Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Jeremiah
Book: Jeremiah
Chapter: 26
Overview:
The
Destruction of the
Temple and
City foretold.
(1-6)
Jeremiah's
Life is threatened.
(7-15) He is defended
By the
elders.
(16-24)
1-6 God's ambassadors must not seek to please men, or to save
themselves from harm. See how
God waits to be gracious. If they
persisted in disobedience, it would ruin their
City and
Temple.
Can any thing else be expected? Those who will not be subject to
the commands of
God, make themselves subject to the
Curse of
God.
7-15 The priests and prophets charged
Jeremiah as deserving
Death, and bore false
Witness against him. The elders of
Israel
came to inquire into this matter.
Jeremiah declares that the
Lord sent him to prophesy thus. As long as ministers keep close
to the
Word they have from
God, they need not fear. And those
are very unjust who complain of ministers for preaching of
Hell
and
Damnation; for it is from a desire to bring them to
Heaven
and
Salvation.
Jeremiah warns them of their danger if they go
On
against him. All men may know, that to hurt, or
Put to
Death, or
to show
Hatred to their
Faithful reprovers, will hasten and
increase their own
Punishment.
16-24 When secure sinners are threatened with taking away the
Spirit of
God, and the
Kingdom of God, it is what is warranted
from the
Word of God.
Hezekiah who protected
Micah, prospered.
Did
Jehoiakim, who slew
Urijah, prosper? The examples of bad
men, and the bad consequences of their sins, should deter from
what is evil.
Urijah was
Faithful in delivering his message, but
faulty in leaving his work. And the
Lord was pleased to permit
him to lose his
Life, while
Jeremiah was protected in danger.
Those are safest who most simply trust in the
Lord, whatever
their outward circumstances may be; and that He has all men's
hearts in his hands, encourages us to trust him in the way of
duty. He will honour and recompense those who show kindness to
such as are persecuted for his sake.