Connect Jeremiah 28:6 with Matthew 7:15 on recognizing false prophets. Setting the Scene in Jeremiah 28 Jeremiah stands in the temple courts while the popular prophet Hananiah promises swift liberation from Babylon. Jeremiah’s reply seems agreeable at first: “Amen! May the LORD do so. May the LORD fulfill the words you have prophesied and bring back from Babylon to this place the vessels of the house of the LORD and all the exiles.” Yet Jeremiah’s “Amen” is not an endorsement; it is a sober wish followed by a demand that the prophecy meet God’s standard. Jeremiah will soon expose Hananiah as a liar (vv. 15-17), proving that the true prophet waits for the Lord’s confirmation before giving unquestioned assent. Jesus Echoes the Warning in Matthew 7 “Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” Our Lord brings the principle into every generation. While Jeremiah dealt with one deceptive voice, Jesus alerts His disciples to an ongoing danger: counterfeit messengers who look safe, sound persuasive, and yet devour the flock. Shared Lesson: Do Not Confuse Polite Words with Proven Truth • Jeremiah shows that even a godly “Amen” must be measured against fulfillment and faithfulness to God’s word. • Jesus teaches that friendly exteriors are no guarantee of inward loyalty to God. • Both passages insist we use divine criteria, not personal preference or emotional appeal, to evaluate spiritual claims. Scriptural Tests for Every Prophet • Consistency with prior revelation – Deuteronomy 13:1-3 warns against any sign-working prophet who lures us away from God’s commands. • Accuracy of prediction – Deuteronomy 18:21-22: “If the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing the LORD has not spoken.” • Christ-centered confession – 1 John 4:1-3 tells believers to “test the spirits” by their stance toward Jesus’ incarnation and lordship. • God-honoring fruit – Matthew 7:16,20: “By their fruit you will recognize them.” • Scriptural accountability – Acts 17:11 praises the Bereans for examining “the Scriptures daily to see if these teachings were true.” Practical Takeaways for Today • Reserve final judgment until claims are examined by Scripture and time. Jeremiah waited; so can we. • Listen for gospel fidelity. A prophet whose message diminishes Christ’s cross or authority fails the test. • Watch the lifestyle. Servants of truth display humility, purity, and sacrificial love, not manipulation or greed (2 Peter 2:1-3). • Hold fast to the written Word. Because God’s Word is infallible, it is the unchanging plumb line against which every new voice must be measured (Isaiah 8:20; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). |
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