The LORD Thy God Will Raise Up Unto Thee a Prophet (Deuteronomy 18:15)

2023-05-11

The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken... I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him. (Deuteronomy 18:15, 18-19)

Peter quoted this passage in Acts 3:22-23, applying it to our Lord. Jesus was like Moses (“like unto me”) in that He was an intercessor for the people and spoke to the people the word of God with authority. “And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret” (Luke 5:1). “And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes” (Matthew 7:28-29).

Jesus was also like a Hebrew man (“like unto thee”). Unlike them (and us!), He followed the Father perfectly: “he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.”

Those who rejected the authority of Moses were destroyed, such as Korah and his companions. His own sister Miriam, when she questioned him, was struck with leprosy. Rebelling against Jesus is met with greater damnation. “He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” (Hebrews 10:28-29).