John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 38:27

"Then came all the princes unto Jeremiah, and asked him; and he told them according to all these words that the king had commanded. So they left off speaking with him; for the matter was not perceived." — Jeremiah 38:27 (ASV)

Here, indeed, the Prophet confesses that he did as the king had commanded him, but he does not commend what he had done. There is no doubt that on the one hand he recognized the timidity of the king, who, forgetting plain dealing, slavishly feared his own counselors; and that, on the other hand, he showed that he himself was not sufficiently discreet. For when the princes came, even if he did not wish to deceive them, he still concealed the main point and said that he went to the king to pray for his own life, which was not true. Although what he said was partly true—that he prayed not to be sent back to prison—he could not by this evasion be entirely exempt from blame.

In short, we see that even God’s servants have sometimes spoken evasively when oppressed with extreme fear. Thus, we are reminded to seek from God magnanimity of mind and resolute firmness, for He alone can strengthen and sustain us when we are terrified by any fear of danger.

He says that he did as the king had commanded him; but he ought rather to have paid heed to God’s word, in which simplicity is instructed. It is also said that the princes were silent, meaning they departed in silence. This was because no one had been a witness to the conference, and the matter had not spread further. The king was silent through fear, and the Prophet also had not disclosed the secret interview. Therefore, the princes departed, thinking that the matter was as represented. In short, Jeremiah intimates that they were deceived by this pretext. Finally, it follows—