What is the meaning of Jeremiah 17:20? Say to them Jeremiah receives a direct charge. The imperative “Say” places the prophet under divine orders, not personal inclination. • Jeremiah acts as a mouthpiece, echoing Jeremiah 1:7, 17 (BSB: “You must go to everyone I send you and speak whatever I command you”). • Ezekiel 3:11 shows the same pattern—prophets speak only what God puts in their mouths. • This reminds us that God still speaks with authority today through His written Word; our task mirrors Jeremiah’s—simply pass it on without alteration. Hear the word of the LORD The call is not to admire or debate but to listen with the intent to obey. • Deuteronomy 6:4–5 begins the Shema the same way: “Hear, O Israel,” linking true hearing with wholehearted love. • Isaiah 1:10 rebukes rulers who “hear the word of the LORD” yet ignore it; James 1:22 urges believers to be doers, not merely hearers. • In Jeremiah 11:2 God says, “Hear the words of this covenant,” underscoring that covenant life hinges on receptive hearts. O kings of Judah Leadership is addressed first, because responsibility starts at the top. • Jeremiah 22:2 instructs the king to “hear the word of the LORD, O king of Judah…you and your officials and your people.” • 2 Kings 23:1-3 shows King Josiah modeling obedience by reading the Book of the Covenant publicly. • Psalm 2:10-12 counsels kings to “be wise” and “serve the LORD with fear,” reminding civil leaders that they are under divine authority. all people of Judah and Jerusalem The message embraces everyone, rejecting any notion that holiness is for clergy alone. • Deuteronomy 29:10-11 calls “all of you, your leaders and tribes…your women and children” to stand in covenant. • Joel 2:15-17 gathers elders, infants, and newlyweds alike for national repentance. • Acts 2:39 extends the promise “to you and your children and to all who are afar off,” showing God’s inclusive heart through every era. who enter through these gates The setting is the city gates—places of worship, commerce, and justice. The audience is about to step into the public square or the temple; God meets them at the threshold. • Jeremiah 17:19 locates the prophet “in the gate of the people,” signaling strategic positioning where decisions are made. • Jeremiah 7:2 commands him to “stand in the gate of the LORD’s house” and proclaim truth to worshipers. • Psalm 24:7 calls, “Lift up your heads, O gates,” anticipating the King of Glory; righteous conduct at the gates honors that coming King. summary Jeremiah 17:20 pictures God halting every rank of society—rulers, citizens, worshipers—at the very entry point of daily life and communal worship. Through His prophet He insists, “Listen to My Word.” The verse underscores three timeless truths: God’s message is authoritative, obedience is universal, and accountability begins the moment we step into the public sphere. |
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