Thomas Aquinas Commentary Jeremiah 23:2-6

"Therefore thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, against the shepherds that feed my people: Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them; behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith Jehovah. And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and multiply. And I will set up shepherds over them, who shall feed them; and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be lacking, saith Jehovah. Behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely; and this is his name whereby he shall be called: Jehovah our righteousness." — Jeremiah 23:2-6 (ASV)

1. Here he threatens punishment.

   First, he mentions the threat against the shepherds: I shall visit. As it says above: I shall visit upon you according to the fruit of your doings (Jeremiah 21:14).

   Second, he mentions the consolation of the scattered flock: I shall gather. Here, he first speaks of gathering: I shall lead them out from the peoples, and gather them from the lands (Ezekiel 34:13). Then, he speaks of the prosperity of their state: and I shall bring them back to their own fields, and they shall increase, and be multiplied. Increase and multiply, and fill the earth (Genesis 1:22).

2. He promises them an improvement of their rulers.

   First, he promises them caring princes when he speaks of the care of their shepherds: and I shall raise up, when you have already fallen into nothingness, shepherds—Ezra and others, according to some. But better, the apostles. As it says above: I will give you shepherds after my own heart, and they will feed you with knowledge and understanding (Jeremiah 3:15). The benefit of this care is security: and they shall not fear, regarding external signs of fear, neither shall they be afraid, internally, and none shall be lacking of their number. It is as if he were saying, “None from the number of the Church will fear or fail because of the negligence of the apostles.”

   Alternatively, this refers to the number of the predestined. None of them is lost, except the son of perdition (John 17:12). This security, however, is not fully realized in this life but will be completed when perfect charity casts out fear (1 John 4:18). It will be accomplished in the future.

   Second, he promises them a most excellent king, showing the fittingness of the time: behold, because of the certainty, the days of grace. Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2).

   He shows the nature of the king who is to come, first concerning the nobility of his line: I shall raise up from David a righteous shoot. As it says below: I will make to spring forth for David the shoot of justice, and he shall execute judgment and justice in the earth (Jeremiah 33:15). Second, concerning the authority of his dignity: and he shall reign as king, not only over the Jews but also over all kings. And he shall rule over the house of Jacob forever (Luke 1:33). Whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all kings shall serve, and obey him (Daniel 7:27).

   Third, concerning the wisdom of his heart: and he will be wise—indeed, wisdom itself. Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:24). And fourth, concerning the execution of justice: and he will execute judgment. He does this in his first coming against the devil, who was called the prince of the world: now is the judgment of the world, now is the prince of this world cast out (John 12:31), into the outer darkness. He will do so again in his second coming against all, by punishing them with a general sentence. The Father does not judge anyone, but has given all judgment to the Son (John 5:22).

   And righteousness, which he taught was to be observed: unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and pharisees you shall not enter into the kingdom of the heavens (Matthew 5:20); and which was for completing the assistance of grace. For this reason, he speaks of the benefit of his coming, regarding salvation from punishment: in those days Judah will be saved. This happens particularly in his first coming, and universally in his second coming, when all Israel shall be saved (Romans 11:26). If the number of the children of Israel were as the sand of the sea, a remnant of them shall be converted (Isaiah 10:22).

   And regarding security: and Israel shall dwell confidently. This is to be explained as above. My people shall dwell in the beauty of peace, in the tabernacles of justice, and in abundant rest (Isaiah 32:18). He says Judah, regarding the two tribes, and Israel, regarding the ten, to signify that in the faith of Christ they will be at peace. And they shall appoint for themselves one head (Hosea 1:11).