Jeremiah 7:3-15

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 7:1-15

These verses begin another sermon, which is continued in this and the two following chapters, much to the same effect with those before, to reason them to repentance. Observe, I. The orders given to the prophet to preach this sermon; for he had not only a general commission, but particular directions and instructions for every message he delivered. This was a word that came to him from the Lord, Jer. 7:1. We are not told when this sermon was to be preached; but are told, 1. Where it must be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 7:3

Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel ,.... The Lord of armies above and below in general, and the God of Israel in particular; wherefore they ought to hearken to what he was about to say, and to be obedient to him: amend your ways and your doings ; or, "make them good" F12 היטיבו דרכיכם "bonas facite vias vestras", V. L. Munster, Pagninus, Montanus; "efficite", &c.; Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. ; which shows that they were bad, and were not agreeable to the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 7:4

Trust ye not in lying words ,.... In the words of the lying prophets, as the Targum; and to the same purpose is the Arabic version, "do not trust in lying words, for the false prophets do not profit you in anything;' the things in which they trusted, and in which the false prophets taught them to place their confidence, were their coming up to the temple at certain times for religious exercises, and their attendance on temple service and worship, offering of sacrifices, and the like. The... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 7:5

For if ye thoroughly amend your ways and your doings ,.... Or, "if ye make your ways good, and do your works well", which is what is exhorted to Jeremiah 7:3 , and respects the duties of the moral law; which are more acceptable to God than legal sacrifices, when done from right principles, and with right views, from love, in faith, and to the glory of God; which is doing good works well; the particulars of which follow: if you thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 7:6

If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow ,.... Who have none to help them, and who ought to have mercy and compassion shown them, as well as justice done them; and should not be injured by private men in their persons and properties, and much less oppressed in courts of judicature by those who should be the patrons and defenders of them: and shed not innocent blood in this place : in the temple, where the sanhedrim, or great court of judicature, sat; for this does... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 7:7

Then will I cause you to dwell in this place ,.... In the land of Judea, and not suffer them to be carried captive, which they had been threatened with, and had reason to expect, should they continue in their sins, in their impenitence and vain confidence: in the land that I gave to your fathers ; to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, by promise; and to the Jewish fathers in the times of Joshua, by putting them in actual possession of it: for ever and ever : for a great while; a long time,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 7:8

Behold, ye trust in lying words ,.... What they are dissuaded from, Jeremiah 7:4 , is here affirmed they did, and which is introduced with a note of asseveration, attention, and admiration; it being a certain thing that they did so; and was what was worthy of their consideration and serious reflection upon; and it was astonishing that they should, since so to do was of no advantage to them, but the contrary: that cannot profit ; temple worship and service, legal sacrifices and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 7:9

Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely ,.... At the same time they offered sacrifices, and trusted in them, they did those things, which would not be grateful to the Lord, nor profitable to them; or, "ye do steal", &c.; so the Septuagint, and all the Oriental versions; and likewise the Targum; as charging them with them; these are sins against the second table of the law, as what follow are against the first: and burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 7:10

And come and stand before me in this house ,.... In the temple; this they did after they had been guilty of such immoralities and idolatry; thinking by their appearance there, and their performance of a few ceremonies, and offering of some sacrifices, that all were atoned for: or this denotes their impudence, that, after the commission of such notorious crimes, they should have the front to come into the house of God, and stand before him, as if they had never departed from him, and were his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 7:11

Is this house, which is called by my name ,.... Meaning the temple: become a den of robbers in your eyes ? or do you look upon it, and make use of it, as thieves do of dens; who, when they have robbed and murdered men, betake themselves to them, not only to share their spoil, but to hide themselves? just so those thieves, murderers adulterers, perjurers, and idolaters, after they had committed such gross enormities, came into the temple and offered sacrifices; thinking hereby to cover... read more

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