Jer 8:10-12 | KingComments | STEP | After all the sins mentioned, which make it clear how much they have departed from the LORD, the question sounds in amazement, how they get the idea to boast of their wisdom ( ). They boast of their wisdom because they have the law of the LORD with them (cf. ). It is with it as with the boasting in the temple at the beginning of the previous chapter ( ). But what presumption that is. They indeed have His law, but they do not listen to it. This is because of the scribes’ false presentation of the law. They have written about the law with a lying pen. They have given their own interpretation of it, as best suits them. By doing so, they have “invalidated the word of God” ( ). The scribes are often encountered in the Gospels, where they are the opponents of the Lord Jesus. There are certainly good scribes, for example Ezra ( ), but that is an exception. As a category, they distorted and falsified God’s Word “to their own destruction” and that of their hearers ( ; ). In our day we recognize the boasting of being the temple of the LORD and having His law in those groups that claim to be the only ones to possess the truth. Statements like “we have” and “with us” prove a boasting in pride (cf. ). This is what we hear – or perhaps very secretly think ourselves in our hearts – when it is said: ‘We have knowledge and understanding, for we alone have commentaries in which the truth is explained.‘ Such boasting is great folly. To claim to possess wisdom and to do so while despising the law, the word of the LORD ( ), is supreme folly. How can anyone have wisdom if they reject or bend to their will the source of wisdom, the Word of God? These are the theologians of Jeremiah’s day. However, these have their kindred spirits in our day. Modern theologians also use a liar’s pen, and the hair-splitters, the sectarians, also use it. It shows the total lack of wisdom. True wisdom is “the wisdom that is from above” ( ). They will experience the consequences of their foolishness when they are robbed of their wives and when their fields are taken possession of by others ( ; ). Then they will be shamed with all their wisdom. That is the result of their greed for gain, which the whole people, from the least even to the greatest, are after (cf. ). The religious leaders, the priest and the prophet, are no better. They practices deceit by telling the people lies about peace coming ( ; cf. ). “Peace, peace” means perfect peace. Instead of pointing out the rupture of the relationship with the LORD and preaching the way of repentance and conversion, they speak what the people like to hear. The LORD adds succinctly: “But there is no peace.” The people are hardened ( ). There is no sense of guilt whatsoever. Without blushing, they commit the most heinous crimes. Their consciences have been cauterized. They have lost all sense of dignity and honor. If they were confronted with their grossest sins, they would still justify themselves and laugh at those who condemn their actions. This makes them ripe for destruction. The words of are a repetition of what has been said before in Jeremiah 6 ( ). Jeremiah must repeat the truth in order to imprint it indelibly in the minds of the people. But the people, refusing to listen to God’s Word, have been deceived by the false prophets and deceitful priests. Therefore, there is no salvation for them. The punishment is coming. Then they will fall and not be able to stand. They will stumble, for their strength is gone. The extermination will be complete ( ). The LORD Himself will bring that destruction upon them. He will wipe them out. The harvest He has been expecting is not there. His people have borne no fruit for Him. The vine and the fig tree are empty. The leaves have also withered. They have passed by all the blessing the LORD has given them. Instead of thanking Him for His blessing, they have misused it and even served idols with it. Therefore, the former blessings are taken away from them and nothing remains but the total dreariness and desolation mentioned here. Nothing more can be expected from this people (cf. ).

‏ Jeremiah 8:10-12

Punishment for Judah’s Deceit

After all the sins mentioned, which make it clear how much they have departed from the LORD, the question sounds in amazement, how they get the idea to boast of their wisdom (Jer 8:8). They boast of their wisdom because they have the law of the LORD with them (cf. Rom 2:17-20). It is with it as with the boasting in the temple at the beginning of the previous chapter (Jer 7:4). But what presumption that is. They indeed have His law, but they do not listen to it.

This is because of the scribes’ false presentation of the law. They have written about the law with a lying pen. They have given their own interpretation of it, as best suits them. By doing so, they have “invalidated the word of God” (Mt 15:6).

The scribes are often encountered in the Gospels, where they are the opponents of the Lord Jesus. There are certainly good scribes, for example Ezra (Ezra 7:6), but that is an exception. As a category, they distorted and falsified God’s Word “to their own destruction” and that of their hearers (2Pet 3:16; 2Cor 2:17).

In our day we recognize the boasting of being the temple of the LORD and having His law in those groups that claim to be the only ones to possess the truth. Statements like “we have” and “with us” prove a boasting in pride (cf. 2Chr 13:10-12). This is what we hear – or perhaps very secretly think ourselves in our hearts – when it is said: ‘We have knowledge and understanding, for we alone have commentaries in which the truth is explained.‘

Such boasting is great folly. To claim to possess wisdom and to do so while despising the law, the word of the LORD (Jer 8:9), is supreme folly. How can anyone have wisdom if they reject or bend to their will the source of wisdom, the Word of God? These are the theologians of Jeremiah’s day. However, these have their kindred spirits in our day. Modern theologians also use a liar’s pen, and the hair-splitters, the sectarians, also use it. It shows the total lack of wisdom. True wisdom is “the wisdom that is from above” (Jam 3:17).

They will experience the consequences of their foolishness when they are robbed of their wives and when their fields are taken possession of by others (Jer 8:10; Deu 28:30). Then they will be shamed with all their wisdom. That is the result of their greed for gain, which the whole people, from the least even to the greatest, are after (cf. Mic 3:11). The religious leaders, the priest and the prophet, are no better. They practices deceit by telling the people lies about peace coming (Jer 8:11; cf. 1Thes 5:3). “Peace, peace” means perfect peace. Instead of pointing out the rupture of the relationship with the LORD and preaching the way of repentance and conversion, they speak what the people like to hear. The LORD adds succinctly: “But there is no peace.”

The people are hardened (Jer 8:12). There is no sense of guilt whatsoever. Without blushing, they commit the most heinous crimes. Their consciences have been cauterized. They have lost all sense of dignity and honor. If they were confronted with their grossest sins, they would still justify themselves and laugh at those who condemn their actions. This makes them ripe for destruction.

The words of Jer 8:10-12 are a repetition of what has been said before in Jeremiah 6 (Jer 6:12-15). Jeremiah must repeat the truth in order to imprint it indelibly in the minds of the people. But the people, refusing to listen to God’s Word, have been deceived by the false prophets and deceitful priests. Therefore, there is no salvation for them. The punishment is coming. Then they will fall and not be able to stand. They will stumble, for their strength is gone.

The extermination will be complete (Jer 8:13). The LORD Himself will bring that destruction upon them. He will wipe them out. The harvest He has been expecting is not there. His people have borne no fruit for Him. The vine and the fig tree are empty. The leaves have also withered. They have passed by all the blessing the LORD has given them. Instead of thanking Him for His blessing, they have misused it and even served idols with it. Therefore, the former blessings are taken away from them and nothing remains but the total dreariness and desolation mentioned here. Nothing more can be expected from this people (cf. Mt 21:19).