What are the consequences of false prophecy according to Jeremiah 27:15? Context Matters Jeremiah spoke during a tense season when political alliances looked more trustworthy than God’s word. Into that setting, false prophets promised safety and quick relief—words God had never spoken. The Key Verse “ ‘For I have not sent them,’ declares the LORD, ‘yet they are prophesying lies in My name. Therefore I will banish you, and you will perish—you and the prophets who prophesy to you.’ ” (Jeremiah 27:15) Consequences Listed in Jeremiah 27:15 • Exile—“I will banish you.” • Death—“you will perish.” • Shared judgment—both the prophets and their hearers fall under the same sentence. • Divine repudiation—God openly disowns the message (“I have not sent them”). Reinforced by Related Passages • Deuteronomy 18:20 – “The prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name … that prophet shall die.” • Jeremiah 14:14-15 – False prophets “prophesy to you a lying vision … by sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed.” • Ezekiel 13:9 – “My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions … they shall not be enrolled in the register of the house of Israel.” Together these texts underline that false prophecy brings: removal from covenant blessings, physical calamity, and eternal separation. Why the Penalty Is So Severe • False words distort God’s revealed character (Numbers 23:19). • They lead entire communities into rebellion (Jeremiah 23:13). • They compete with Scripture’s settled authority (Psalm 119:89). Take-Home Points • Test every message by God’s written word (Acts 17:11). • Refusing to heed God’s warnings carries the same judgment as speaking the lies. • God’s faithfulness includes protecting His people from deception—if we listen (Matthew 24:24-25). |
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