John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 23:25

"I have heard what the prophets have said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed." — Jeremiah 23:25 (ASV)

Jeremiah returns again to those impostors who soothed the people with their flattery. Whenever Jeremiah and those like him, who faithfully performed their office, treated the people with severity by reproving and threatening them for their sins, these unprincipled men rose up against them and, under the name of prophets, flattered the ungodly despisers of God.

It was, as we have said before, a most grievous trial when, in the very Church itself, the ministers of Satan thus falsely claimed God's name. The Jews would have unhesitatingly despised and ridiculed what the vain prophets of the Gentiles might have boasted (for they knew that these had no knowledge of God); but when the false prophets he now speaks of occupied a place in the Church, and in lofty terms boasted that they were God’s servants, this would have greatly disturbed the weak, shaken their faith, and even completely overturned it, if God had not stretched out His hand.

It is therefore no wonder that Jeremiah dwells so much on this subject, for it was an evil that could not be easily cured. If he had only said that they were not to be esteemed, the weak would not have been satisfied. It was therefore necessary for him often to repeat this truth: that they were all to know that there was need of discrimination and judgment, and that those who falsely claimed God’s name were not to be indiscriminately accepted as His prophets.

He then repeats what we have observed before, but in other words, — I have heard, says God, what the prophets say who prophesy in My name. An objection is anticipated, for it might have been said, “What can this mean? The prophets disagree! And what is to be done under these dissensions? Those who differ dazzle our eyes with an illustrious title and boldly affirm that they have been sent by God.”

Since, then, there is such a conflict between the prophets, what are we to do? God meets this objection and declares that it was not unknown to Him what the false prophets boasted about. He adds that they prophesied in His name. It was an offense which must have greatly distressed weak minds to hear of this profanation of God’s name. For as it behooves us to reverently receive what proceeds from God, so it is no small danger when God’s name is falsely and deceitfully claimed. Since, then, they might have been greatly disturbed by this false pretense of what was good, it is expressly said here that they had used the name of God, but He adds, falsely.

We therefore see the truth of what I have said: that those who affirm that they are prophets and ostentatiously claim God’s name ought not to be received indiscriminately, but that judgment ought to be exercised. For it has been God’s will in all ages to test the faith of His servants by permitting Satan and his ministers the liberty of falsely claiming His holy name. And as we see that the Church has always been exposed to this evil, there is no reason for us to be disturbed today when the same thing happens, for it is nothing new. Let us, therefore, learn to harden ourselves against such trials; and whenever false prophets test our faith, let us remain firm, holding this principle — that we ought wisely to consider whether God Himself speaks, or whether men falsely boast that they are His servants.

To dream is to be taken here in a good sense; for, as we have seen elsewhere, God was accustomed to make Himself known to His servants by dreams. It is not, then, every kind of dream that is to be understood here, but such dreams as were from above. The false prophets, indeed, stated what was not true by using this language, for it was as if they testified that they did not bring their own devices, but faithfully related what they had received from God. As the Pope today declares that he is the vicar of Christ and the successor of Peter, while he exercises tyranny over the Church, so also these, by a deceptive pretext, deceived the simple by saying that they brought nothing human, but were only witnesses to God’s oracles.