Jeremiah 26:1-6: True preaching(please click here for todays passage)

The events recorded in this chapter took place ‘’Early’’ in Jehoiakim’s reign. So the irrevocable judgment we have read about in the previous chapter had not yet been announced. There was still time to repent, as is evident from the wording. Verses 2-6 are a summary of the temple sermon recorded in (7:1-20). The point of this present chapter is to recount what happened after Jeremiah gave the message. In these words we see some important things about true preaching. (There is such a thing as false preaching):

  • True preachers are under God’s authority. Like Jeremiah we are to preach what we are told, where we are told, and to whom we are told: ‘’Stand in the courtyard of the LORD’s house and speak to all the people of the towns of Judah who come to worship in the house of the LORD. Tell them everything I command you…’’ There is a strong emphasis on the communication of God’s Word. This was not Jeremiah’s word, but the word of the Lord in the mouth of the prophet (see 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 15; also 1:7). Note also the references to listening and hearing (3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 11, and 12). ‘’The false prophets preached what the people wanted to hear, but Jeremiah preached what the people needed to hear.’’ Warren W. Wiersbe: ‘The Wiersbe Bible Commentary (OT), p.1241.
  • True preaching will not always be easy for the preacher. Preachers know that when there is a ‘hard’ word to deliver it is emotionally difficult. There is something wrong somewhere if we relish the task. A true preacher will not take the ministry of admonition lightly.
  • True preaching will not always be popular. We may find ourselves saying ‘Fire, Fire’ to people who want to ignore the first whiffs of smoke – who want to remove the battery from the alarm; who want to believe that all will be well for everyone, and even the devil will be saved in the end.
  • True preaching does not compromise any part of God’s truth: ‘’do not hold back a word.’’ (ESV); ‘’do not omit a word.’’ (NIV). It is balanced preaching; it is prepared to articulate a message of judgment. The gospel is ‘’bad news before it is good news’’, and true preaching faces no loss of nerve when it comes to delivering the more unpalatable elements.
  • True preaching aims at repentance. It desires to bring people’s lives into line with God’s Word and keep them in line. We are always in need of change and true preaching targets such transformation. True preaching shows people how ‘sick’ they are and urges them to find Christ who is the only ‘Remedy’ for our naturally incurable ailment.

Prayer: Lord God, bless the preaching of your Word, and raise up an army of true preachers.