Thomas Aquinas Commentary Jeremiah 27:12-15

"And I spake to Zedekiah king of Judah according to all these words, saying, Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, and live. Why will ye die, thou and thy people, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, as Jehovah hath spoken concerning the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon? And hearken not unto the words of the prophets that speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon; for they prophesy a lie unto you. For I have not sent them, saith Jehovah, but they prophesy falsely in my name; that I may drive you out, and that ye may perish, ye, and the prophets that prophesy unto you." — Jeremiah 27:12-15 (ASV)

1. Because those messengers might ask why he did not say such things to his own people who were intent on rebellion, he responds that he has already said as much to them.

   His warning is given first to the king, and second, to the priests and the people, as it says: and I spoke to the priests, and to this people (Jeremiah 27:16).

   Regarding the message to the king, there are two points.

   1. He first offers good advice. The advice itself is to bow your neck, which is like the command: Servants, be submissive with all fear to your masters, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the unreasonable (1 Peter 2:18). He also sets forth the imminent danger, asking, why should you die? This refers to what was said previously: he who shall dwell in this city shall die by the sword, and the famine, and the plague; but he who shall go out and flee over to the Chaldeans, who besiege you, shall live, and his soul shall be as a spoil to him (Jeremiah 21:9).
   2. He then warns against the false counsel of the prophets, saying, do not listen, for three reasons:
      1. Because of their false promise: because they speak a lie. As it is written: His prophets have daubed them without tempering the mortar, seeing vain things and divining a lie unto them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord,’ when the Lord has not spoken (Ezekiel 22:28).
      2. Because of the authority they claimed for themselves: because I have not sent them. As it says previously: I did not send prophets, yet they ran; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied (Jeremiah 23:21).
      3. Because of the imminent punishment, which is to drive you out when the time comes. As it is written: You shall fall today, and the prophet also shall fall with you (Hosea 4:5).