The Prophet of Deuteronomy: Who is it?
In the Book of Deuteronomy, Moses mentions a future Prophet like him that would come from the Israelite nation and Moses commanded that the people follow him.
The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him. (Deut. 18:15)
However, the prophet is not named, inspiring discussion of who this prophet is. Moses mentions that God would raise up this prophet and that this prophet would be like him (Moses). Moses then mentions the Israelite concern about the Voice of God and the great fire:
16 For this is what you asked of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, “Let us not hear the voice of the Lord our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die. (Deut. 18:16)
God then promised the Israelites an alternative to The Voice and the great fire.
17 The Lord said to me: “What they say is good. 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. He will tell them everything I command him. (Deut. 18:17-18)
Then the Israelites are warned about those who do not follow the coming prophet in addition to those who falsely claim to be the promised prophet:
19 I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name. 20 But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, is to be put to death. (Deut. 18:19-20)
There were many false prophets in the Israelite nation who would come in the future and God was warning about these individuals who claimed to be prophets but were not. Then the Israelites were told how to distinguish between a false prophet and a genuine prophet.
21 You may say to yourselves, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?” 22 If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed. (Deut. 18:21-22)
During the time of Jesus, it is known that there were many false prophets and many individuals claiming to be Jesus. Therefore, the reference to false prophets given in Deuteronomy gives stronger evidence that the coming prophet discussed is Jesus Christ. Christians also believe Jesus to be more than a prophet and to be the Messiah and Son of God, however, he was at least a prophet. The Law of God was given through Moses, just like the laws and the Gospel of the New Covenant were given through Jesus Christ. Jesus also came to fulfill the law and the prophets (Matthew 5:17-18).
Peter speaks of the promised prophet of Moses from Deuteronomy in Acts 3:22 and basically repeats Deuteronomy 18:15.
22 For 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)
Acts 7:37 also has a reference to the promised prophet.
Some researchers point to the possibility of Joshua being the intended prophet, however further investigation leads otherwise. Joshua did come after Moses and led the Israelite nation but was not of the same stature as Moses, who saw and spoke with God face to face, unlike the future prophets after Moses and before Jesus. The author of Deuteronomy describes that there had been no prophet in Israel like Moses.
10 Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, 11 who did all those signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. 12 For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel. (Deut. 34:10-12)
Another reference is Matthew 17:5: which reminds of the reference to the Deuteronomy 18:15 verse that includes, "...listen to him."
5 While he (Peter) was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him. (Deut. 18:15)
However, the prophet is not named, inspiring discussion of who this prophet is. Moses mentions that God would raise up this prophet and that this prophet would be like him (Moses). Moses then mentions the Israelite concern about the Voice of God and the great fire:
16 For this is what you asked of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, “Let us not hear the voice of the Lord our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die. (Deut. 18:16)
God then promised the Israelites an alternative to The Voice and the great fire.
17 The Lord said to me: “What they say is good. 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. He will tell them everything I command him. (Deut. 18:17-18)
Then the Israelites are warned about those who do not follow the coming prophet in addition to those who falsely claim to be the promised prophet:
19 I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name. 20 But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, is to be put to death. (Deut. 18:19-20)
There were many false prophets in the Israelite nation who would come in the future and God was warning about these individuals who claimed to be prophets but were not. Then the Israelites were told how to distinguish between a false prophet and a genuine prophet.
21 You may say to yourselves, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?” 22 If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed. (Deut. 18:21-22)
During the time of Jesus, it is known that there were many false prophets and many individuals claiming to be Jesus. Therefore, the reference to false prophets given in Deuteronomy gives stronger evidence that the coming prophet discussed is Jesus Christ. Christians also believe Jesus to be more than a prophet and to be the Messiah and Son of God, however, he was at least a prophet. The Law of God was given through Moses, just like the laws and the Gospel of the New Covenant were given through Jesus Christ. Jesus also came to fulfill the law and the prophets (Matthew 5:17-18).
Peter speaks of the promised prophet of Moses from Deuteronomy in Acts 3:22 and basically repeats Deuteronomy 18:15.
22 For 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)
Acts 7:37 also has a reference to the promised prophet.
Some researchers point to the possibility of Joshua being the intended prophet, however further investigation leads otherwise. Joshua did come after Moses and led the Israelite nation but was not of the same stature as Moses, who saw and spoke with God face to face, unlike the future prophets after Moses and before Jesus. The author of Deuteronomy describes that there had been no prophet in Israel like Moses.
10 Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, 11 who did all those signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. 12 For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel. (Deut. 34:10-12)
Another reference is Matthew 17:5: which reminds of the reference to the Deuteronomy 18:15 verse that includes, "...listen to him."
5 While he (Peter) was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
