Thomas Aquinas Commentary Jeremiah 11:11-17

"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)

1. Here, he threatens an inescapable punishment for incorrigible guilt.

   1. He speaks of the punishment: behold I. He who draws himself out of the pit shall be taken by the snare (Isaiah 24:18).

   2. He excludes escape as a means of aid:

      1. They will not be helped by their own prayers to God: they shall cry to me, but I will not hear them. They will call upon me, and I will not listen (Proverbs 1:28).

         Nor will they be helped by prayers offered to idols: and the cities of Judah shall go. They are ignorant who raise the image of their idol, and pray to a lord who cannot save (Isaiah 45:20). He adds the multitude of their idols: for according to the number of your cities, O Judah, were your gods. You have made a brothel on every street, and at the head of every street you have built an image of your prostitution (Ezekiel 16:31). The same is said above (Jeremiah 2:28).

         They will not even be helped by the prayers of others: therefore, you shall not pray for this people; take up no praise, as if by praising My mercy, you could persuade Me to show it. How long shall you mourn for Saul, when I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? (1 Samuel 16:1). The same is said above (Jeremiah 7:16).

      2. They will not be helped by offering sacrifices. He gives the reason for their rejection: why is it that my beloved—the people of Judah—is in my house, worshiping idols there in the temple? What do you think, O son of man, do you see what these men do, the great abominations which the house of Israel does here, so that they may depart far from my sanctuary? (Ezekiel 8:6).

         Here, he speaks of the rejection of the sacrifices: will the flesh of sacrificed animals help? It is impossible to take away sins with the blood of goats and bulls (Hebrews 10:4).

      3. He shows that they will not be helped by their own efforts. Concerning this, there are two points:

         1. He recalls their former glory. The Lord called you an abundant olive tree, beautiful, fruitful, fair. This name reflected your status: “abundant” in the fullness of your branches, signifying the multitude of the people; “beautiful” in your green color, signifying flourishing prosperity and vigorous spiritual strength; “fruitful” in your bounty of fruit, signifying an abundance of great good works; and “fair” in the arrangement of your parts, signifying the proper ordering of the people. God called you this so that your renown would spread everywhere. His glory shall be like the olive, and his fragrance like the Lebanon (Hosea 14:6).

         2. He predicts their future punishment in three parts:

            1. He describes the punishment: at the sound of a word (that is, at Nebuchadnezzar’s command), a fire was kindled in her (the house of Israel), literally, and it has devoured her branches (the people and their possessions). Alternatively, the phrase of a great word implies that because you became proud of this title, you deserved punishment. I would march against it in battle, and set it on fire in like manner (Isaiah 27:4).

            2. He shows the power of the one who punishes: the Lord of hosts. The Lord puts to death and gives life; he brings down to hell, and brings back again (1 Samuel 2:6).

            3. He gives the cause: for the evils. They have provoked me by that which was no god, and incited me with their vanities; I also shall provoke them by that which is no people, and incite them with a foolish nation (Deuteronomy 32:21).