John Calvin Commentary Micah 3:5

"Thus saith Jehovah concerning the prophets that make my people to err; that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and whoso putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him:" — Micah 3:5 (ASV)

Micah accuses the Prophets here, in the first place, of avarice and of a desire for shameful gain. But he begins by saying that he spoke by God’s command, and as if from His mouth, so that his condemnation might have more weight and power. Thus then says Jehovah against the Prophets: and he calls them the deceivers of the people. But at the same time, he points out the source of the evil—that is, why or by what passion they were instigated to deceive: it was because the desire of gain had completely possessed them, so that they made no distinction between what was true and what was false, but only sought to please for the sake of gain.

And he also shows, on the other hand, that they were so covetous of gain that they declared war, if anyone did not feed them. And God again repeats the name of His people: this had escaped my notice previously when commenting on the words of Micah, that the princes devoured the flesh of God’s people, for the indignity was increased when this wrong was done to the people of God.

Had the Assyrians, or the Ethiopians, or the Egyptians been pillaged by their princes, it would have been more tolerable; but when the very people of God were devoured in this way, it was, as I have said, harder to bear. So when the people of God were deceived, and the truth was turned into a lie, it was an even more hateful sacrilege.

This then was the reason why he said, Who deceive my people. “This people is sacred to Me, for I have chosen them for Myself; since then they are destroyed by frauds and deceptions, is not My majesty in a way dishonored—is not My authority lessened?” We now see then the reason why the Prophet says, They deceive my people. It is indeed certain that the Jews were worthy of such deceptions; and God elsewhere declares that whenever He permitted false prophets to come among them, it was to test them to see what sort of people they were (Deuteronomy 13). It was then their just reward when liberty was given to Satan to obstruct sound doctrine among the people.

And no one is ever deceived, except by his own will. Though their own simplicity seems to draw many to destruction, yet there is always some hypocrisy in them. But it does not extenuate the sin of false teachers that the people deserve such a punishment; and hence the Prophet still continues with his reproof and says that they were the people of God—in what respect?

By adoption. Though the Jews had then rendered themselves unworthy of such an honor, yet God counts them His people, so that He might punish the wickedness of the false teachers, of which the Prophet now accuses them. It now follows that they did bite with their teeth. But I cannot finish today.

Prayer:

Grant, Almighty God, that as You would have the image of Your justice to shine in princes, whom You arm with the sword, that they might rule in Your name and be truly Your ministers—O grant that this Your blessing may openly appear among us, and that by this evidence You may testify that You are not only propitious to us, but also have care for our safety, and watch over our welfare and well-being. And do You so shine by Your word, that it may never be obscured or clouded among us through any corrupt desire, but always retain its own clear purity, so that we may proceed in the right path of salvation, which You have revealed and prescribed, until we are at last gathered into Your celestial kingdom, to enjoy that eternal inheritance which has been procured for us by the blood of Your only-begotten Son. Amen.

[Exposition continues from previous day's lecture]

Let us proceed to explain that sentence of the Prophet, in which he shows the cause why the teachers deceived the people and turned the truth of God into a lie; and this was because they were greedy for gains and were completely given to avarice. We hence see, according to the testimony of Paul, that avarice provides a cause for all evils (1 Timothy 6:10); and that wherever this contagion spreads, all things necessarily fall into decay, for when avarice reigns in the hearts of men, the truth of God especially is always adulterated.

But Micah adduces two evidences of avarice—that they cried, Peace, when well fed and filled, and that they proclaimed war when they were hungry. Then as to the first point, he says, הנשכים בשניהם וקראו שלום, that is, who bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace. But the sentence is to be understood in this way: when they did bite well, they announced peace with full confidence. For by the word ‘bite,’ the Prophet means their gluttony, because those who, under the guise of God’s name, sought only their own advantage were not satisfied with moderate support, since they were like hungry dogs.

They therefore devoured and gorged themselves without any limits or moderation. This is the reason why he says that they did bite: for he compares them either to lions or to bears. And we know that wild beasts are not satisfied with a small quantity of food, but that they gnash their teeth, as it were, unless they are always pampered.

So also Micah says that the false teachers of his age were voracious men who demanded a large amount of food. We see the same thing in our day with the monks under the Papacy, especially those who, under the name of mendacity, devour the substance of all people. Unless they are pampered, they always murmur; indeed, they are not content with murmurs, they proclaim war, as the Prophet says here. We indeed see at the same time that they are insatiable; for when they come to well-furnished tables, no one would say that they are men, but beasts, for they devour everything. We now understand then the Prophet’s meaning.

But it is not voracity alone that is reprehended: he says that they sold their blessings when they were well filled and had their stomachs well supplied. In the same manner, the monks also are accustomed to pronounce peace when they are well fed—“O! you do good when you take care of the brethren, for they are careful of you. When you sleep in your beds, they watch, and their prayers make you rich; for how could the world stand, were it not that the brethren make amends for it? Since then you are so kind to our community, all things shall turn out well and prosperously for you, and God also will bless you.” This then is the practice of those who sell their blessings for reward; they cry, “Peace,” that is, they confidently declare that all things shall be well; they make God propitious, provided such liberality towards their order is always continued.

But, on the other hand, he also says, If anyone does not give to their mouth, they instantly sanctify war against you: but I give a different rendering, as the passage requires—that they proclaim war, though the word is literally “to sanctify.” But we have seen in Joel 2 that the word is used to designate any solemn proclamation—Sanctify a fast, that is, “Proclaim a fast.” So also in this place, “They sanctify war” means they proclaim war when anyone does not feed them nor satisfy their gluttony, for they could not bear want. In short, the Prophet shows that these false teachers were so blinded by avarice that they did not discern the difference between right and wrong, but only praised those who fed them. On the other hand, when they found that they and their stomachs were not cared for nor satisfied, they cursed, fulminated, and uttered nothing but anathemas, as we see done today by the monks under the Papacy. The Prophet now says—