דברים, פרק י״ג, פסוק ד׳

It is deeply unsettling when an individual performing extraordinary wonders simultaneously urges people to abandon the ways of the Torah. It raises a profound question: how could heaven seemingly assist a lie? The success of such a person does not validate his message; rather, it serves as a piercing spiritual test of the people's loyalty. The directive to ignore this individual goes beyond merely refusing to follow his instructions. It is a demand to pay him no attention whatsoever—neither to investigate his claims nor to request a display of his abilities [ספורנו, מלבי״ם]. Because his message contradicts the absolute divine truth established at Mount Sinai, as well as basic logic, his position is inherently contradictory, making any examination of his signs pointless [רלב״ג, ביאור יש״ר]. Even if he were to perform an act as staggering as stopping the sun in its tracks [אדרת אליהו], or if he were to claim that worshipping idols is only a temporary necessity [רלב״ג], he must be entirely disregarded. No supernatural sign can ever override God's explicit, preexisting commands [חזקוני, שטיינזלץ].

However, a crucial distinction exists between a false prophet and a true one. A false prophet who advocates for idol worship or the permanent uprooting of a Commandment is committing a grave offense. In contrast, a verified true prophet may, in God's name, issue a temporary directive to suspend a Commandment—such as the prophet Elijah did at Mount Carmel—and in such cases, he must be obeyed [רמב״ן, ביאור יש״ר]. Furthermore, the rejection of the fraudster is carefully limited to the specific false prophecy itself. If the individual was previously established as a legitimate prophet, his earlier, true prophecies remain valid. Should he genuinely repent in the future and present a valid sign, he may be listened to once again [מלבי״ם, צפנת פענח, אדרת אליהו].

This raises the question of how a deceiver can perform wonders in the first place. The primary approach among commentators is that these events are not true miracles orchestrated by God. Instead, they are acts of sorcery, optical illusions, or glimpses of the future accessed through impure forces that God allows to exist in the world [ספורנו, רשב״ם, רלב״ג]. God does not perform miracles to support a falsehood. He simply allows the world to operate according to its established rules, permitting the fraudster temporary success while having already provided the Israelites with advance warning to protect them [אור החיים, שד״ל].

The underlying reason for this phenomenon is that God is actively testing the people. Because God is all-knowing, this test is not meant to reveal new information to Him; it is entirely for the benefit of those being tested [רמב״ן, טור, חזקוני]. The purpose is to draw their latent love for God out into the open, cementing their faith into a permanent character trait and ultimately increasing their spiritual reward [רמב״ן, ביאור יש״ר, ספורנו]. Remaining steadfast in the face of astonishing wonders, particularly during difficult times, demonstrates absolute love and devotion [העמק דבר, רש״ר הירש]. From another perspective, this test represents a temporary concealment of the Divine presence. This concealment is designed to push individuals to uncover deep reserves of dedication and awareness of God that remain dormant during ordinary, routine life. Successfully navigating this challenge ultimately elevates a person to a much higher level of spiritual connection [חומש קה״ת בשם החסידות].