John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 37:18

"Moreover Jeremiah said unto king Zedekiah, Wherein have I sinned against thee, or against thy servants, or against this people, that ye have put me in prison?" — Jeremiah 37:18 (ASV)

Though the Prophet had spoken what was displeasing to the king, he still complains that wrong had been done to him, as he had been imprisoned. Thus he shows that he had been unjustly condemned for having threatened ruin to the city and destruction to the kingdom, because he was compelled by the obligations of his office to do this. Therefore, the Prophet shows that he had not sinned in this: that he had proclaimed God’s commands, however bitter they were to the king and to the people.

This passage deserves special notice: earthly princes are so proud that, as soon as they order anything, they wish every dispute about their authority to be suspended. For they insist that their own ordinances be considered laws, and their own decrees sacred and authoritative. Yet we know that by following their own wills, they often decree what is completely unjust and inconsistent with everything reasonable. This passage then, as I have said, deserves special notice, for Jeremiah boldly declares that he had not sinned, because he had threatened the king, displeased his counselors, condemned the ungodliness of the people, and denounced complete ruin on the city and the Temple. He then denies that in all this he had done anything wrong. So also Daniel said,

“Against God and the king have I not sinned,” (Daniel 6:22)

And yet he had disregarded the king’s decree, and firmly refused through impious flattery to put the king in the place of God. However, he denied that he had done anything wrong against the king, because his decree was unjust and wicked. Let us then bear in mind that though princes may be displeased when their decrees are disregarded by us, they are still not absolved before God and his angels. Also, we can boldly, openly, and with a full mouth, as they say, assert our innocence when religion compels us, and when it is not permissible to obey the impious and unjust edicts of kings. He later adds—