Comment: For this passage of scripture, that is for Jer 23:9-40, we will not follow the normal order of verses but rather, we will combine verses according to the message. Some verses will be combined with other verses that carry the same theme.
- Their Goal of false prophets
10 ……Their course is evil,……..
14 ………they strengthen the hands of evildoers,
so that no one turns from his evil;
…………..27 who think to make my people forget my name by their dreams that they tell one another, even as their fathers forgot my name for Baal?
Word Study:
Comment: Having Discussed the presence of, the deeds of and the lack of mandate of false priests and prophets, having also understood their extend, Let us now look at their goal. What do these false prophets want to achieve. God through Jeremiah gives us 3 goals that these false prophets and priests have. Firstly, in verse 10, Jeremiah says that their goal is evil. They want to bring evil in people’s hearts. They want to spread evil through the world. They want to teach evil. Secondly, Jeremiah says that their goal is to ensure that no one turns from evil by strengthening the power of evil doers. So, not only do they promote evil but they also support evil. At the end they also want to make people forget God using their dreams and visions that don’t come from God.
Message: By claiming new and continuous revelations and power of healing and other supernatural powers, current false prophets and priests, pastors, apostles, men of god, etc are able to continue to make people forget God and His requirements. They have managed to turn God into father christmas who dishes out blessings as and when these false prophets and priests, pastors, apostles, men of god, etc commands Him to do. People no longer care about God but, they now care and listen to those that can command God to dish out blessings. Therefore the goal has not changed and the goal remains turning people away from God to the devil.
- Contrast with the deeds of True Prophets
22 But if they had stood in my council,
then they would have proclaimed my words to my people,
…………
Word Study:
Comment: God says through Jeremiah in verse 22 that, had these false prophets and priests, pastors, apostles, men of god, etc stood in His council, they would have proclaimed what actually God told them to say. Unlike the true prophets, these false prophets and priests, pastors, apostles, men of god, etc have never stood before God to receive the true words of God. Instead now, what they proclaim is not from God but from the devil.
Message: Current false prophets and priests, pastors, apostles, men of god, etc also have not stood before God to hear His words, for what they preach, is not in line with God’s word as revealed in the bible. They claim new revelations that are over and above the bible. Revelations in addition to the bible. Some claim to have visited heaven to hear the word of God, some say God and/or Jesus had visited them, some claim to hear the voice of God and or Jesus and some claim dreams. All this to turn people away from God.
- The Goal and Mark of True Prophets
22 ………and they would have turned them from their evil way,
and from the evil of their deeds.
Word Study: The word “sub” is the word from which the word “turned” comes from. It means to turn back, re-establish, to restore
Comment: God says through Jeremiah that, had these false prophets and priests, pastors, apostles, men of god, etc truly had stood before God to hear and speak the words of God, the end result of their ministry, their preaching would have resulted in people turning away from their evil ways and from the evil that is brought about by their deeds. So, a clear indication on how to identify a false prophets, priests, pastors, apostles, men of god, etc. All one has to do is to observe those that are under these false prophets, priests, pastors, apostles, men of god, etc. If the congregation generally turns away and continue to turn away from evil as a result of their preaching, then the prophet is truly from God but, if the congregation shows no inclination towards turning away from evil but rather stay on their evil ways, this is an indication that the prophet is false.
Message: The same test applies today as well, most of what we see from these congregations is that they are moving further and further away from God. These false prophets and priests, pastors, apostles, men of god, etc are getting more and more rich and living extravagant lifestyles while the congregation is getting more and more sinful and poor. The congregations have completely rejected God and they now serve those that can command God to dish out blessings. What we see in the congregations is a mad frenzy of people rolling on the floor, crying, screaming, and other very horrific and embarrassing acts.
What is our responsibility regarding these false prophets and priests, pastors, apostles, men of god, etc. For that, Wait for Part 3