The Tragic Failure of Pastors (Jeremiah 23)

We are reminded once again that many prophecies have both a present reality and far-reaching implications. While it was comforting for the Jews in captivity to read the LORD’s promise, “I will gather the remnant of my flock” (Israel and Judah) “out of all countries whither I have driven them” (Jeremiah 23:3), the full consummation of that promise remains to be seen and will not be fulfilled until the Second Coming of Christ. On that day, the LORD promised, He will appoint spiritual “shepherds…which [would] feed [His people]: and they [would] fear no more…neither [would] they be lacking” (Jeremiah 23:4). 

A Messianic Prophecy of Christ the King and His Millennial Reign (Jeremiah 23:5-8)

Leaving no doubt about who will be King in the Messianic Kingdom, we read, “I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. ⁶ In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS” (Jeremiah 23:5-6; Ezekiel 34:23-24; 37:24; Zechariah 3:8; 6:12). 

Who was this “righteous branch” of David’s lineage (Jeremiah 23:5)? Only one man could fulfill that prophecy, Jesus Christ, the only-begotten, virgin-born Son of God (Isaiah 9:6-7; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 3:21-5:11).   

Jeremiah 23:7-8 foretells the gathering of the Jews “from all countries” and their return to “their own land” (Jeremiah 23:8).

False Prophets and Their Error (Jeremiah 23:9-32)

Although mocked, beaten, persecuted, and threatened with death for being God’s messenger, Jeremiah’s soul was still shaken when he realized the troubles that would soon befall Judah. The prophet wrote, “Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets” (Jeremiah 23:9).

False prophets were a curse on Judah. In a searing indictment of their sins, Jeremiah exposed the false prophets’ ungodly character and the harm they inflicted on the people. He prophesied that “The land is full of adulterers” (likely an indictment of both physical and spiritual adultery among the people) and that the prophet and priest were “profane” (godless, wicked, polluted, and corrupt, Jeremiah 23:10-12). 

The sins of Samaria (the capital of northern Israel) had been repeated in Jerusalem (Jeremiah 23:13-14). Judah’s sins were so egregious that the LORD likened them to “Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah” (Jeremiah 23:14). Gripped by their sins and lacking spiritual discernment, the people believed the false prophets’ assurances that “No evil shall come upon you” (Jeremiah 23:17).

Jeremiah warned, “The anger of the LORD shall not return, until He have executed, and till He have performed the thoughts of His heart” (Jeremiah 23:20). The LORD declared, “I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied” (Jeremiah 23:21). 

Jeremiah then posed three rhetorical questions on behalf of the LORD and asked: “Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off? ²⁴Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord” (Jeremiah 23:23–24). Unlike the idols men worship, our God is not confined to being “a God at hand” (Jeremiah 23:23). No one can hide from Him, for His presence fills heaven and earth (Jeremiah 23:24)!

Judah’s Contempt for the Message and Messenger of the LORD (Jeremiah 23:33-36)

Having embraced the lies of false priests and prophets, the people ridiculed Jeremiah. When Jeremiah was asked, “What is the burden of the LORD?” (Jeremiah 23:33), he was instructed to reply that the “burden of the LORD” was that He had forsaken them (Jeremiah 23:33b).

Jeremiah 23 concluded with a stern warning against the false prophets, saying: “I will utterly forget you, and I will forsake you, and the city that I gave you and your fathers, and cast you out of my presence: ⁴⁰  And I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten” (Jeremiah 23:39b-40).

Closing thought –

As noted earlier, the “pastors” in Jeremiah 23 were both Judah’s civic and religious leaders. However, if Judah’s religious shepherds (i.e., pastors) had faithfully served the LORD, the false prophets would have been exposed as liars and impostors. Tragically, they failed the people, and evil spread throughout the country until there was no hope left.

Friend, the pastor’s work is an extraordinary calling. Teaching and preaching God’s Word is a high privilege. Yet this burden must not be taken lightly. All who aspire to teach the Word of the LORD must remember that they will face a greater judgment when they stand before the LORD.

James 3:1 – “My brethren, be not many masters [teachers; instructors], knowing that we shall receive the greater [larger; greatest] condemnation [judgment; punishment; i.e., sentence].”