Jeremías 23:12-22

12 Por tanto, como resbaladeros en oscuridad les será su camino; serán empujados, y caerán en él; porque yo traeré mal sobre ellos, año de su visitación, dice el SEÑOR

13 Y en los profetas de Samaria vi locura: profetizaban en Baal, e hicieron errar a mi pueblo Israel

14 Y en los profetas de Jerusalén vi torpezas; cometían adulterios, y andaban por mentira, y esforzaban las manos de los malos, para que ninguno se convirtiera de su malicia; me fueron todos ellos como los moradores de Sodoma, y sus moradores como Gomorra

15 Por tanto, así dijo el SEÑOR de los ejércitos contra aquellos profetas: He aquí que yo les hago comer ajenjo, y les haré beber aguas de hiel; porque de los profetas de Jerusalén salió la hipocresía sobre toda la tierra

16 Así dijo el SEÑOR de los ejércitos: No escuchéis las palabras de los profetas que os profetizan; os hacen desvanecer; hablan visión de su corazón, no de la boca del SEÑOR

17 Dicen atrevidamente a los que me aíran: El SEÑOR dijo: Paz tendréis; y a cualquiera que anda tras la imaginación de su corazón, dijeron: No vendrá mal sobre vosotros

18 Porque ¿quién estuvo en el secreto del SEÑOR, y vio, y oyó su palabra? ¿Quién estuvo atento a su palabra, y oyó

19 He aquí que la tempestad del SEÑOR saldrá con furor; y la tempestad que está aparejada, caerá sobre la cabeza de los malos

20 No se apartará el furor del SEÑOR, hasta tanto que haya hecho, y hasta tanto que haya cumplido los pensamientos de su corazón; en lo postrero de los días lo entenderéis con entendimiento

21 No envié yo a aquellos profetas, y ellos corrían; yo no les hablé, y ellos profetizaban

22 Y si ellos hubieran estado en mi secreto, también hubieran hecho oír mis palabras a mi pueblo; y les hubieran hecho volver de su mal camino, y de la maldad de sus obras

Jeremías 23:12-22 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 23

This chapter contains threatenings to the Jewish governors, and to their priests and prophets, on account of their manifold sins; intermixed with gracious promises to the Lord's people, and particularly with a famous promise of the Messiah. The pastors or governors of Israel are charged with scattering and driving away the Lord's flock, for which they are threatened, Jer 23:1,2; and a promise is made of the gathering of the remnant of them, and of setting up other shepherds over them, under whom they should increase, and be comfortable, Jer 23:3,4; particularly the Messiah is promised; as David's righteous Branch; as a prosperous and righteous King; as the author of righteousness to his people, under whom they should have salvation and safety, Jer 23:5,6; so that in comparison of this salvation, the deliverance out of Egypt should not be spoken of, Jer 23:7,8; and then follows a sad complaint of the priests and prophets; of their profaneness, their adultery, swearing, lying, hypocrisy, and deception of the people; for all which they are severely threatened, Jer 23:9-15; wherefore the people are exhorted not to hearken to them, promising them peace and safety; whereas, by attending to the word of God, it might easily be seen that a storm of wrath was gone forth, and was ready to break, and would fall upon the head of the wicked, to the executing of the thoughts and purposes of God's heart, Jer 23:16-20; and the Lord declares he had not sent these prophets, as might be known from their not turning the people from their evil ways, Jer 23:21,22; whose conduct and behaviour could not be hid from the sight of the Lord, nor their prophecies from his ears, which were no other than dreams, and the deceits of their own hearts; and there was as great a difference between them and the word of the Lord, as between chaff and wheat; seeing his word in his hand is of great virtue and efficacy, whereas there was none in theirs, Jer 23:23-29; wherefore the Lord declares himself to be against these prophets, for stealing his word from their neighbour; for making use of his name, when they were not sent by him; and for causing the people to err by their lies, Jer 23:30-32; and both people, priest, and prophet, are severely threatened for jeering and scoffing at the word of the Lord, calling it the burden of the Lord; which phrase they are forbid to use in a sneering way; and should they persist in it, they are told that God would forsake and forget them, and cast them out, and everlastingly punish them, Jer 23:39,40.