John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 36:14

"Therefore all the princes sent Jehudi the son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi, unto Baruch, saying, Take in thy hand the roll wherein thou hast read in the ears of the people, and come. So Baruch the son of Neriah took the roll in his hand, and came unto them." — Jeremiah 36:14 (ASV)

They ought indeed to have gone up immediately into the Temple; but though they were not wholly irreligious, they still showed some pride, as they commonly do who are surrounded with splendor, not being disposed to humble themselves. We see that all courtiers are so inflated with pride that they think it a disgrace to mingle with the common people. They wish some special honor to be reserved for themselves. This was the reason they did not go up into the Temple to learn the message, but instead sent for Baruch to come to them. Now it was this that prevented them from repenting from the heart.

We will indeed see that they were struck with fear and filled with amazement. We will also see that they brought the matter before the king and yet wished to provide for the safety of the Prophet and his servant. But they should have gone further, even to join the people in the Temple and make a public confession of their repentance. We have explained why they did not do so: pride, vanity, and ambition always accompany wealth and power.

Baruch was then sent for, but in an honorable manner; for they did not send an obscure man; and hence his genealogy is given, and not only is the name of his father mentioned, but also that of his grandfather and his great-grandfather; and hence we conclude that he was a man of some eminence.

They commanded him to come, and it is added that, having taken the roll, he came to them; by which he manifested his firmness. His previous promptness was commendable, in that he ventured to go out to the Temple and publicly recite what tended to kindle the rage of the whole people. Just as in the beginning he promptly undertook the office entrusted to him, so now he persevered in the same course. He came to the princes; and he did not hide the roll, though he might have been carrying his own death with him, but he boldly went out to them, for he knew that the whole business was under the direction of God.