How does Jeremiah 27:18 connect with New Testament teachings on false prophets? Setting the stage in Jeremiah 27 • Judah is under threat from Babylon. • False prophets promise swift deliverance; Jeremiah warns of continued exile. • Jeremiah 27:18: “But if they are prophets and if the word of the LORD is with them, let them now make an appeal to the LORD of Hosts, that the vessels that remain in the house of the LORD, in the royal palace of Judah, and in Jerusalem would not go to Babylon.” What Jeremiah 27:18 teaches about true vs. false prophets • True prophets back their message with prayerful intercession that God answers. • Their words align with previous revelation and soon-verifiable events. • False prophets offer comforting promises but cannot move heaven to act. Jesus’ words on false prophets • Matthew 7:15-20—“You will recognize them by their fruit.” • Matthew 24:11, 24—many false prophets will deceive, even performing “great signs.” • Like Jeremiah, Jesus demands evidence: authentic fruit and conformity to God’s revealed will. Apostolic warnings • 2 Peter 2:1—false teachers secretly introduce destructive heresies. • 1 John 4:1—“Test the spirits to see whether they are from God.” • 2 Timothy 4:3-4—people gather teachers who say what itching ears want to hear. • Acts 20:29-30—wolves arise “from among your own number.” Shared principles between Jeremiah and the New Testament • Test every message: – Does it align with prior Scripture? (Isaiah 8:20) – Does it exalt Christ as Lord? (1 John 4:2-3) – Is there confirmed fruit and answered prayer? – Does it embrace the hard parts of God’s plan, not just pleasant promises? • God himself vindicates true messengers; time and events expose the false. • Deception often comes from within the covenant community, so vigilance is essential. Practical takeaways for today • Measure every prophetic or teaching claim by the whole counsel of God’s Word. • Look for humble intercession and sacrificial fruit, not showy predictions. • Expect that truth may include warnings and calls to repentance, just as Jeremiah delivered. • Trust that the Lord still safeguards His people by exposing error and confirming truth, just as He did from Jeremiah’s day to the days of the apostles. |
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