Jeremiah 23:21-22

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 23:9-32

Here is a long lesson for the false prophets. As none were more bitter and spiteful against God's true prophets than they, so there were none on whom the true prophets were more severe, and justly. The prophet had complained to God of those false prophets (Jer. 14:13), and had often foretold that they should be involved in the common ruin; but here they have woes of their own. I. He expresses the deep concern that he was under upon this account, and what a trouble it was to him to see men who... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 23:21

I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran ,.... They might be sent of men, and be encouraged by them; but they were not sent of God: it is not only necessary that men employed in religious affairs should have an external call, in an orderly way, from the church of God; but also an internal call from the Lord himself; he qualifying them with gifts, putting his word into their mouths, and inclining their hearts to publish it; see Hebrews 5:4 ; but these false prophets had no mission nor... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 23:22

But if they had stood in my counsel ,.... As they boasted they did; or, as they reproached the true prophets, and charged them with vanity and arrogance, in talking as if they had; had this been truly their case, as it was that of the prophets of the Lord: and had caused my people to hear my words ; or, "then they would have caused my people to hear my words"; had it been so, they would have heard first the words of the Lord themselves in secret and privately, and then they would have... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 23:21

I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran - Not to save souls, but to profit themselves. I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied - They never received the word at my mouth; yet they went, publishing their own deceits, and pretending them to be revelations from God. The churches which have legal emoluments are ever in danger of being overrun and ruined by worldly and self-interested priests. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 23:21

Verse 21 The Prophet again warns the Jews not to be perverted by the flatteries of false teachers, and not to disregard the threatenings of God. We have already said that the minds of the people were then lulled asleep by false teachers, who promised them impunity. And there is no evil worse than when false teachers, under the name of God, flatter us, and drive away every fear and concern for our souls. This evil prevailed among the ancient people, as it does also at this day. Indeed the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 23:22

Verse 22 This verse is as it were an explanation of the former; for many might have been perplexed, if it had only been said to them, that there are none who are fit and legitimate teachers but those who had been sent and entrusted with what God had commanded. Hence the Prophet here calls our attention to the truth which is certain and manifest; for God had delivered the sum of all truth in his Law. As then the perfection of wisdom was found in the Law, from which the prophets drew whatever we... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 23:1-40

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 23:9-40

These verses form a complete prophecy, the title of which Jeremiah himself supplies in the words, "Concerning the (false) prophets" (see below); comp. Jeremiah 46:2 ; Jeremiah 48:1 ; Jeremiah 49:1 , Jeremiah 49:7 , Jeremiah 49:23 , Jeremiah 49:28 . It is true the rendering of the Authorized Version ( Jeremiah 49:9 ), Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets , is not purely arbitrary; it is favored by the exegetical tradition represented by the Hebrew accents.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 23:16-22

A warning addressed to the people against the false prophecies (comp. Ezekiel 13:1-23 .). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 23:16-22

Trying the spirits. In Jeremiah 23:18 read, "For who hath stood in the counsel of Jehovah? Let him see and hear his word: who hath marked his word? Let him proclaim it." I. HEARERS ARE TO DISCRIMINATE BETWEEN FALSE PROPHETS AND TRUE . A very serious permission. But not for an occasion only: to be exercised whenever the witnesses conflict. The essential principle of Protestantism. The prophet is one who speaks in God's Name and reveals his will. The question,... read more

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