Thomas Aquinas Commentary Jeremiah 5:4-5

"Then I said, Surely these are poor; they are foolish; for they know not the way of Jehovah, nor the law of their God: I will get me unto the great men, and will speak unto them; for they know the way of Jehovah, and the law of their God. But these with one accord have broken the yoke, and burst the bonds." — Jeremiah 5:4-5 (ASV)

Here, he shows the malice of the rulers against the judgment of the prophet.

1. He discusses the ignorance of the people, as if making an excuse for them: perhaps they are poor, those whom I found to be wicked in the public squares; ignorant of the way they should walk; and the judgment they should fear. Knowledge is not in everyone (1 Corinthians 8:7).

2. He discusses the knowledge of the rulers, which removes the excuse of ignorance: I will go to the nobles, and I will speak to them, for they have known the way they should walk, and the judgment by which they should also judge others. To you, O kings, are these words given, that you may learn wisdom, that you perish not .

3. He speaks of their guilt: and behold, even more—that is, more than the people, because they are more bold and less fearful—and at the same time, with the people. The kings of the earth have stood together, and the princes gathered together as one against the Lord (Psalms 2:2). They cast off the yoke of the law and the bonds of the commandments, as the psalmist continues: Let us burst their bands asunder, and cast their yoke from us (Psalms 2:3).