Deuteronomy 13:5

Verse 5. Forger. Hebrew “dreamer,” to whom God reveals his secrets in the night, as he does to the prophet while he is awake.—Slain. Philo says, without any trial or delay; but the Rabbins allow that, although the impostor was not to receive an admonition, no ignorance being able to excuse him, as in other cases, he was to be brought before the Sanhedrim, at Jerusalem, and strangled. See Luc. 13:33. The Jews, it is thought, condemned our Saviour on the plea that he was a false prophet. Matthew 26:57. They commonly required before this condemnation, that a person should have assumed the character of a prophet, and not barely that he should have performed some wonderful work by his ingenuity. For if he only did the latter, and thereby endeavoured to withdraw the people from the service of the true God, he was punished as a seducer. They also refused to condemn one who had foretold evils, if they did not take place, because God, being merciful, might have pardoned those who did penance, ( Calmet.) as was the case with Jonas and the Ninivites. Bible.—But those who taught or did any thing contrary to the law, in quality of prophets, were in danger of condemnation, unless their great reputation might screen them from suspicion. Thus Elias offered sacrifice on Mount Carmel, without giving offence, 3 Kennicott. 18:23. If a true prophet bore witness to another, the latter might also claim respect. Calmet.—Yet though Saint John the Baptist had repeatedly commended Jesus Christ, the Jews did not hesitate to call him a seducer, and to put him to death. Bible.—The evil “one.” Syr. 1 Corinthians 5:13.