spoil would be burned with fire; to remain a perpetual ruin, never to be rebuilt. (5) No one is allowed to take anything of the spoil of that town, as it is accursed (17); lest he would have the portion of Achan son of Carmi who took some of the devoted things, and the anger of the Lord burned against the Israelites (Joshua 7:1). (6) Every remnant of that sin should be removed, “so that the Lord may turn from His fierce anger” (17) as God is jealous, and counts the worship of foreign gods as a major crime. In the New Testament, God counts mixing the table of God and that of the devil, a great crime. “What pagans sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be partners with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. Or are we provoking the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?” (1 Corinthians 10:19-21) (7) God rewards those who turn back from this sin, as doing right in His sight: “So that the Lord may turn from His fierce anger and show you compassion, and in His compassion multiply you, as He swore to your ancestors, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God by keeping all His commandments that I am commanding you today, doing what is right in the sight of the Lord your God” (Deut. 13:17, 18) 12 AN INSPIRATION FROM THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY (Chapter 13) LET EVERY HAND THAT ENTICES ME BE BROKEN Your hand bears me as though to Your eternal bosom; Let every hand that draws me away from you be broken. If it is the hand of a false or a deceitful prophet that stretches to perform signs; It is your hand alone that can keep me; That will protect me from being snatched away from you. Let the hand of my brother, my sister, or any of my relatives be cut off; If it dares to misuse this relationship, To deprive me of enjoying my relationship with Him; As you are my Father, my Brother, my Sister, and everything to me. If the whole town deviates after vanity; And if the whole world is deceived after corruption; My soul remains faithful to you. You are above all. Let me acquire You, O Holy One. Even if I have to lose the whole world
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