How does Jeremiah 18:18 connect with Jesus' warnings about persecution? Text Snapshot: Jeremiah 18:18 “Then they said, ‘Come, let us devise a plan against Jeremiah—for the law will not be lost to the priest, nor counsel to the wise, nor the word to the prophet. Come, let us strike him with our tongues, and let us pay no heed to any of his words.’” Jesus’ Direct Warnings about Persecution • Matthew 5:11-12 – “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.” • Matthew 10:16-23 – “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves… you will be hated by everyone because of My name.” • John 15:18-21 – “If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first.” • John 16:2-3 – “They will put you out of the synagogues; indeed, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God.” Shared Patterns of Hostility • Same target: God’s messenger speaking unfiltered truth. • Same tactics: – Verbal assault (“strike him with our tongues”; cf. Matthew 5:11, “insult you”). – Social and religious exclusion (Jeremiah 18:18’s leaders claim authority; John 16:2, synagogue expulsion). • Same rationalization: persecutors insist they still possess true religion (“the law… counsel… word,” Jeremiah 18:18; John 16:2, “service to God”). • Same underlying cause: rejection of God’s confronting word (Jeremiah 18:12; John 15:22). Why the Connection Matters • Continuity of conflict – Prophets, Christ, and the Church all face the same opposition. • Validation of Jesus’ foresight – What He promised is exactly what Jeremiah endured. • Assurance of God’s awareness – Persecution never surprises Him; it fulfills His revealed pattern (2 Timothy 3:12). Encouragement for Today • Expect resistance when truth confronts entrenched systems. • Remember the long line of faithful witnesses—Jeremiah, the apostles, and countless others (Hebrews 12:1-3). • Lean on the promise of divine vindication: “Great is your reward in heaven” (Matthew 5:12) and “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted” (Psalm 34:18). |
    |