Catholic Commentary on Deuteronomy 18

"I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth." (Deuteronomy 18:18)

The Prophet Like Moses

The Levites and priests receive no land inheritance; the LORD is their inheritance. They live from the offerings of the people. Moses forbids every form of divination, sorcery, omens, witchcraft, and consulting the dead: these are detestable to the LORD and are the reason the nations are being dispossessed. Israel must be blameless before the LORD and not seek guidance from these sources. Then the great prophecy: I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him. I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name.

The test of a true prophet: if what they say does not take place, it is not from the LORD. The Acts of the Apostles applies this prophecy directly to Jesus: Moses said the LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you (Acts 3:22). The Catechism identifies the prophet like Moses as one of the clearest messianic prophecies in the Pentateuch, pointing to the one who speaks God's own words with the authority of the Son rather than merely the servant (CCC 64). Jesus is the prophet, the priest, and the king of Deuteronomy fulfilled in one person.

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, do not seek guidance from diviners, sorcerers, or those who consult the dead. The counsel available from God through prayer, Scripture, and the wise guidance of the Church is superior to everything the occult can offer, and it comes without the defilement of consulting what God has declared detestable. Go to the prophet like Moses. He is still speaking.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, the prophet like Moses whom the Father raised up, with his words in your mouth: we listen to everything you tell us. Speak your word into every situation where we are tempted to seek guidance from lesser sources. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

18
Provision for Priests and Levites
(1 Corinthians 9:1–18)
1 The Levitical priests—indeed the whole tribe of Levi—shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel. They are to eat the offerings made by fire to the LORD; that is their inheritance. 2 Although they have no inheritance among their brothers, the LORD is their inheritance, as He promised them.
 
3 This shall be the priests’ share from the people who offer a sacrifice, whether a bull or a sheep: the priests are to be given the shoulder, the jowls, and the stomach. 4 You are to give them the firstfruits of your grain, new wine, and oil, and the first wool sheared from your flock. 5 For the LORD your God has chosen Levi and his sons out of all your tribes to stand and minister in His name for all time.
 
6 Now if a Levite moves from any town of residence throughout Israel and comes in all earnestness to the place the LORD will choose, 7 then he shall serve in the name of the LORD his God like all his fellow Levites who stand there before the LORD. 8 They shall eat equal portions, even though he has received money from the sale of his father’s estate.
Sorcery Forbidden
(Acts 8:9–25)
 
9 When you enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. 10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire,* 18:10 Literally makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery, 11 casts spells, consults a medium or spiritist, or inquires of the dead. 12 For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD. And because of these detestable things, the LORD your God is driving out the nations before you.
 
13 You must be blameless before the LORD your God. 14 Though these nations, which you will dispossess, listen to conjurers and diviners, the LORD your God has not permitted you to do so.
A Prophet Like Moses
(Acts 3:11–26)
 
15 The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to him.† 18:15 Cited in Acts 3:22 16 This is what you asked of the LORD your God at Horeb ‡ 18:16 That is, Mount Sinai, or possibly a mountain in the range containing Mount Sinai on the day of the assembly, when you said, “Let us not hear the voice of the LORD our God or see this great fire anymore, so that we will not die!”
 
17 Then the LORD said to me, “They have spoken well. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. I will put My words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. 19 And I will hold accountable anyone who does not listen to My words that the prophet speaks in My name.§ 18:19 See Acts 3:23. 20 But if any prophet dares to speak a message in My name that I have not commanded him to speak, or to speak in the name of other gods, that prophet must be put to death.”
 
21 You may ask in your heart, “How can we recognize a message that the LORD has not spoken?” 22 When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD and the message does not come to pass or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.

*18:10 18:10 Literally makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire

†18:15 18:15 Cited in Acts 3:22

‡18:16 18:16 That is, Mount Sinai, or possibly a mountain in the range containing Mount Sinai

§18:19 18:19 See Acts 3:23.

Public Domain