Jeremiah 23:29

Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? IS NOT MY WORD LIKE AS A FIRE? - as the "fire" consumes the "chaff," so "my word" will consume the false prophets (; ). "My word," which is "wheat" - i:e., food-to the true prophet and his hearers, is a consuming "fire" and a crushing "hammer" to false prophets and their followers (, "On whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder"). On this two-fold a power of the Gospel-word, "a savour of life" to believers, "a savour of death" to unbelievers, see . The word of the false prophets may be known by its promising men peace in sin....

He confirms what he said of the chaff and the wheat, but in different words. It was a fit comparison when Jeremiah compared God’s word to wheat, and the figments of men to chaff. But as the Jews, through their ingratitude, rendered the word of God ineffectual, so it did not become to them a spiritual support, the Prophet says that it would become like _a fire _and like a _hammer, _(112) as though he had said, that though the Jews were void of judgment, as they had become hardened in their wickedness, yet the word of God could not be rendered void, or at least its power could not be taken away; for as Paul says, “If it is not the odor of life unto life, it is the odor of death unto death to those who perish,” (2 Corinthians 2:16) and so also the same Apostle says in another place, that God’s servants had vengeance in their power, for they bear the spiritual sword, in

23-32 Men cannot be hidden from God's all-seeing eye. Will they never see what judgments they prepare for themselves? Let them consider what a vast difference there is between these prophecies and those delivered by the true prophets of the Lord. Let them not call their foolish dreams Divine oracles. The promises of peace these prophets make are no more to be compared to God's promises than chaff to wheat. The unhumbled heart of man is like a rock; if not melted by the word of God as a fire, it will be broken to pieces by it as a hammer. How can they be long safe, or at all easy, who have a God of almighty power against them? The word of God is no smooth, lulling, deceitful message. And by its faithfulness it may certainly be distinguished from false doctrines....

Verse Jeremiah 23:29. IS _NOT MY WORD LIKE AS A FIRE?_] It enlightens, warms, and penetrates every part. When it is communicated to the true prophet, it is _like a fire_ shut up in his bones; he cannot retain it, he must publish it: and when published, it is like a _hammer_ that breaks the rock in pieces; it is ever accompanied by a _Divine_ _power_, that causes both sinner and saint to _feel_ its _weight_ and _importance_. In the original words there is something singular: הלוא כה דברי כאש _halo coh debari kaesh_, "Is not thus my word like fire?" I suspect, with Dr. _Blayney_, that כה _coh, thus_, was formerly written כח _coach, strength_ or _power_; and so it was understood by the _Targumist_: "Are not all my words strong, like fire?" and probably the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews read

LIKE AS A FIRE - God’s word is the great purifier which destroys all that is false and aves, only the genuine metal. Compare Hebrews 4:12. LIKE A HAMMER ... - God’s word rouses and strengthens the conscience and crushes within the heart everything that is evil....

EXPOSITION The first eight verses form the necessary conclusion of the group of discourses summarized in Jeremiah 21:1; Jeremiah 22:1. Like Isaiah, our prophet follows up denunciation with consolation, and will have the mind rest on the sure promises of God for the Messianic future. A part of the people has been already scattered abroad. In Jeremiah 24:8, "those who dwell in the land of Egypt" are a section no less important than "those who remain in this land;" and the Babylonian Captivity is an event only too certain to take place (comp. Jeremiah 24:8). Unhappy Judah! for though not free from responsibility, it

[IS] NOT MY WORD LIKE AS A FIRE? SAITH THE LORD,.... The legal part of it is as fire; it is called a "fiery law", Deuteronomy 33:2; like fire, it is quick and piercing, and penetrating into the hearts and consciences of men; and works wrath there, and raises a fearful expectation of fiery indignation; it threatens with everlasting fire; it sentences men to the fire of hell; and the righteous Judge, in the execution of it, will be a consuming fire to wicked men. The Gospel part of the word is like fire, on account of the light the entrance of it gives to sinners; by which they see their own impurity, impotence, and the insufficiency of their own righteousness, and the way of life and salvation by Christ; and by the light of this fire saints are directed in their walk and conversation; and by it immoralities, errors, and superstition, are detected: also on account of the heat of it; it i

Jeremiah 23:1. _Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD._ What a dreadful woe this is upon all false shepherds, those who profess to be sent of God to instruct the people, but who are not sent of God at all, whose labours only result in the scattering of the sheep, and destroying them, instead of gathering them to Christ for their salvation! Jeremiah 23:2. Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them; behold, I will visit upon you, the evil of your doings, saith the LORD. And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds, and they sha

CHAPTER 23:9-40 Condemnation of the False Prophets _ 1. Jeremiah's lament on account of the false prophets (Jeremiah 23:9) _ 2. The condemnation of these prophets (Jeremiah 23:15) 3. Forgotten and forsaken (Jeremiah 23:33) Jeremiah 23:9. The prophet is overwhelmed because of the wicked prophets, because in the LORD's house wickedness was found. The false prophets of Samaria had led the people into idolatry and the prophets of Judah were guilty of all kinds of immoralities. Like priests, like people; they all became unto the Lord as Sodom, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem like Go

THE PROPHETS. Jeremiah is overcome by the stern message given him to deliver. The evil of the land is encouraged by prophet and priest (Jeremiah 6:13), even the Temple being dishonoured (2 Kings 21:5); for this they shall be thrust down a dark and slippery way (Jeremiah 23:9). The immorality of the southern prophets is worse than was the false religion of the northern (Jeremiah 23:13). Hence their punishment (Jeremiah 23:15; cf. Jeremiah 9:15). They inspire