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2014 March 31



Scenes from the Life of Christ Triptych, Central Panel (1440s)
Louis Alincbrot (Luis Alimbrot, Luis Alliincbrod) - (1400 or 1410 - c. 1463), (fl. between 1432 and 1463)
Northern Renaissance, Early Netherlandish Style
Museo del Prado, Madrid, Spain
Image Source: Web Gallery of Art


     Explanation: This chapter contains one of the greatest of the prophecies about Christ (verses 15-19). It identifies him as a prophet like Moses -- one who sees God face to face and who hears God's words directly, not by dreams or visions. The painting above depicts Christ among the doctors of the law at the age of twelve. Already, at this stage of his life, he began to proclaim what he had heard in person from eternity past from God the Father.
     Deuteronomy 18 contains the LORD's instructions about how the Israelites are to relate to the Levites, the gentile nations, and the prophets in their midst. Levites will have no inheritance in Israel; the LORD is their inheritance. They will be supported by receiving portions of certain sacrifices, including the firstfruits of the corn, wine, oil, and fleece of the sheep because they minister in the name of the LORD (1-5). If a Levites goes to a new city to minister, he shall receive the standard portions of the sacrifices, as he did in his former city (6-8). When Israel comes into the Promised Land they must not learn to do the abominations of the nations in their midst -- such as child sacrifice, or the various magical arts -- because these things are an abomination to the LORD (9-14). The LORD will raise up a prophet from their midst who is like Moses (who sees God face to face and who hears his voice directly, not through dreams or visions). This prophecy refers to Christ. To him they must pay heed, otherwise God will require their disobedience of them. But a prophet who speaks in God's name when God has not commanded him to speak, or a prophet who speaks in the name or other gods will die. An untrue prophet will be known by the failure of his prophecy to come to pass. They shall not be afraid of such a prophet (15-22).


Deuteronomy 18

     1 The priests the Levites, and all the tribe of Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel: they shall eat the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and his inheritance. 2 Therefore shall they have no inheritance among their brethren: the LORD is their inheritance, as he hath said unto them. 3 And this shall be the priest's due from the people, from them that offer a sacrifice, whether it be ox or sheep; and they shall give unto the priest the shoulder, and the two cheeks, and the maw. 4 The firstfruit also of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the first of the fleece of thy sheep, shalt thou give him. 5 For the LORD thy God hath chosen him out of all thy tribes, to stand to minister in the name of the LORD, him and his sons for ever.
     6 And if a Levite come from any of thy gates out of all Israel, where he sojourned, and come with all the desire of his mind unto the place which the LORD shall choose; 7 Then he shall minister in the name of the LORD his God, as all his brethren the Levites do, which stand there before the LORD. 8 They shall have like portions to eat, beside that which cometh of the sale of his patrimony.
     9 When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, 11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee. 13 Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God. 14 For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.
     15 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; 16 According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not. 17 And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken. 18 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. 19 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. 20 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. 21 And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? 22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.




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