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After the general prohibition against involvement in pagan worship (12:29-31) Moses discussed three ways in which the temptation to idolatry was likely to come: through a false prophet (13:1-5), a loved one (vv. 6-11), or "revolutionaries" who had been successful in leading an entire town into apostasy (vv. 12-18). Miraculous signs alone were never meant to be a test of truth. Miracles happen in many religions because Satan uses false religions and false prophets to deceive the world (cf. 2 Cor. 11:13-15; Eph. 6:11; Rev. 12:9). So Moses warned the people that the standard for truth must never be a miraculous sign or wonder (or other areas of human experience). The standard of truth is the Word of God. A prophet's or a dreamer's prediction may come true. But if his message contradicted God's commands, the people were to trust God and His word rather than their experience of a miracle. If human experience seemed to contradict God's clear teachings the Israelites were to bow in submission to God's commands, for His Word is truth (cf. John 17:17).

The Israelites were to view each solicitation to idolatry as a test of their love for the Lord. Though there was always the danger that they might succumb to a temptation, with each successful resistance to sin their faith in and love for Him would grow stronger (cf. James 1:2-4). They were to love ... follow ... revere ... obey ... serve, and hold fast to Him (cf. Deut. 10:20; 11:22; 30:20). The death penalty for a false prophet was appropriate for if he would successfully seduce people into idolatry he would bring them under God's judgment (cf. 7:26). Killing a false prophet was a way to purge the evil from Israel. The need to maintain national purity was emphasized by Moses, for the commeand, "You must purge the evil," occurs nine times (13:5; 17:7, 12; 19:19; 21:21; 22:21-22, 24; 24:7).