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W7. Believing or Advocating Unbiblical Doctrines & Paying Heed to Persons Who Do    [Make a Comment]

We are not to believe or advocate unbiblical (false) doctrines, nor pay heed to persons who do.

This precept is derived from His Word (blessed be He):

Key Scriptures

Numbers 15:38-40 (Maimonides RN47; Meir MN156; Chinuch C387)
Speak to the people of Isra'el, instructing them to make, through all their generations, tzitziyot on the corners of their garments, and to put with the tzitzit on each corner a blue thread. It is to be a tzitzit for you to look at and thereby remember all of ADONAI's mitzvot and obey them, so that you won't go around wherever your own heart and eyes lead you to prostitute yourselves; but it will help you remember and obey all my mitzvot and be holy for your God.

Deuteronomy 13:1-4(12:32-13:3)
Everything I am commanding you, you are to take care to do. Do not add to it or subtract from it. If a prophet or someone who gets messages while dreaming arises among you and he gives you a sign or wonder, and the sign or wonder comes about as he predicted when he said, 'Let's follow other gods, which you have not known; and let us serve them,' you are not to listen to what that prophet or dreamer says. For ADONAI your God is testing you, in order to find out whether you really do love ADONAI your God with all your heart and being.

Galatians 1:8-9
But even if we - or, for that matter, an angel from heaven! - were to announce to you some so-called "Good News" contrary to the Good News we did announce to you, let him be under a curse forever! We said it before, and I say it again: if anyone announces "Good News" contrary to what you received, let him be under a curse forever!

2 John 1:9-11
Everyone who goes ahead and does not remain true to what the Messiah has taught does not have God. Those who remain true to his teaching have both the Father and the Son. If someone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, don't welcome him into your home. Don't even say, "Shalom!" to him; for the person who says, "Shalom!" to him shares in his evil deeds.

Commentary

This Mitzvah is among others that command obedience to the Word of God, and is self-explanatory from its supporting Scriptures. It is noteworthy that both the Deuteronomy 13 and Galatians 1 Scriptures anticipate and warn us against prophetic individuals who may appear to us (even with signs and wonders) and proclaim doctrines that are contrary to the written Word, and to the Apostles' interpretation of the written Word. We are not to listen to, follow, or even be hospitable to such individuals. This Mitzvah amplifies our need to test all prophetic words (even our own) against Scripture.

Classical Commentators

Maimonides states that we are not to accept opinions that are contrary to the Torah. In fact, we are to put a fence around our minds, and not exercise freedom of thought that would take us in those directions. Meir agrees that we should constrain our thoughts and warns us against being drawn away from God by worldly attractions and by Satan who attempts to lead us into heresy. HaChinuch's emphasis is to warn against pursuits of the flesh.

NCLA: JMm JFm KMm KFm GMm GFm

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