How does Jeremiah 28:17 connect with Deuteronomy 18:20 on false prophets? Scripture passages Jeremiah 28:17: “In that very year, in the seventh month, the prophet Hananiah died.” Deuteronomy 18:20: “But the prophet who presumes to speak a message in My name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods—that prophet must be put to death.” The standard Moses gave in Deuteronomy 18 • God alone authorizes prophetic words (vv. 18–19). • Two tests expose pretenders (vv. 20–22): – Content: does the message match what God has already revealed? – Confirmation: does the word come to pass? • Penalty for failure: death (v. 20). No appeals, no partial credit. Hananiah’s bold but empty claim (Jeremiah 28:1-16) • In the fifth month of King Zedekiah’s fourth year, Hananiah publicly broke the yoke Jeremiah was wearing and proclaimed, “Within two years I will break the yoke of Babylon” (vv. 2-4,10-11). • Jeremiah initially leaves the scene, then returns with the Lord’s rebuttal: “You have made this people trust in a lie… this year you will die” (vv. 15-16). • Hananiah’s words contradicted prior revelation (Jeremiah 25:11-12; 27:6-11). He failed test #1 immediately. Point-by-point connection • Presumption: Hananiah “presumes to speak a message in My name that I have not commanded” (Deuteronomy 18:20; Jeremiah 28:15). • Public platform: both passages envision an audience misled by a counterfeit spokesman. • Divine sentence: “that prophet must be put to death” (Deuteronomy 18:20) parallels “this year you will die” (Jeremiah 28:16). • Timely fulfillment: the seventh month death (Jeremiah 28:17) satisfies test #2—events proved the message false and the penalty just. • Lesson internalized: the people of Judah received a living illustration that God enforces His Word precisely. Why Jeremiah 28:17 matters • Validates Jeremiah’s office—the true prophet predicts the fate of the false one and it unfolds exactly. • Demonstrates God’s unwavering commitment to protect His revelation (cf. Jeremiah 23:31-32; Ezekiel 13:1-9). • Underscores that God, not human authorities, ultimately executes judgment on deceptive voices. Additional scriptural echoes • Deuteronomy 18:21-22—criteria for assessing prophecy. • 1 Kings 22:13-28—Micaiah vs. the 400 prophets, similar clash. • Matthew 7:15-23—Jesus warns of wolves in sheep’s clothing; fruit exposes reality. • 1 John 4:1—“Test the spirits,” an ongoing mandate drawn from the same Mosaic standard. Take-home reflections • God’s Word is non-negotiable; contradicting it invites judgment. • Accuracy in prophecy is not approximate—either wholly true or wholly false. • Fulfillment of Jeremiah 28:17 illustrates that every detail of Scripture stands firm; promises and warnings alike will be completed. |
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