“The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the words you have heard. Now therefore mend your ways and your deeds, and obey the voice of the Lord your God, and the Lord will relent of the disaster that he has pronounced against you. But as for me, behold, I am in your hands. Do with me as seems good and right to you.” (Jeremiah 26:12b-14)
The prophetic message of coming judgment that Jeremiah preached was quite unpopular with the people of Judah. The message was God’s warning that He was about to punish His people for their idolatry and faithlessness. Thus it is no surprise that when Jeremiah preached that message in the Temple courts he provoked the anger of the priests and their false prophets, the religious authorities of the nation. Jeremiah’s message contradicted theirs and offended them. They did not want to hear the truth about their own sinfulness. They claimed that he was a false prophet who should be punished with death.
The reactions of those religious officials shows us the depravity of the human mind. Many people both then as now, set themselves up as religious, spiritual, or moral authorities because they have a credential such as an academic degree, high position, fame, or title. These often claim the moral authority to dictate right and wrong to everyone else. Many of them claim to know God, to be intimate with Him, or to be in touch with their powers that be or the universal spirit. Academia and the media often hail such folk as authoritative sources when they need someone to speak about God or religion. However, the things they say reveal that few of them know Jesus. What they often proclaim is the truth as they see it, that truth is relative. They refrain from talking about sin, sinful lifestyles, idolatry and false religions. Like the priests and prophets of Judah they do not want to disturb the status quo by antagonizing people or making them feel guilt, poor self-esteem or the need for repentance. The truth hurts and offends so those who do not know Christ will try to suppress it by legal means, harassment or violence. But we who have faith in Christ are called to speak the truth like Jeremiah did despite the opposition and the consequences.