דברים, פרק י״ח, פסוק י״ט

The authority of a true prophet speaking in God's name is absolute, and disregarding his message carries heavy accountability directly before the Creator. The primary approach among commentators is that this responsibility extends beyond an ordinary person simply refusing to listen. Instead, it encompasses three distinct ways a prophetic message can be undermined. The first situation involves an individual who dismisses, ignores, or fails to precisely follow the prophet's instructions [תורה תמימה, בכור שור]. A person might naturally hesitate to obey, particularly if the prophet issues a temporary directive to suspend a standard Commandment. Therefore, the absolute obligation to follow the prophet's voice is firmly established to remove any doubt [רלב״ג].

The second violation occurs when a prophet receives a message from God but suppresses it, avoiding his duty to share the revelation with the public, similar to the story of Jonah. The third scenario involves a prophet who violates his own message, failing to practice the very instructions he commands others to follow in God's name [מלבי״ם, בכור שור, הכתב והקבלה]. The phrasing of the text is understood to subtly point to the prophet himself, expanding the concept of ignoring a message to include a prophet who withholds the prophecy or refuses to heed his own words [הכתב והקבלה, תורה תמימה, אדרת אליהו, נתינה לגר].

For any of these three offenses, God personally demands a strict accounting. The commentators agree that this divine retribution translates to death at the hands of Heaven, meaning God Himself will directly punish the offender for the refusal to comply [אבן עזרא, רלב״ג, רש״ר הירש, שטיינזלץ]. Furthermore, this severe consequence may extend beyond the individual sinner, potentially striking those among the people who follow his lead and are influenced by his actions [שפתי כהן].