Charles Ellicott Commentary Jeremiah 23:22

"But if they had stood in my council, then had they caused my people to hear my words, and had turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings." — Jeremiah 23:22 (ASV)

If they had stood in my counsel. —Better, as before, council. The test of the true mission is seen in results. Are the people better or worse for the prophet’s work? What are the fruits of his teaching? (Compare to Matthew 7:20.)

The question meets us: Is this always a test? Was Jeremiah’s own work successful in this sense? Must not the true teacher speak “whether they [men] will hear, or whether they will forbear?” (Ezekiel 2:5).

The answer is found in the following:

1. True teaching seldom fails entirely in its work.
2. Where it seems to fail, it satisfies the other test, and at least stirs and rouses men from lethargy, even if it stirs them to antagonism.

It is never satisfied with speaking smooth things and acquiescing in the evil that surrounds it.