Temple Sermon and the People's Rejection

In Jeremiah 1, we saw God's sovereign call on Jeremiah's life, setting him apart before birth to be a prophet to the nations. Though Jeremiah felt inadequate and fearful, God assured him of His presence, authority, and protection, reinforcing that Jeremiah's mission was divinely ordained.

The vision of the almond tree symbolized God's watchfulness over His Word, while the boiling pot represented the coming Babylonian invasion as judgment for Judah's sins.

Chapters 2-6 introduced God's charges against Judah, detailing their idolatry, spiritual adultery, and stubborn refusal to repent. Judah had forsaken the fountain of living waters (Jeremiah 2:13) and pursued false gods, breaking their covenant with the Lord.

Despite repeated calls to repentance, they clung to their wickedness, injustice, and false security in the temple, believing they were safe from judgment. False prophets and corrupt priests misled the people, offering empty assurances of peace while ignoring the reality of impending destruction (Jeremiah 6:14).

Ultimately, God's warnings of judgment through the Babylonian invasion became unavoidable, as Judah's leaders and people hardened their hearts.

Transition to Jeremiah 7-17

Having exposed Judah's rebellion and spiritual corruption, Jeremiah now shifts his focus in chapters 7-17 to confront their false trust in the temple and empty religious rituals.

Known as the Temple Sermon, Jeremiah 7 delivers a bold rebuke against those who mistakenly believed that religious observance could protect them, despite their continued disobedience.

As we move into these chapters, we will explore how God rejects false worship, demands genuine obedience, and warns of judgment on Judah and the surrounding nations.

Temple Sermon and the People's Rejection (Jeremiah 7-17)

In this session, we explore Jeremiah 7-17, where the prophet delivers one of his most significant messages, the Temple Sermon. Jeremiah rebukes Judah for their false security in religious rituals, calling them to genuine obedience rather than empty religion.

Despite his urgent warnings, the people reject God's message, leading to inevitable judgment. These chapters also highlight Judah's persistent idolatry, Jeremiah's personal struggles as a prophet, and God's ultimate call to repentance and restoration.

I. The False Security of the Temple (Jeremiah 7:1-29, 11:1-17)

The Deceptive Trust in the Temple (Jeremiah 7:1-15)

Judah believed that because the temple stood in Jerusalem, they were immune to judgment.

Do not trust in deceptive words, saying, 'This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.'
- Jeremiah 7:4

God reminds them of Shiloh, a previous sanctuary destroyed because of Israel's sins, Jerusalem would face the same fate.

The Reaffirmation of the Covenant and Judah's Disobedience (Jeremiah 11:1-17)

God calls Judah to remember their covenant, but they have persistently broken it. The people refuse to listen, and as a result, God declares that He will no longer hear their prayers (11:14).

A. The Loss of Divine Protection and Favor

During Judah's history, God had often rescued them from enemies when they repented and called on Him (Judges 2:18, II Chronicles 7:14). However, in Jeremiah's time, because of persistent rebellion, God refused to intervene when disaster struck.

• Then: Babylon invaded, and there was no divine rescue (Jeremiah 21:5-7). The people cried out, but God had already determined their fate.
• Now: When a nation, church, or individual persistently ignores God, there comes a time when He allows consequences to unfold without divine intervention (Proverbs 1:28-30).

If I regard wickedness in my heart,
The Lord will not hear;
- Psalm 66:18

Then they will cry out to the Lord,
But He will not answer them.
Instead, He will hide His face from them at that time
Because they have practiced evil deeds.
- Micah 3:4

Those who repeatedly reject God's warnings should not assume He will always be there to bail them out when trouble comes. Ignoring God's voice today can lead to spiritual deafness when we need Him most.

B. The Loss of Inner Peace and Guidance

When God stops responding, it does not only affect external circumstances, it also leads to spiritual confusion, restlessness, and fear.

• Then: Without God's presence, Judah lost peace and became filled with terror, despair, and hopelessness (Jeremiah 6:14, Jeremiah 8:15).
• Now: Those who persist in sin while expecting God's guidance eventually find themselves spiritually lost, unable to discern right from wrong (Romans 1:28-32).

But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.
- Isaiah 59:2

He who turns away his ear from listening to the law, Even his prayer is an abomination.
- Proverbs 28:9

Ignoring God's ways leads to spiritual numbness. If we refuse to listen to Him, we may find ourselves unable to hear Him when we desperately need His direction.

C. The Loss of Hope for Deliverance

When God closes the door to prayer, it is because the time for repentance has passed. This is the ultimate judgment, being left to face the full weight of sin's consequences without divine help.

• Then: The people of Judah faced famine, captivity, and death without the possibility of divine rescue (Jeremiah 14:11-12).
• Now: A hardened heart leads to eternal separation from God. When a person continually rejects His call, they risk being abandoned to their own destruction (Romans 1:24-26).

¹⁰and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. ¹¹For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, ¹²in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.
- II Thessalonians 2:10-12

²⁶For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, ²⁷but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries.
- Hebrews 10:26-27

There is a point when continued rebellion results in irreversible consequences. While God is merciful, deliberate and prolonged rejection of His truth leads to a point of no return.

The Urgency of Seeking God While He Can Be Found

The greatest tragedy is not unanswered prayers, but a life where God no longer listens because of persistent rejection. The time to turn to God is now, before judgment falls.

⁶Seek the Lord while He may be found;
Call upon Him while He is near.
⁷Let the wicked forsake his way
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
And let him return to the Lord,
And He will have compassion on him,
And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.
- Isaiah 55:6-7

Do not wait until it is too late. If God is speaking, respond now, before the day comes when He no longer answers.

Religious rituals cannot replace true obedience. Church attendance, giving, or traditions are meaningless without a heart surrendered to God. Do not assume immunity from judgment. Judah thought they were safe because of the temple; today, people assume safety without true repentance.

II. God's Warning Against Religious Hypocrisy (Jeremiah 7:30-8:17, 14:1-22)

Judah's Idolatry Pollutes God's House (Jeremiah 7:30-34)

They had brought idols into the temple, defiling the very place where God's name dwelt. Their child sacrifices in the Valley of Hinnom (Topheth) were an abomination.

The People Refuse to Repent (Jeremiah 8:4-17, 14:1-10)

"Why then has this people, Jerusalem,
Turned away in continual apostasy?
They hold fast to deceit,
They refuse to return.
- Jeremiah 8:5

Their stubbornness prevents them from being healed, and false prophets proclaim peace when there is none (Jeremiah 8:11).

The Drought as a Sign of Judgment (Jeremiah 14:1-22)

A severe drought highlights Judah's spiritual dryness and separation from God. Jeremiah intercedes, but God tells him not to pray for the people, as judgment is certain (Jeremiah 14:11-12).

Religious hypocrisy is detestable to God. Worshiping God with lips but not with hearts is meaningless (Isaiah 29:13). Ignoring conviction leads to spiritual hardness. When people continually reject God's warnings, they lose the ability to recognize truth (Jeremiah 8:9).

III. Judgment on Judah's Idolatry (Jeremiah 10:1-16, 15:1-21, 16:1-21)

The Powerlessness of Idols vs. The Sovereignty of God (Jeremiah 10:1-16)

Judah had turned to worthless idols, forgetting that God alone is the true and living God.

"Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field are they,
And they cannot speak;
They must be carried,
Because they cannot walk!
Do not fear them,
For they can do no harm,
Nor can they do any good."
- Jeremiah 10:5

Jeremiah praises God as the Creator and Sustainer of all things, in contrast to their dead idols (Jeremiah 10:10-13).

The Consequences of Rejecting God (Jeremiah 15:1-21, 16:1-13)

Even if Moses and Samuel interceded for Judah, God would not relent from judgment (Jeremiah 15:1). The coming punishment includes war, famine, and captivity (Jeremiah 15:2-4). Jeremiah is commanded not to marry or have children, as future generations will suffer greatly (Jeremiah 16:1-4).

Modern idolatry exists in many forms. Money, status, pleasure, or self-reliance can become idols if they replace trust in God. Ignoring God leads to disastrous consequences. Just as Judah's rejection led to captivity, sin leads to spiritual bondage today.

IV. Jeremiah's Struggles and God's Encouragement (Jeremiah 12:1-17, 17:5-18)

Jeremiah's Complaint About the Wicked Prospering (Jeremiah 12:1-6)

Jeremiah questions why the wicked seem to thrive, but God warns that things will get even harder for him.

A Lesson on Trusting God Alone (Jeremiah 17:5-10)

Thus says the Lord,
"Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind
And makes flesh his strength,
And whose heart turns away from the Lord.
- Jeremiah 17:5

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord
And whose trust is the Lord.
- Jeremiah 17:7

Do not grow discouraged when evil seems to prevail. God sees all and will bring justice in His time. Trust in God, not in human strength. Just as a tree by water flourishes in all seasons, those who trust in the Lord will remain strong amid trials (Jeremiah 17:8).

V. Application: Genuine Worship vs. Empty Religion

God is not impressed by outward religion, He desires hearts that are genuinely devoted to Him (Jeremiah 7:23). Religious leaders must be faithful in preaching truth, not false assurances (Jeremiah 6:14). Sin has real consequences, and delaying repentance only hardens the heart further.

Trust in God alone, not in religious symbols, rituals, or human wisdom (Jeremiah 17:7-8).

God is not fooled by empty religion. If worship does not lead to obedience, transformation, and a deeper love for God, then it is meaningless. Do not put trust in church attendance, religious titles, or traditions, what God desires is a heart that is fully devoted to Him.

VI. Three Lessons for Modern Times

1. For the Non-Believer

Don't Rely on False Security Just as Judah wrongly assumed that God's presence in the temple would protect them despite their sins, many today believe that religious affiliation, good deeds, or simply believing that God exists will keep them safe.

But God is not interested in empty religion, He desires a real relationship. The lesson from Jeremiah is clear: trusting in anything other than true repentance and faith in God, expressed in repentance and baptism (Acts 2:38) will lead to destruction. The only hope for salvation is in turning to Christ, who offers forgiveness, restoration, and eternal life.

2. For the Christian

True Worship Requires Obedience Many in Judah went through the motions of religious worship, yet their hearts were far from God. The same danger exists today for believers who attend church, pray, and give offerings while living in disobedience.

God does not accept worship that is merely external, He wants devotion that comes from a transformed heart. Christians must examine their lives, ensuring that their faith is not just tradition but a daily commitment to follow Christ with sincerity and obedience.

3. For Those Who Minister

Faithfulness in Ministry Comes with a Cost Jeremiah's calling was filled with hardship. He was rejected, persecuted, and burdened with delivering a message no one wanted to hear. Yet, he remained faithful to God's commission.

Elders, preachers and others who minister in the church must understand that proclaiming God's truth will not always be popular. There will be opposition, discouragement, and seasons of loneliness, but God's assurance remains the same, He will strengthen those He calls. The measure of success in ministry is not popularity, but faithfulness to God's Word.