9 As for the prophets : My heart is broken within me, All my bones tremble ; I have become like a drunken man , Even like a man overcome with wine , Because e of the Lord And because e of His holy words . 10 For the land is full of adulterers ; For the land mourns because e of the curse . The pastures of the wilderness have dried up. Their course also is evil And their might is not right . 11 "For both prophet and priest are polluted ; Even in My house I have found their wickedness ," declares the Lord . 12 "Therefore their way will be like slippery paths to them, They will be driven away into the gloom and fall down in it; For I will bring calamity upon them, The year of their punishment ," declares the Lord . 13 "Moreover, among the prophets of Samaria I saw an offensive thing : They prophesied by Baal and led My people Israel astray . 14 "Also among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing : The committing of adultery and walking in falsehood ; And they strengthen the hands of evildoers , So that no one has turned back from his wickedness . All of them have become to Me like Sodom , And her inhabitants like Gomorrah 15 "Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts concerning the prophets , 'Behold , I am going to feed them wormwood And make them drink poisonous water , For from the prophets of Jerusalem Pollution has gone forth into all the land .' " 16 Thus says the Lord of hosts , " Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you. They are leading you into futility ; They speak a vision of their own imagination , Not from the mouth of the Lord . 17 "They keep saying to those who despise Me, 'The Lord has said , " You will have peace "'; And as for everyone who walks in the stubbornness of his own heart , They say , ' Calamity will not come upon you.' 18 "But who has stood in the council of the Lord , That he should see and hear His word ? Who has given heed to His word and listened ? 19 "Behold , the storm of the Lord has gone forth in wrath , Even a whirling tempest ; It will swirl down on the head of the wicked 20 "The anger of the Lord will not turn back Until He has performed and carried out the purposes of His heart ; In the last days you will clearly understand it. 21 " I did not send these prophets , But they ran . I did not speak to them, But they prophesied 22 "But if they had stood in My council , Then they would have announced My words to My people , And would have turned them back from their evil way And from the evil of their deeds .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Jeremiah 23:9-22
Commentary on Jeremiah 23:9-22
(Read Jeremiah 23:9-22)
The false prophets of Samaria had deluded the Israelites into idolatries; yet the Lord considered the false prophets of Jerusalem as guilty of more horrible wickedness, by which the people were made bold in sin. These false teachers would be compelled to suffer the most bitter part of the Lord's indignation. They made themselves believe that there was no harm in sin, and practised accordingly; then they made others believe so. Those who are resolved to go on in evil ways, will justly be given up to believe strong delusions. But which of them had received any revelation of God, or understood any thing of his word? There was a time coming when they would reflect on their folly and unbelief with remorse. The teaching and example of the true prophets led men to repentance, faith, and righteousness. The false prophets led men to rest in forms and notions, and to be quiet in their sins. Let us take heed that we do not follow unrighteousness.