"Yes," declares the LORD, "I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and proclaim, 'The LORD declares it.'" “Yes,” declares the LORD,The Lord personally confirms His settled judgment against those who speak falsely in His name. Jeremiah’s message carries divine authority, not human opinion. Ezk 13:8 Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says… “I am against the prophets Many prophets in Judah promised safety and prosperity while the nation persisted in idolatry, injustice, and covenant rebellion. God stood against them because their words led His people away from repentance and prepared them for judgment unawares. Deu 18:20 But if any prophet dares to speak a message in My name… who wag their own tongues These men produced messages from their own desires and imaginations rather than from the counsel of the Lord. Their persuasive speech concealed spiritual rebellion and gave sinners confidence in a peace God had not promised. Ezk 13:2 Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel… and proclaim, ‘The LORD declares it.’” Claiming the Lord’s authority for invented words profaned His name and directly contradicted His revealed truth. Jeremiah had already exposed prophets who strengthened evildoers and assured Jerusalem of peace despite coming destruction (Jeremiah 23:14, 17). God’s opposition warns His people to test every claimed revelation by His Word and to receive only what He has truly spoken. Ezk 13:7 Haven’t you seen a false vision and spoken a lying divination… Persons / Places / Events 1. JeremiahA major prophet in the Old Testament, called by God to deliver messages of warning and hope to the people of Judah. 2. False Prophets Individuals in Jeremiah's time who claimed to speak for God but were actually delivering messages from their own imaginations. 3. The LORD (Yahweh) The covenant God of Israel, who is speaking through Jeremiah to denounce the false prophets. 4. Judah The southern kingdom of Israel, which was facing impending judgment due to its disobedience and idolatry. 5. Prophetic Declarations The false claims made by prophets who were not truly speaking on behalf of God. Teaching Points Discernment in ProphecyBelievers must exercise discernment when evaluating those who claim to speak for God. Not every message that is proclaimed in God's name is truly from Him. The Danger of False Prophecy False prophets can lead people astray, causing them to trust in lies rather than the truth of God's Word. This can have devastating spiritual consequences. Accountability for Words Those who speak on behalf of God are held to a high standard. It is crucial to ensure that one's words align with Scripture and the leading of the Holy Spirit. The Authority of Scripture The Bible is the ultimate authority for testing prophetic words. Believers should be well-versed in Scripture to discern truth from falsehood. God's Opposition to Deception God is actively against those who deceive others in His name. This underscores the importance of integrity and truthfulness in ministry. Bible Study Questions 1. What characteristics can help us identify false prophets today, and how can we apply these insights from Jeremiah 23:31 in our context?2. How does the warning against false prophets in Jeremiah 23:31 relate to the New Testament teachings on discernment and testing the spirits? 3. In what ways can we ensure that our own words and actions align with God's truth, especially when we are in positions of influence or leadership? 4. How can we cultivate a deeper understanding of Scripture to better discern between true and false teachings? 5. Reflect on a time when you encountered a message that claimed to be from God. How did you discern its authenticity, and what role did Scripture play in that process? Connections to Other Scriptures Deuteronomy 18:20-22This passage outlines the criteria for true and false prophets, emphasizing the seriousness of speaking presumptuously in God's name. Ezekiel 13:6-7 Similar to Jeremiah, Ezekiel condemns false prophets who claim to have seen visions and heard words from God that He did not give. Matthew 7:15-20 Jesus warns about false prophets, teaching that they can be recognized by their fruits, which connects to the discernment needed in Jeremiah's time. 1 John 4:1 Encourages believers to test the spirits to see whether they are from God, as many false prophets have gone out into the world.
People David, Israelites, JeremiahPlaces Babylon, Egypt, Gomorrah, Jerusalem, Samaria, SodomTopics Affirm, Affirmation, Behold, Declare, Declares, Making, Prophets, Says, Smooth, Tongue, Tongues, Wag, YetDictionary of Bible Themes Jeremiah 23:25-32Library Jehovah Tsidkenu: the Lord Our RighteousnessHaving introduced the doctrine of imputed righteousness, I proofed to map out my subject. First, by way of affirmation; we say of the text--it is so--Christ is the Lord or righteousness; secondly, I shall exhort you to do him homage; let us call him so: for this is the name whereby he shall be called; and thirdly, I shall appeal to your gratitude; let us wonder at the reigning grace, which has caused us to fulfill the promise, for have been sweetly compelled to call him the Lord our righteousness. … Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 7: 1861 Justification A Defence of the Doctrine of Justification, by Faith in Jesus Christ; A vision of Judgement and Cleansing Discourse on the Good Shepherd. Conversion --Varied Phenomena or Experience. The Trinity The Nature of Spiritual Hunger A vision of the King. Interpretation of Prophecy. Concerning Justification. The Providence of God The Lord's Prayer. The Unity of God Jehovah. The "I Am. " His Future Work A Preliminary Discourse to Catechising Repentance Its Instrument An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of the Eleventh Links Jeremiah 23:31 NIVJeremiah 23:31 NLT Jeremiah 23:31 ESV Jeremiah 23:31 NASB Jeremiah 23:31 KJV Jeremiah 23:31 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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