How does Jeremiah 23:28 relate to 2 Timothy 3:16 about Scripture's purpose? Setting the Scene Jeremiah 23 confronts false prophets who peddle dreams instead of God’s authentic word. Centuries later, Paul writes to Timothy about the divine origin and practical value of Scripture. Side-by-side, these passages reinforce why authentic revelation must guide God’s people—and what happens when it does. Jeremiah 23:28 – Wheat vs. Chaff “Let the prophet who has a dream tell his dream; but let him who has My word speak it faithfully. For what is straw compared to grain? declares the LORD.” • Two voices: – “Dream” = human imagination, fleeting and empty (straw). – “My word” = God’s revealed truth, nourishing and enduring (grain). • Call to faithfulness: speak only what God has actually said. • Implied purpose: preserve, sustain, and feed God’s people with spiritual substance. 2 Timothy 3:16 – God-Breathed and Profitable “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness,” • Source: “God-breathed” (θεόπνευστος)—directly from the mouth of God. • Uses: – Instruction (teaching truth) – Conviction (exposing error) – Correction (restoring to right path) – Training in righteousness (forming Christlike character) Bringing the Two Passages Together • Authentic vs. counterfeit – Jeremiah contrasts wheat with chaff; Paul confirms only God-breathed words possess lasting value. • Nourishment and transformation – Grain nourishes; Scripture instructs, corrects, and trains—spiritual nutrition producing maturity (Hebrews 5:14). • Faithfulness of the messenger – Jeremiah demands faithful proclamation; Paul entrusts Timothy to “preach the word” (2 Timothy 4:2). • Divine authority – Both passages ground authority in God’s own speech, not human insight (Psalm 119:160; Isaiah 55:10-11). Practical Takeaways for Today • Test every message by the written Word—reject chaff, cling to wheat (1 Thessalonians 5:21). • Expect Scripture to shape every area of life: beliefs, attitudes, choices. • Share the Word with confidence; its power rests in God, not our eloquence (Hebrews 4:12). • Regularly partake of Scripture’s “grain” so you can discern and withstand empty “dreams” (Ephesians 4:14). |
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