John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 23:16

"Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they teach you vanity; they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of Jehovah." — Jeremiah 23:16 (ASV)

What is said here must have appeared very severe and must have grievously offended the people, for Jeremiah forbade them to hear the teaching of the prophets. He indeed concedes to them the name of prophets, which was a sacred name, but yet he discredits them and deprives them of all dignity.

He does not speak of magicians or impostors, who were aliens to God’s people; he does not speak of Egyptians or Chaldeans, or any like them, nor does he speak of the prophets of Samaria, but of those who daily appeared in the Temple and boasted that they were divinely chosen, endowed with the spirit of revelation, and that they brought nothing but what God had committed to them.

Since Jeremiah then forbade them to hear these prophets, some great perplexity must have necessarily seized the minds of all, especially of the simple, who wondered: “What does this mean? Why does God allow these unprincipled men to occupy a place in the Temple and to exercise the prophetic office there, while at the same time they are cheats, perjurers, and impostors?”

In the same manner, we see that many today are perplexed on account of the discords by which the Church is harassed and, as it were, torn to pieces. We are compelled to contend with those who arrogate to themselves the name of the Catholic Church, who boast that they are bishops, vicars of Christ, successors of the Apostles.

When, therefore, the ignorant see such hostile conflicts in the very heart of the Church, they must necessarily be terrified, and such a stumbling block dreadfully shakes their faith. Hence, this passage should be especially noted.

For though at first ignorant people may be disturbed by such a prohibition as this, yet everyone who really fears God will exercise his mind so that he may distinguish between false and true prophets. God will never leave His chosen people destitute of the spirit of judgment and discernment when teachers contend on both sides and tumults nearly overthrow the Church.

Even then, as I have said, God will preserve His own elect, provided we piously and humbly strive to submit to His word; He will also guide us by His hand, so that we may not be deceived.

Since God had then commanded Jeremiah to forbid the people to hear the false prophets, let us not wonder today that faithful teachers, who desire to maintain true doctrine and genuine piety, feel compelled to oppose these men of titles who shelter themselves under the masked names of pastors, prelates, and bishops, so that they may delude the unwary and the ignorant. Hear not, he says, the words of the prophets who prophesy to you.

He adds, They make you to be vain; that is, they make you foolish. But this would not have been sufficient if he had not added what more fully confirmed it. Therefore, Jeremiah says that they brought forward the vision of their own hearts and did not speak what came from God’s mouth. This is a mark that can never deceive us, unless we willingly throw ourselves into the snares and intrigues of Satan, as many do who willfully seek to be deceived and even hunt for falsehoods. But whoever applies his mind to the study of truth can never be deceived, if by this mark, which is set before us, he distinguishes between prophets and prophets, for everyone who speaks according to the mere suggestions of his own mind must be an impostor. No one then should be considered a sound teacher except he who speaks from God’s mouth.

But here a question may be raised: How can the common people understand that some speak from God’s mouth and that others propound their own glosses? I answer that the doctrine of the Law was then sufficient to guide the minds of the people, provided they did not close their eyes. And if the Law was sufficient at that time, God now most surely gives us a clearer light by His prophets, and especially by His Gospel. Since God has once given us His testimony, everyone should obey Him as soon as he knows what is right, what he should follow, and what he should shun.

We now see then how useful this passage is, for there is nothing more miserable than for men to be tossed here and there and to be led astray from the way of salvation. There is therefore nothing more desirable than to know this way with certainty. Now, God shows us the way here as if by His finger, for He says that those who speak from His mouth can be heard with safety, but that others are to be rejected, however much they may boast of being prophets and thus seek under the guise of authority to subject men’s minds captive to themselves.

And this should suffice today to put an end to all controversies, for on this no doubt depends almost every question that is now agitated in the world. The Papists want their own devices to be taken as oracles and claim to be the Church; but we, on the other hand, say that perfect wisdom is alone to be found in the Law, in the Prophets, and in the Gospel.

If we were then to attend to the mouth of God, it would be easy to settle all the disputes between us.

It therefore also follows that the Papists are deceived because they do not deign to ask at God’s mouth, but choose to become slaves to men and to their own falsehoods, rather than to inquire what pleases God. For He Himself has spoken, and has not spoken secretly, neither doubtfully nor obscurely, for there is nothing clearer than His teaching, provided men do not become willfully blind. He then adds—