How does Jeremiah 6:28 describe the people's behavior and spiritual condition? Setting the Scene Jeremiah ministered during Judah’s final decades before Babylon’s invasion. Chapter 6 records God’s warning that judgment is near because the nation will not repent. Text of Jeremiah 6:28 “They are all hardened rebels, walking around as slanderers. They are bronze and iron; they all act corruptly.” Key Words and Phrases • “Hardened rebels” – indicates stubborn resistance, a will set against the Lord’s commands (cf. Exodus 32:9). • “Walking around as slanderers” – daily life marked by false accusations and destructive speech (cf. Psalm 101:5). • “Bronze and iron” – metals that resist refinement; symbol of spiritual insensitivity and moral density (cf. Isaiah 48:4). • “All act corruptly” – corruption is universal among them, echoing Genesis 6:12 (“all flesh had corrupted their way”). Spiritual Diagnosis Revealed • Stubbornness: They refuse correction; hearts are calloused. • Vocal sin: Their tongues spread lies, betraying a deeper rebellion. • Unrefinable nature: Like base metals that will not purify in the furnace, their character resists God’s refining work. • Total depravity of the community: Not an isolated few, but “all” share the guilt (see Isaiah 1:5-6). Supporting Scriptures • Proverbs 29:1 – “A man who remains stiff-necked after much reproof will suddenly be broken…” • Zechariah 7:11-12 – “They made their hearts like flint, so they could not hear…” • Romans 3:13-14 – Paul echoes Jeremiah when describing humanity’s sinful speech and actions. • Hebrews 3:13 – Sin’s deceit hardens the heart, just as Jeremiah observed. Takeaways for Today • Persistent sin hardens; respond quickly to conviction. • Words reveal the heart—guard speech to avoid becoming “slanderers.” • God’s refining fire aims to purify; resisting it leaves one spiritually “bronze and iron.” • National or communal decay begins with individual choices; personal repentance matters. |
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