View Jeremiah 23 in the note window.
Woe against wicked pastors, the scattered flock shall be gathered,
Christ shall rule and save them, ver. 1 - 8.
Against false prophets, ver. 9 - 32.
And mockers of the true, ver. 33 - 40.
2: That feed - They are said to have fed this people, because it was
their duty so to do.
5: Behold - Even the Jewish doctors, as well as the Christian
interpreters, understand this as a prophecy of the Messiah who is
called the branch, (Isa 4:2,53:2).
And here, he is called the righteous branch, not only because himself
was righteous, but because he maketh his people righteous.
Shall execute - Protecting the innocent, and defending his people
throughout the world, judging the prince of the world, and by his
spirit governing his people.
6: Judah - During the reign and kingdom of the Messiah the people
of God typified by Judah and Israel shall be saved with a spiritual
salvation, and God will be a special protection to them. And this - The
name wherewith this branch shall be called, shall be, The Lord our
righteousness. This place is an eminent proof of the Godhead of Christ,
he is here called Jehovah, and what is proper to God alone, namely to
justify, is here applied to Christ. He who knew no sin, was made
sin, (that is, a sacrifice for sin) for us, that we might be made,
the righteousness of God in him.
8: They shall dwell - Possibly part of this prophecy remains yet to
be accomplished for the Jews are not yet come to dwell in their own
land.
9: Like a man - And he was even astonished and stupefied, and like a
drunken man, at the apprehensions of the wrath of the Lord ready to be
revealed against them, and considering also what words the holy God had
put into his mouth, to speak against them.
10: Adulterers - Under this term all species of uncleanness are
comprehended. Swearing - By false - swearing, or by idle and profane
swearing. The pleasant places - The wrath of God was extended to all
places whether more or less inhabited. Their courses - The prophets
did not only err in single acts, but the whole course of their actions
was evil, and particularly their power, rule and government, was not right.
13: They prophesied - Pretending they had their instructions from
Baal, and so caused the ten tribes to err, which then were called
Israel in contradistinction to Judah.
16: Hearken not - People are under no religious obligation to hear
any thing but the revealed will of God, and are not to obey those that
call to them for what that doth not call to them.
18: For who - Which of those prophets, that prophesy such terrible
things against this city is a privy - counsellor to God? The words seem
to be the words of the false prophets.
20: The anger - The prophet speaks of the judgment as of a messenger,
which should not return till it had done its errand, and executed what God
had resolved it should effect. Ye shall consider - And though you will not
now believe it, yet hereafter when it shall be too late, you shall consider
it perfectly.
28: What is the wheat - There is as much difference between my will
and their dreams, as there is betwixt the chaff and the wheat.
30: That steal - That conspire together what to say to deceive the
people, and so steal what they say one from another.
31: He - That is, the Lord saith.
33: What is - The false prophets, and corrupt priests, would
ordinarily mock the true prophets; and ask them what was the
burden of the Lord.
34: That shall say - That is, that shall in derision say thus,
mocking at my threatenings. And his house - I will not only punish
him, but his whole family.
35: Thus shall ye say - I will have you speak more reverently of me
and my prophets.
36: Mention no more - Not in scorn and derision. For - These false
and irreverent speeches which are in every man's mouth, shall be
burdensome to them, shall bring down vengeance upon them.
Perverted - Because you have derided, the words of God, the living God.
37: Thus shalt thou say - To my true prophet. You shall speak to
them reverently.
38: Because - Because you go on in your scoffing.
