John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 26:14-15

"But as for me, behold, I am in your hand: do with me as is good and right in your eyes. Only know ye for certain that, if ye put me to death, ye will bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof; for of a truth Jehovah hath sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears." — Jeremiah 26:14-15 (ASV)

Jeremiah, after having exhorted the princes, the priests, and the whole people to repent, and having shown to them that there was a remedy for their evil, unless by their obstinacy they provoked more and more the wrath of God, now speaks of himself and warns them not to indulge their cruelty by following their determination to kill him. For they had brought in a sentence that he deserved to die.

He then saw that their rage was so violent that he almost despaired of his life, but he declares here that God would be an avenger if they unjustly vented their rage against him. He yet shows that he was not so concerned about his life as to neglect his duty, for he surrendered himself to their will. "Do what you please," he says, "with me; yet take heed what you do, for the Lord will not suffer innocent blood to be shed with impunity."

By saying that he was in their hand, he does not mean that he was not under the care of God. Christ also spoke this way when he exhorted his disciples not to fear those who could kill the body (Matthew 10:28). There is no doubt that the hairs of our head are numbered before God. Thus, it cannot be that tyrants, however they may rage, can touch us, not even with their little finger, unless permission is given to them.

It is, then, certain that our life can never be in the hand of men, for God is its faithful keeper. But Jeremiah said, speaking in human terms, that his life was in their hand, because God’s providence is hidden from us, nor can we discover it except through the eyes of faith. When, therefore, enemies seem to rule so that there is no escape, the Scripture says, by way of concession, that we are in their hands—that is, as far as we perceive. Yet we ought to understand that we are by no means so exposed to the will of the wicked that they can do what they please with us, for God restrains them by a hidden bridle, and rules their hands and their hearts. This truth ought always to remain unalterable: that our life is under the custody and protection of God.

We now, then, see in what sense Jeremiah regarded his life as in the hand of his enemies—not that he thought himself cast away by God, but that he acknowledged that the wicked were given free rein to rage against him. But we must at the same time bear in mind why he said this. After having conceded that his life was in their hand, he adds, know for certain that if you kill me, you will bring innocent blood upon yourselves. But he had said before that they might do what seemed good and right to them. "Good and right" here is not to be taken for a judgment formed according to the rule of justice, but for a sentence formed unjustly according to their own will.

This is a common way of speaking in Hebrew. Jeremiah then testifies that he was not concerned about his life, for he was prepared to offer himself, as it were, as a sacrifice, if the rage of his enemies should go so far. But in warning them to beware of God’s vengeance, his object was not his own safety, but to stimulate them to repentance.

He then plainly says that he did not fear death, for the Lord would soon show himself to be his avenger, and that his blood also would be so precious in the sight of God that the whole city, together with the people, would be punished if they were to deal unjustly with him.

But let us attend to what follows: that God had sent him. He now takes this principle for granted: that it could not be that God would forsake his servants, to whom he has promised aid when oppressed by the ungodly. God, indeed, always exhorts his ministers to patience, and he would have them be prepared for death whenever there is need. Yet he promises to bring them help in distress.

Jeremiah then relied on this promise and was thus persuaded that it could not be that God would forsake him, for he cannot disappoint his people nor break his promise pledged to them. Since, then, he was fully persuaded of his own calling and knew that God was the author of all his preaching, he boldly concluded that his blood could not be shed with impunity.

All faithful teachers ought to encourage themselves, to strenuously discharge the duties of their office, with this confidence—that God, who has committed their office to them, can never forsake them but will always bring them help as far as it may be necessary.