Confronting False Prophets

In Lesson 5, we explored God's sovereignty over nations and individuals, Judah's broken covenant, the persecution of Jeremiah, and the judgment pronounced on the last kings of Judah.

Jeremiah's visit to the potter's house illustrated God's control over nations, just as a potter can reshape a flawed vessel, God can bless or destroy a nation based on its response to Him (Jeremiah 18:1-10).

However, Judah refused to yield to God's shaping, insisting on following their own stubborn hearts. Because of this rebellion, God commanded Jeremiah to shatter a clay jar before the elders and priests, symbolizing Judah's irreversible judgment (Jeremiah 19:1-11).

Judah's disobedience led to severe consequences. They polluted the temple with idolatry and engaged in child sacrifices in the Valley of Hinnom (Jeremiah 19:4-6). When Jeremiah publicly proclaimed their coming destruction, the priest Pashhur had him beaten and imprisoned (Jeremiah 20:1-6).

This persecution weighed heavily on Jeremiah, leading him to lament his calling, yet he could not keep silent, for God's word was like a fire burning within him (Jeremiah 20:9).

In chapters 21-22, Jeremiah delivered prophecies against Judah's last kings, declaring that their failure to lead with justice would result in the downfall of their dynasty.

King Zedekiah, hoping for deliverance from Babylon, was told that God Himself would fight against Jerusalem and that their only hope was surrender (Jeremiah 21:1-10). God also pronounced specific judgments on past rulers:

• Shallum (Jehoahaz) would die in exile in Egypt (Jeremiah 22:11-12).
• Jehoiakim would have a dishonorable burial, dragged outside the gates of Jerusalem like a dead animal (Jeremiah 22:18-19).
• Coniah (Jehoiachin) was cursed, and none of his descendants would ever sit on David's throne again (Jeremiah 22:24-30), marking the end of Judah's monarchy until the coming of Jesus Christ, the Messiah.

Transition to Lesson 6:
Prophecies of Judgment and Hope (Jeremiah 23-29)

Having seen the collapse of Judah's leadership, we now turn to God's indictment against false prophets and leaders who misled the people. In Lesson 6, we will examine:

• The contrast between corrupt leaders and the coming Righteous Branch (Messianic prophecy in Jeremiah 23:1-8).
• The exposure of false prophets who speak lies in God's name (Jeremiah 23:9-40).
• God's confrontation with Hananiah, the false prophet who denied Babylon's power (Jeremiah 28).
• Jeremiah's letter to the exiles, urging them to seek God in their captivity (Jeremiah 29).

Despite the overwhelming judgment and destruction, hope remains, God promises a future restoration for His people and the coming of a true and righteous King.

I. Confronting False Prophets (Jeremiah 23-29)

Jeremiah 23-29 focuses on one of the greatest threats to God's people: false prophets who mislead them with lies and false hopes. These chapters expose their deception, contrast their messages with God's truth, and provide a timeless warning about spiritual deception.

Jeremiah's confrontation with false prophets is just as relevant today, as many distort God's Word for personal gain, political power, or self-promotion. This section also includes God's promise to the exiles, a passage often misapplied in modern Christianity.

A. The Rise of False Prophets and Their Lies

Jeremiah faced fierce opposition from self-proclaimed prophets who claimed to speak for God but instead led the people astray. These men told Judah what they wanted to hear, assuring them that peace and security would continue, even as Babylon's armies threatened Jerusalem.

Instead of calling for repentance, these false prophets encouraged rebellion against God's warnings. God declares His judgment on these deceivers, making it clear that they have not been sent by Him:

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.
- Jeremiah 23:16

The greatest danger of these false prophets was that they gave the people a false sense of security. Instead of warning them about the coming Babylonian exile, they preached comfort and prosperity, leading the people into a state of spiritual complacency.

Because of their lies, many refused to repent, believing that God would never allow Jerusalem to fall. God exposes the source of their deception, they are motivated by personal ambition rather than a true calling from God. He condemns them, saying:

"I did not send these prophets,
But they ran.
I did not speak to them,
But they prophesied.
- Jeremiah 23:21

B. The Contrast Between True and False Messages

God challenges Judah to discern between true and false messages by showing the difference between His Word and the empty dreams of false prophets. The contrast is striking:

1. False prophets proclaim peace when there is no peace.

"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.'
- Jeremiah 23:17

These prophets reassured sinners that God was not angry, deceiving them into believing that they could continue in rebellion without consequence. This is similar to many modern preachers who downplay sin, preaching comfort without repentance.

2. True prophets call for repentance and warn of consequences.

"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.
- Jeremiah 23:22

A true prophet delivers God's actual message, even when it is difficult or unpopular. Jeremiah, unlike the false prophets, warned that Babylon was coming as God's judgment, urging the people to turn back before it was too late.

3. False messages are like straw; God's Word is like fire.

"Is not My word like fire?" declares the Lord, "and like a hammer which shatters a rock?
- Jeremiah 23:29

The words of false prophets are weak and empty, like straw that has no substance. God's Word has power, it convicts, refines, and brings true transformation.

4. False prophets borrow messages from each other; true prophets receive directly from God.

Behold, I am against those who have prophesied false dreams," declares the Lord, "and related them and led My people astray by their falsehoods and reckless boasting; yet I did not send them or command them, nor do they furnish this people the slightest benefit," declares the Lord.
- Jeremiah 23:32

Many false teachers recycle popular religious ideas, using what sounds good rather than what is true. A true prophet speaks only what God has revealed, no matter how unpopular it may be.

C. The Letter to the Exiles (Jeremiah 29:11 – A Misunderstood Promise)

As the Babylonian exile begins, Jeremiah writes a letter to the captives, instructing them on how to live in exile. Many had false hopes that their captivity would be short-lived, but Jeremiah tells them to settle in Babylon, they will be there for seventy years before God restores them.

⁵'Build houses and live in them; and plant gardens and eat their produce. ⁶Take wives and become the fathers of sons and daughters, and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; and multiply there and do not decrease. ⁷Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare.'
- Jeremiah 29:5-7

This is where Jeremiah 29:11 comes into play, a verse often quoted out of context:

For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.
- Jeremiah 29:11

This promise was not an individual guarantee of personal success but a national promise to Israel that God had not forgotten them, even in exile. It was a call to trust in His plan, even if it meant waiting in a foreign land for seventy years.

Modern Christians often apply this verse to immediate success or personal fulfillment, but its true meaning is trusting in God's long-term plan, even when circumstances seem bleak.

D. Application: Discernment in the Age of Deception

The problem of false prophets did not end with Jeremiah's time, Jesus and the apostles warned repeatedly about false teachers who would arise in the last days.

1. Test every spiritual message against God's Word.

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
- I John 4:1

Just because a message sounds spiritual or positive does not mean it is from God. Every prophecy, teaching, or doctrine must be examined against Scripture.

2. Beware of messages that promise blessings without repentance.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,
- II Timothy 4:3

Many modern false teachers emphasize prosperity, success, and happiness while ignoring sin, judgment, and repentance. The truth of God's Word calls people to righteousness, not just personal comfort.

3. Look for the fruit of true prophecy.

You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?
- Matthew 7:16

A true prophet's message will produce repentance, transformation, and obedience to God. False prophets often produce confusion, division, and spiritual complacency.

4. Trust in God's long-term plan, not quick fixes.

Wait for the Lord;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the Lord.
- Psalm 27:14

The exiles in Babylon wanted a quick return, but God's plan required seventy years of waiting. We must trust that God's plans unfold in His perfect timing, even when they seem slow to us.

Jeremiah's confrontation with false prophets serves as a timeless warning, we must remain rooted in Scripture, discerning in what we believe, and patient in trusting God's true promises.

II. Four Practical Lessons from Jeremiah 23-29 for Modern Hearers

1. For Church Leaders (Pastors, Elders, and Overseers): Guard the Flock from False Teaching

One of the greatest failures in Jeremiah's time was the failure of spiritual leadership. Instead of protecting the people from deception, the priests and prophets themselves became corrupt, spreading lies and false hope.

They reassured Judah that no disaster would come, even though judgment was imminent (Jeremiah 23:16-17).

Church leaders today must remain vigilant in protecting their congregations from false doctrine, whether it comes from outside influences or within the church itself. Many modern teachers distort Scripture, emphasizing blessings while ignoring sin, or preaching self-help rather than repentance.

²⁸Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. ²⁹I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;
- Acts 20:28-29

Ensure that all teaching in the church aligns with Scripture.

Encourage deep biblical literacy among members so they can discern truth from error.

Confront false teachings when they arise.

Silence is not an option when deception threatens the faith of believers.

Model integrity in leadership.

The false prophets in Jeremiah's time were self-serving, but Godly leaders must serve others with humility and truth.

2. For Preachers and Those Who Teach the Word: Speak God's Truth, Not What People Want to Hear

Jeremiah stood alone against a crowd of false prophets who preached comfort instead of warning. Unlike them, he remained faithful to God's message, even when it brought persecution, suffering, and rejection.

Many preachers today face the same temptation to soften hard truths, fearing that people will not accept strong biblical teaching on repentance, sin, and judgment.

²preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. ³For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,
- II Timothy 4:2-3

Do not compromise biblical truth for popularity.

Jeremiah suffered greatly because of his faithfulness to God's message. Modern preachers must also stand firm, even when it is unpopular.

Preach the full counsel of God.

Do not avoid difficult topics such as sin, judgment, and repentance in favor of messages that only focus on blessings and encouragement.

Find strength in God when ministry is hard.

Jeremiah wanted to quit many times (Jeremiah 20:7-9), but he remained faithful because God's Word burned within him.

3. For Church Members: Develop Discernment and Test Every Teaching Against God's Word

The people of Judah blindly followed the false prophets because their messages were more comfortable than Jeremiah's warnings. Many today do the same, believing preachers who distort Scripture because they tell them what they want to hear rather than what they need to hear.

False teaching is not always obvious. Many distortions of the gospel sound biblical on the surface but are rooted in human wisdom, emotion, or culture rather than Scripture. Jeremiah warned that false prophets often use the right words but with deceptive motives:

Behold, I am against the prophets," declares the Lord, "who use their tongues and declare, 'The Lord declares.'
- Jeremiah 23:31

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
- I John 4:1

Do not accept teaching just because it sounds good.

Compare everything to God's Word to ensure it is biblical.

Be aware of your own desires.

Many people prefer messages that affirm their lifestyle rather than challenge them to change. Truth should convict, not just comfort.

Study the Bible for yourself.

The more you know Scripture, the harder it will be for false teachers to mislead you.

4. For Non-Believers Who Reject the Gospel: Do Not Be Deceived by False Security

The greatest tragedy in Jeremiah's time was that people ignored the warnings until it was too late. They believed that because they were God's chosen people, they were safe from judgment. Many today have the same false security, thinking that because they believe in God or do good deeds, they will be fine, even though they refuse to repent and follow Christ.

The false prophets of Jeremiah's time promised peace when destruction was at the door. Likewise, many today assume that judgment is not coming. They dismiss the gospel, believing that God will not judge them as long as they live a decent life. But Scripture warns against such deception:

²For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. ³While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.
- I Thessalonians 5:2-3

Do not wait until judgment comes to recognize the truth.

The people of Judah ignored Jeremiah's warnings, and their destruction was sudden and irreversible.

Ignoring God's warnings leads to disaster.

When Jeremiah warned the people, they dismissed him. But when Babylon invaded, they realized too late that he was right. Do not wait until judgment comes to take God's Word seriously.

Final Exhortation:
The Importance of Truth and Discernment

Jeremiah's confrontation with false prophets is a warning for every generation. The world is filled with spiritual deception, and believers must remain rooted in God's Word to avoid being misled.

Church leaders must protect the flock, preachers must preach truth boldly, church members must develop discernment, and non-believers must not assume they can reject the gospel without consequence.

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.
- Colossians 2:8

Truth matters. False teaching leads people away from God, but those who love the truth will stand firm in Him.