Matthew Henry Commentary Jeremiah 11
Matthew Henry Commentary
Jeremiah 11
Matthew Henry Commentary
Jeremiah 11
"The word that came to Jeremiah from Jehovah, saying, Hear ye the words of this covenant, and speak unto the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and say thou unto them, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel: Cursed be the man that heareth not the words of this covenant, which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God; that I may establish the oath which I sware unto your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as at this day. Then answered I, and said, Amen, O Jehovah. And Jehovah said unto me, Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, Hear ye the words of this covenant, and do them. For I earnestly protested unto your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even unto this day, rising early and protesting, saying, Obey my voice. Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the stubbornness of their evil heart: therefore I brought upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but they did them not. And Jehovah said unto me, A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, who refused to hear my words; and they are gone after other gods to serve them: the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers." — Jeremiah 11:1-10 (ASV)
God never promised to bestow blessings on his rational creatures while they persist in willful disobedience. Pardon and acceptance are promised freely to all believers; but no one can be saved who does not obey the command of God to repent, to believe in Christ, to separate from sin and the world, and to choose self-denial and newness of life.
In general, people will listen to those who speak of doctrines, promises, and privileges; but when duties are mentioned, they will not listen.
"Therefore thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and they shall cry unto me, but I will not hearken unto them. Then shall the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem go and cry unto the gods unto which they offer incense: but they will not save them at all in the time of their trouble. For according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have ye set up altars to the shameful thing, even altars to burn incense unto Baal. Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them; for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me because of their trouble. What hath my beloved to do in my house, seeing she hath wrought lewdness [with] many, and the holy flesh is passed from thee? when thou doest evil, then thou rejoicest. Jehovah called thy name, A green olive-tree, fair with goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken. For Jehovah of hosts, who planted thee, hath pronounced evil against thee, because of the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have wrought for themselves in provoking me to anger by offering incense unto Baal." — Jeremiah 11:11-17 (ASV)
Evil pursues sinners, and entangles them in snares from which they cannot free themselves. Now, in their distress, their many gods and many altars are of no use to them. And those whose own prayers will not be heard cannot expect benefit from the prayers of others.
Their profession of religion shall prove of no use. When trouble came upon them, they made this their confidence, but God has rejected it. His altar shall yield them no satisfaction.
The remembrance of God's former favors to them shall be no comfort under troubles, and His remembrance of them shall be no argument for their relief. Every sin against the Lord is a sin against ourselves, and so it will be found sooner or later.
"And Jehovah gave me knowledge of it, and I knew it: then thou showedst me their doings. But I was like a gentle lamb that is led to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, [saying], Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered. But, O Jehovah of hosts, who judgest righteously, who triest the heart and the mind, I shall see thy vengeance on them; for unto thee have I revealed my cause. Therefore thus saith Jehovah concerning the men of Anathoth, that seek thy life, saying, Thou shalt not prophesy in the name of Jehovah, that thou die not by our hand; therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts, Behold, I will punish them: the young men shall die by the sword; their sons and their daughters shall die by famine; and there shall be no remnant unto them: for I will bring evil upon the men of Anathoth, even the year of their visitation." — Jeremiah 11:18-23 (ASV)
The prophet Jeremiah tells us much about himself; the times he lived in were very troublesome. Those of his own city plotted how they might cause his death. They intended to end his days, but he outlived most of his enemies; they intended to blast his memory, but it lives to this day and will be blessed as long as time lasts.
God knows all the secret designs of his and His people's enemies, and can, when He pleases, make them known. God's justice is a terror to the wicked, but a comfort to the godly.
When we are wronged, we have a God to commit our cause to, and it is our duty to commit it to Him. We should also look carefully to our own spirits, so that we are not overcome by evil, but that by patiently continuing in prayer for our enemies, and in kindness to them, we may overcome evil with good.
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