How should believers respond to teachings that contradict God's word in Jeremiah 23:30? Setting the Stage: Jeremiah 23 in Context Jeremiah confronts prophets who claimed divine authority yet delivered counterfeit messages. God’s verdict in verse 30 is decisive: “Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets,” declares the LORD, “who steal My words from each other.” (Jeremiah 23:30) The Heart of the Issue: Misusing God’s Word • These prophets plagiarized God’s voice, passing along man-made ideas as divine revelation. • The offense was not merely error but theft—robbing God’s people of genuine truth. • God’s opposition highlights His zeal for doctrinal purity and the protection of His flock (cf. Ezekiel 34:10; Matthew 7:15). Recognizing Contradictory Teaching Today • Teachings that dilute, deny, or twist Scripture (Genesis 3:1, “Did God really say?”) • “New revelations” that add to or override the Bible (Revelation 22:18-19) • Messages that elevate personal experience, cultural trends, or human philosophy above God’s written Word (Colossians 2:8) Biblical Responses to False Teaching 1. Test every message against Scripture. • “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.” (1 John 4:1) 2. Hold fast to the apostolic gospel. • “Even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a curse!” (Galatians 1:8-9) 3. Be Berean in mindset. • The Bereans “examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” (Acts 17:11) 4. Speak the truth in love, refusing to compromise. • “We will no longer be infants… but speaking the truth in love, we will grow up into Christ.” (Ephesians 4:14-15) 5. Contend for the faith. • “I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.” (Jude 3) Practical Steps for Everyday Faithfulness • Saturate your mind with Scripture—read, memorize, meditate (Psalm 119:11, 160). • Compare every sermon, book, podcast, or social post with the plain text of the Bible. • Surround yourself with a Bible-honoring church community that values expositional teaching. • Correct gently but firmly when error arises (2 Timothy 2:24-26). • Guard the gospel in your home—teach children and friends the difference between truth and counterfeit (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). • Pray for discernment and courage; rely on the Spirit who guides into all truth (John 16:13). Encouragement from Scripture • God’s Word is “living and active” (Hebrews 4:12) and fully sufficient for every need (2 Timothy 3:16-17). • Christ’s sheep know His voice (John 10:4-5); He will preserve those who cling to His truth. • Standing for Scripture may cost, but it bears eternal reward: “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:21) Holding firmly to God’s authentic Word, believers honor the Lord who declared in Jeremiah 23:30 that He stands against every stolen, distorted message. |
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