How does Jeremiah 27:14 connect with Jesus' warnings about false prophets? Setting the Scene in Jeremiah 27 • In the early years of King Zedekiah, God instructs Jeremiah to warn Judah and the surrounding nations that He has placed them under Nebuchadnezzar’s yoke (Jeremiah 27:1-11). • Competing prophets insist God will soon break Babylon’s power and restore temple vessels—offering an appealing but deceptive message. • Into this confusion Jeremiah speaks: Key Verse: Jeremiah 27:14 “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who say to you, ‘You must not serve the king of Babylon,’ for they are prophesying a lie to you.” Jesus Echoes the Warning “Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” “Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.” “False christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” Parallel Themes between Jeremiah and Jesus 1. Same command: “Do not listen” / “Beware.” • Jeremiah: Reject feel-good words that contradict God’s revealed plan (Jeremiah 27:14-17). • Jesus: Stay alert to teachers who appear pious yet distort truth. 2. Same diagnosis: “They are prophesying a lie” / “Inwardly…wolves.” • Both point to deceit masked by spiritual language (cf. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15). 3. Same test: Fruits and fulfillment. • Jeremiah 28 records Hananiah’s prophecy failing within months, validating Jeremiah. • Jesus: “You will recognize them by their fruit” (Matthew 7:16-20). 4. Same consequence: Destruction for the deceiver and the deceived. • False prophets of Judah die (Jeremiah 28:15-17). • Jesus warns of ruin: “Every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down” (Matthew 7:19). Traits of False Prophets Seen in Both Passages • They promise an easier path than God’s ordained one. • They appeal to nationalistic hopes (freedom from Babylon / political deliverance). • They claim divine authority without divine commissioning (Jeremiah 23:21; Matthew 24:5). • They often enjoy popular approval (Luke 6:26). • Their message contradicts prior revelation. Testing Prophets by Scripture • Isaiah 8:20: “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, there is no light in them.” • Acts 17:11: Bereans “examined the Scriptures daily to see if these teachings were true.” • 1 John 4:1: “Test the spirits to see whether they are from God.” Walking in Discernment Today • Measure every teaching against the whole counsel of God; Scripture cannot contradict itself. • Look for Christ-exalting fruit—humility, holiness, obedience (Galatians 5:22-23; John 15:8). • Expect that truth may be unpopular and costly; the narrow way remains narrow (Matthew 7:13-14). • Remember that God’s Word, not signs, popularity, or emotional pull, is the final authority (Psalm 119:105; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). Jeremiah’s call not to listen to lying prophets perfectly aligns with Jesus’ later warnings: both urge believers to guard their ears, examine claims by Scripture, and follow the true Shepherd, whose voice rings consistently from Genesis through Revelation. |
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