Deuteronomy 18:12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Palladius: Indeed, you are correct, for the Divine Word commands us to detest these abominable practices. It is written: 'When you enter the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of those nations. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or witchcraft, who interprets omens, engages in sorcery, casts spells, or consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord' (Deuteronomy 18:9-12). It continues: 'You must be blameless before the Lord your God. The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice divination and to sorcerers. But as for you, the Lord your God has not permitted you to do so. The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to him' (Deuteronomy 18:13-16).

Cyril: Well said, my friend. Therefore, we shall not heed the interpreters of omens or the conjurers of the dead, nor shall we accept any truth from the flight of birds, whether they fly left or right, or to the east or west; such beliefs stem from extreme ignorance. Instead, we acknowledge Christ as the supreme leader who, for our sake, became like us, and from Him, as our prophet, we will receive the knowledge we require, remaining ever close to Him while firmly rejecting the falsehoods of demons. Just as the act of reviving and creating is inherent to God, so too, I believe, is the understanding of everything. His nature uniquely possesses the ability to fully comprehend the future and holds within Himself the complete understanding of all things. Does this not strike you as wise and true?

Palladius: Indeed, it does.

Cyril: We would sin against Him and tarnish His supreme glory if we were to claim that vile and unclean spirits have any share in what is gloriously adorned by Him. Those who think in such a foolish manner might even suggest that Satan possesses the power to create, attributing God-like qualities to him. This is not true wisdom, is it?

Palladius: Absolutely. The voice of Isaiah speaks against those who attribute God-like qualities to creatures, saying, 'Remember this, keep it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels. Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please' (Isaiah 46:8-10). Here, it is clearly indicated that there is no other true God but Him, who can proclaim what is to come before it transpires.

Cyril: That's right, Palladius. But I also wish to highlight the following: if we truly belong to those who aspire to live righteously according to the Gospel, how can we be lured by the temptations of false prophecies? If we lend credence to their claims as if they held any truth, would we not be implying that the words of our Savior are also false? For He said to the arrogant Jews, 'You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar, and the father of lies' (John 8:44). How could a liar ever communicate the truth? And how can one who does not remain steadfast in truth ever speak accurately? Thus, Palladius, is it not evident that by ascribing truth to the utterances of demons, we effectively call Christ a liar and assert that the truth speaks deceit?

Palladius: That seems quite accurate.

Cyril: Furthermore, Christ instructs us not to accept the words of unclean spirits, even if they ever attempt to present a truth that is not aligned with their nature.

Palladius: How is this the case?

Cyril: Have you not heard the holy Evangelists recounting that demons approached Christ, crying out: 'What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God' (Mark 1:24). He 'rebuked them and would not allow them to speak because they knew he was the Messiah' (Luke 4:41). One might justifiably inquire why Christ silenced them when they proclaimed the truth. This indeed serves our benefit, as it teaches us not to adhere to their words, even if they seem to proclaim the truth, for by intertwining falsehood with truth, they harm their listeners, much like one who tries to disguise bitterness with honey loses the genuine taste.

Palladius: Indeed, it is undoubtedly perilous to heed the charms of soothsayers.

Cyril: But what do you say about regarding practices such as purification through fire and water with friendly disdain, viewing them as instruments of Hellenic idolatry?

Palladius: Absolutely. The Divine revelation explicitly warns us: 'Anyone who sacrifices a child to Molech is to be put to death' (Deuteronomy 18:10).

Cyril: How good it is that the law has declared this, forbidding us from such practices! This notion is fundamentally foolish and lacks reason. How can fire possess any utility for us? In what way can torches quickly circulated remedy a sinner? The impurities of metals may be burned away by fire, but how can it cleanse an unclean heart or soul? Is this not absurd, and merely an invention of idle fancies?

Palladius: Very much so.

Cyril: I feel compelled to address those esteemed Hellenes who propagated these shameful customs: what do you mean, wise and noble men, when you torment Titius, whom you deem to be born of the earth, in hell, torturing him with kites to gnaw at his liver for being ensnared by lust? Why do you claim that Tantalus is condemned to suffer under a stone, sharing tales of his punishment for his uncontrolled words? Why do you bind Ixion to an eternally turning wheel, stating he endures that fate for deceiving your gods, while you liberate yourselves and others, riddled with the most grievous vices, from suffering through fires or branches from laurel or olive trees, thereby absolving even the most corrupt individuals of their transgressions? Explain to me, why do you impose relentless punishment on Titius and the others named for lacking fire? According to your narratives, Prometheus, the famed thief of fire, if he even existed, bore the use of fire solely for men while being bound inescapably, and likewise, hungry kites were said to torment him, just as with Titius. Should we not administer purification by fire not only to them but also to those who have acted violently in their desires towards your daughters, wives, or the wives of outsiders, and do what they should not? Should they not also be absolved of guilt by this same means and escape judgment for their offenses? In contrast, the courts are quick to execute sentences, and the law, which reviles crime, holds those of you who lead the most shameful lives exempt from all defilement, amused by frivolous distractions and utilizing the most unfit of men, who reject both manly speech and the proper conduct of men, embracing the customs and thoughts of women. How, then, could such a person be cleansed? If you were so inclined, you might be seen as one attempting to perfume himself with sweet fragrances yet thinking he achieved goodness while covered in filth.

Palladius: You speak truthfully, and I concur with your assessment.

Cyril: I shall refrain from commenting further on their madness and shall not speak of the purification rituals for the present, but I wish to return to the central matter: indeed, one can justifiably accuse idolaters of living a life filled with ignorance and folly, failing to grasp the true notion of purification and the nature of true defilement. Adultery, and even more depraved passions such as sodomy and murder, along with envy, deceit, false prophecies, and untruthful oaths, are the true defilements that taint the soul and body, impossible to cleanse. Neither the heat of fire nor the cleansing waters can wash these away. They remain oblivious to the fact that their vices desecrate their inner selves while exhibiting dread of a decomposing corpse and creating aversion towards it, neglecting the laws of nature. They even regard the food they consume as irrational, and if they touch such things by accident, they quickly distance themselves, seeking purification through fire or water, as if merely avoiding contact would render them holy and pure. So deeply entrenched in this notion are they, which aptly reflects that 'Woe to you, hypocrites! For you strain out a gnat but swallow a camel' (Matthew 23:23-24). They fear what presents no harm while neglecting actual defilements, and should one of them approach a gravestone, he removes his garments, shaves his head, and cuts his hair, fearing it has become tainted. Moreover, incantations and whisperings, an occupation of the superstitious, may also be noted as a form of sorcery. Here, even Divine Moses elucidated the higher laws, consistently contrasting these misconceptions and associating incantation with poisoning, stating, 'Let no one be found among you who practices divination, soothsaying, wizardry, sorcery, or who invokes the dead' (Deuteronomy 18:10-11). Although such spells are vile, inexplicably, some individuals regard it with esteem, claiming that those who perform such acts, while invoking the name of the Lord, affirm the acceptability of this practice. They wander into darkness with such empty reasoning, the most grievous point being that, in invoking the 'Lord of hosts,' we direct our prayers to the Almighty, intending to honor Him alone, and do not assign this title inappropriately, acknowledging the one true Lord of Hosts. Some regard it as a minor and frivolous issue to attribute this exalted name to whoever they wish to amuse with demons, while those claiming to perform miracles dishonor the one who truly deserves such glory by engaging in the most atrocious of deceptions. The legion of demons remains ever hostile to God. Thus, we should avoid being ensnared by their deceptive counsel, nurturing as much distance from them as possible, and turning our ears away from those wicked healers and miracle workers, who demand rewards for their nonsensical charms. Yet, if you have any ailment within you, earnestly believe that invoking names such as 'Lord of hosts,' as assigned in the Holy Scriptures, could result in healing, then pray these words for yourself, and you will accomplish far better than they by praising God and not unclean spirits. Let me remind you of the Holy Scriptures: 'Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the Church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up; if they have sinned, they will be forgiven' (James 5:14-15).

Palladius: Therefore, let us categorize divination through birds and incantations as among those things condemned by the law and deemed most shameful and abominable in the eyes of God.