How does Jeremiah 18:18 illustrate the rejection of God's messengers today? Setting the Scene “Then some said, ‘Come, let us devise plans against Jeremiah. For instruction will never perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor word from the prophet. Come, let us denounce him and pay no heed to any of his words.’” (Jeremiah 18:18) Immediate Snapshot of Rejection • Deliberate planning: “Come, let us devise plans against Jeremiah.” • Presumed self-sufficiency: “Instruction will never perish from the priest…” • Coordinated smear campaign: “Come, let us denounce him.” • Total dismissal: “Pay no heed to any of his words.” Why Israel’s Leaders Thought They Could Ignore Jeremiah • They trusted institutional religion—priests, sages, prophets in name only—rather than the living word God was speaking through Jeremiah (Jeremiah 7:4). • They valued cultural consensus above divine command (Jeremiah 5:31). • They feared the political fallout of Jeremiah’s warnings more than they feared the Lord (Jeremiah 38:4). Timeless Pattern of Silencing God’s Voice Old Covenant examples • Micaiah ben Imlah cast into prison (1 Kings 22:26-27). • Uriah the prophet executed (Jeremiah 26:20-23). • Zechariah stoned in the temple court (2 Chronicles 24:20-22). New Covenant confirmations • Jesus: “Jerusalem… you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you” (Matthew 23:37). • Stephen: “Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute?” (Acts 7:52). • Paul: “The time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:3-4). Mirror to the Present 1. Organized opposition • Public ridicule, cancellation, or legal threats when biblical truth confronts cherished sins. • Media and academic narratives that caricature Scripture as outdated or harmful. 2. Institutional confidence • Many assume religious tradition or denominational heritage keeps them spiritually safe, even while dismissing Scripture’s plain teaching. • Credentials trump conviction; “experts” are preferred over prophetic voices. 3. Collective dismissal • “Pay no heed” echoes in phrases like “That’s just your interpretation” or “Love means affirming everything.” • Whole communities agree to ignore passages that challenge prevailing moral norms. Motives That Still Drive Rejection • Self-preservation: Truth threatens comfort and reputation (John 3:19-20). • Pride: A heart that insists, “We already have wisdom” (Proverbs 12:15). • Sin’s grip: Confrontation with God’s holiness exposes deeds best kept hidden (John 7:7). • Fear of man: Social backlash outweighs fear of God (Proverbs 29:25). Consequences of Dismissing God’s Messengers • Spiritual hardening—ears become dull, hearts grow calloused (Isaiah 6:9-10). • Loss of divine protection—Judah’s downfall followed the rejection of Jeremiah (2 Chronicles 36:15-17). • Eternal accountability—“He who rejects you rejects Me” (Luke 10:16). • For the faithful messenger, however: eternal reward (Matthew 5:11-12). Encouragement for Today’s Faithful Messengers • Expect resistance; Scripture forecasts it (John 15:18-20). • Stay anchored in God’s unchanging word (Psalm 119:89). • Speak with humble boldness; results belong to God (1 Corinthians 3:6-7). • Remember the cloud of witnesses who endured before us (Hebrews 12:1). • Look to Christ, the ultimate rejected Cornerstone, for strength and example (1 Peter 2:4-5). Living Out the Lesson • Test every message by Scripture, not popularity (Acts 17:11). • Honor those who preach the whole counsel of God, even when uncomfortable (1 Thessalonians 2:13). • Intercede for boldness in pulpits, classrooms, and households (Ephesians 6:19-20). • Resolve personally never to “pay no heed” when the Lord confronts, corrects, or calls. |
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