John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 23:34

"And as for the prophet, and the priest, and the people, that shall say, The burden of Jehovah, I will even punish that man and his house." — Jeremiah 23:34 (ASV)

Prophecy might indeed have been called a burden when anything sad was announced; but it might also have been so called when men were aroused to fear God, or when they were exhorted to repent. But God has a reference here to that wicked impiety, when men dared in ridicule to call any prophecy a burden.

And so it appears that they were all so given up to their sins that the very name of God’s judgment was hated by them. We now perceive the Prophet’s meaning when he said that God would punish all those who called his word a burden, for the Prophets themselves used to speak this way, and we find that Jeremiah in many places used this word.

So he does not speak here generally, but points out, as by the finger, a vice which prevailed. For the Jews had so hardened themselves in hatred of sound doctrine that they said, “He! These Prophets do nothing but terrify us with threats and by denouncing ruin on us; and what will be the end of all this?” God says that he would inflict punishment on all who spoke this way and on all their families.

From this it appears how much he abominated this blasphemy, and from this we also see how precious to God is the honor of his word; for it is not of every kind of sin that God speaks when he extends his vengeance to posterity. It is the same as though Jeremiah had said, “It is altogether intolerable when men become irritated and exasperated against God’s word.”

And yet this evil is not an evil of one age only. We see that the Israelites always complained of God’s rigor, hence this saying: “The ways of the Lord are not tortuous, but rather your ways, O house of Israel” (Ezekiel 18:25).

And here we must notice the wickedness of the human mind. For God, as has been stated before, has nothing else in view in calling us to himself but to make us partakers of eternal life and salvation. It is then God’s design to receive us for the purpose of saving us; this is the end intended by all the prophets, and for this reason the Prophet previously called the word of God wheat. But what is done by men?

They despise this favor; and not only so, but they turn food into poison and do not cease to provoke God’s wrath. He was, therefore, constrained to threaten them. When he finds us teachable, he allures us to himself even with paternal kindness. But when we provoke him to wrath, we, in a manner, force him to put on another character, according to what he says, that he will be refractory towards the refractory (Psalms 18:26).

Yet we complain when God deals rigidly with us. We do not cease to carry on war with him; but when he restrains and checks our insolence, we immediately expostulate with him, as though he were too severe and his word offended us. From where does this offense come? From our obstinate wickedness.

Were men to put an end to their sinful course, the Lord would change his manner of dealing with them, and gently treat them and foster them as chickens under his wings. But this they do not allow; indeed, they reject such treatment as much as they can. For this reason, they abhor the name of God and his word.

What then is the excuse for the complaint, when they say that God is too rigorous, as though his word were a burden? There is none, for they are themselves refractory against God, and so his word becomes a hammer to break their heads, to shatter and destroy them.

We now see the reason why God not only declares that he was angry with these ungodly despisers of his word, but also denounces the same vengeance on their posterity.