Series:   Jeremiah / Lamentations for Beginners
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Confronting False Prophets

By: Mike Mazzalongo     Posted: August, 2025
In this lesson we see Jeremiah transmit God's indictment against the false prophets and leaders who led Israel away.
Sources

Primary Biblical Sources (NASB 1995)

1. The Rise of False Prophets and Their Lies

  • False prophets speak from their own imagination, not from God – Jeremiah 23:16
  • False security: They say "Peace, peace," when there is no peace – Jeremiah 23:17
  • God condemns self-appointed prophets – Jeremiah 23:21
  • False prophets mislead people with their own words – Jeremiah 23:31-32

2. The Contrast Between True and False Messages

  • True prophets call for repentance; false prophets offer empty hope – Jeremiah 23:22
  • False messages are weak like straw; God's Word is a fire and a hammer – Jeremiah 23:29
  • False prophets borrow each other's words instead of speaking from God – Jeremiah 23:30
  • Test the spirits to see whether they are from God – I John 4:1

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

  • Exiles instructed to settle in Babylon for seventy years – Jeremiah 29:5-7
  • God's plans are long-term, not immediate – Jeremiah 29:11
  • Wait for the Lord's timing – Psalm 27:14

4. Application: Discernment in the Age of Deception

  • Test all teachings against Scripture – Acts 17:11, 1 John 4:1
  • Beware of messages that tickle the ears – II Timothy 4:3
  • Judge messages by their fruit – Matthew 7:16

Historical and Theological Sources

5. Merrill, Eugene H., Mark F. Rooker, and Michael A. Grisanti. The World and the Word: An Introduction to the Old Testament. B&H Academic, 2011.

  • Explains the role of prophets in ancient Israel, their responsibilities, and how false prophets gained influence.

6. Walton, John H., Victor H. Matthews, and Mark W. Chavalas. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament. InterVarsity Press, 2000.

  • Provides cultural and historical background on prophecy in the Ancient Near East, including the political motivations of false prophets.

7. Thompson, J.A. The Book of Jeremiah (The New International Commentary on the Old Testament). Eerdmans, 1980.

  • Detailed exegesis of Jeremiah's confrontation with false prophets and the implications of Jeremiah 29 for exilic theology.

8. Smith, Gary V. Interpreting the Prophetic Books: An Exegetical Handbook. Kregel Academic, 2014.

  • Discusses the difference between predictive prophecy, conditional warnings, and false prophecy in biblical texts.

9. Longman III, Tremper. Jeremiah, Lamentations (The New International Biblical Commentary). Hendrickson, 2008.

  • Covers the theological and practical implications of Jeremiah's messages against false prophets.

10. Harrison, R.K. Introduction to the Old Testament. Eerdmans, 1979.

  • Analyzes the historical setting of Jeremiah's ministry, including Babylonian influence and the exile's impact on Jewish theology.

Additional Study Aids and Word Studies

11. Botterweck, G. Johannes, and Helmer Ringgren, eds. Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament. Eerdmans, 1974.

  • Hebrew word studies on "nabi" (prophet), "sheqer" (falsehood), and "shama" (listen/obey), relevant to Jeremiah's warnings.

12. Richards, Lawrence O. The Teacher's Commentary. Cook Communications, 2002.

  • Practical applications of Jeremiah's prophecies for modern believers, particularly in discerning truth from deception.

13. Wright, Christopher J.H. The Message of Jeremiah (The Bible Speaks Today Series). InterVarsity Press, 2014.

  • Explores how Jeremiah's confrontation with false prophets serves as a warning for the church today.

Theological Analysis of Jeremiah 29:11 and Its Misuse in Modern Christian Teaching

14. Fee, Gordon D., and Douglas Stuart. How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth. Zondervan, 2014.

  • Discusses contextual misinterpretations of Jeremiah 29:11 and explains how to properly apply Old Testament promises today.

15. Dumbrell, William J. The Faith of Israel: A Theological Survey of the Old Testament. Baker Academic, 2002.

  • Explores the theological meaning of the exile and why Jeremiah 29:11 should be understood as a corporate promise to Israel, not an individual success verse.

16. Walton, John H., and Andrew E. Hill. A Survey of the Old Testament. Zondervan, 2018.

  • Analyzes the structure of Jeremiah's prophecies, explaining how to distinguish conditional vs. unconditional promises.

17.Kaiser, Walter C. The Promise-Plan of God: A Biblical Theology of the Old and New Testaments. Zondervan, 2008.

  • Discusses how God's long-term plan for Israel shapes the context of Jeremiah 29, correcting modern prosperity gospel misapplications.

18. Wright, N.T. Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church. HarperOne, 2008.

  • Challenges misinterpretations of Old Testament promises, including Jeremiah 29:11, arguing for a broader biblical hope beyond material success.
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