Jeremiah 2-10

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 2

It is probable that this chapter was Jeremiah's first sermon after his ordination; and a most lively pathetic sermon it is as any we have is all the books of the prophets. Let him not say, ?I cannot speak, for I am a child;? for, God having touched his mouth and put his words into it, none can speak better. The scope of the chapter is to show God's people their transgressions, even the house of Jacob their sins; it is all by way of reproof and conviction, that they might be brought to repent... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 2:1-8

Here is, I. A command given to Jeremiah to go and carry a message from God to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. He was charged in general (Jer. 1:17) to go and speak to them; here he is particularly charged to go and speak this to them. Note, It is good for ministers by faith and prayer to take out a fresh commission when they address themselves solemnly to any part of their work. Let a minister carefully compare what he has to deliver with the word of God, and see that it agrees with it, that he... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 2:9-13

The prophet, having shown their base ingratitude in forsaking God, here shows their unparalleled fickleness and folly (Jer. 2:9): I will yet plead with you. Note, Before God punishes sinners he pleads with them, to bring them to repentance. Note, further, When much has been said of the evil of sin, still there is more to be said; when one article of the charge is made good, there is another to be urged; when we have said a great deal, still we have yet to speak on God's behalf, Job 36:2. Those... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 2:14-19

The prophet, further to evince the folly of their forsaking God, shows them what mischiefs they had already brought upon themselves by so doing; it had already cost them dear, for to this were owing all the calamities their country was now groaning under, which were but an earnest of more and greater if they repented not. See how they smarted for their folly. I. Their neighbours, who were their professed enemies, prevailed against them, and this was owing to their sin. 1. They were enslaved... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 2:20-28

In these verses the prophet goes on with his charge against this backsliding people. Observe here, I. The sin itself that he charges them with?idolatry, that great provocation which they were so notoriously guilty of. 1. They frequented the places of idol-worship (Jer. 2:20): ?Upon every high hill and under every green tree, in the high places and the groves, such as the heathen had a foolish fondness and veneration for, thou wanderest, first to one and then to another, like one unsettled, and... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 2:29-37

The prophet here goes on in the same strain, aiming to bring a sinful people to repentance, that their destruction might be prevented. I. He avers the truth of the charge. It was evident beyond contradiction; it was the greatest absurdity imaginable in them to think of denying it (Jer. 2:29): ?Wherefore will you plead with me, and put me upon the proof of it, or wherefore will you go about to plead any thing in excuse of the crime or to obtain a mitigation of the sentence? Your plea will... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 2

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 2 This chapter contains the prophet's message from the Lord to the people of the Jews; in which they are reminded of their former favours, in order to aggravate their sins and transgressions they were chargeable with; to show their ingratitude and unkindness, and to bring them to a conviction and acknowledgment of their iniquities, without which punishment would be inflicted on them. The preface to this message is in Jeremiah 2:1 , and the discourse begins with... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 2:1

Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me, saying. Here begins the book, and Jeremiah's first sermon; and the following contains the message he was sent with, to which the preceding chapter is only a preface or introduction. The Targum calls it, "the word of the prophecy from before the Lord.' read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 2:2

Go, and cry in the ears of Jerusalem ,.... Of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the metropolis of Judea. The prophet seems now to have been at Anathoth, and therefore is bid to go from thence to Jerusalem, and there prophesy before the people in it, as the Targum paraphrases it: saying, thus saith the Lord, I remember thee ; the Lord never forgets his people, though they sometimes think he does; it cannot be for they are engraven on the palms of his hands, yea, are set as a seal on his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 2:3

Israel was holiness unto the Lord ,.... When first brought out of Egypt into the wilderness, by the Lord's choice and separation of them to be a holy people to him above all others; by covenant with him, and profession of him; and by his giving them holy laws, and placing a sanctuary among them; and by their high priest, who represented them in the most holy place; and had on the front of his mitre written, holiness unto the Lord ; so the spiritual Israel are chosen in Christ to be holy,... read more

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