Jer 26 | MHM | STEP | Jeremiah's Solemn Address This chapter records a sermon preached by Jeremiah that caused such outrage that his life was threatened. The message is preserved here as evidence to show that Jeremiah was only delivering God’s word, and that his persecutors acted unjustly. It challenges readers to judge whether Jeremiah deserved death for speaking the truth or whether his enemies were wrong for rejecting God’s warning.

‏ Jeremiah 26

Jeremiah's Solemn Address

This chapter records a sermon preached by Jeremiah that caused such outrage that his life was threatened. The message is preserved here as evidence to show that Jeremiah was only delivering God’s word, and that his persecutors acted unjustly. It challenges readers to judge whether Jeremiah deserved death for speaking the truth or whether his enemies were wrong for rejecting God’s warning.

v. 2: God commands Jeremiah to preach in the court of the Lord’s house, the temple, where many people would gather for worship, especially during a festival. This location was under the authority of the priests, who were hostile to Jeremiah, making it a dangerous place for him to speak. Jeremiah is told to deliver God’s message boldly, without changing or softening any part of it, not to diminish a word. This shows that God’s messengers must faithfully deliver His entire message, even when it is unpopular or puts them at risk (Deuteronomy 4:2 ^a).

v. 3: The purpose of Jeremiah’s sermon is to call the people to repentance. He tells them that if they turn from their sins, God will turn from His anger and stop the judgment that is about to come upon them. This shows God’s mercy and His desire to forgive, but also His justice, which requires repentance before judgment can be withheld. God waits patiently for people to repent and uses many methods to bring them back to Him.

v. 4–6: Jeremiah warns that if the people remain stubborn and refuse to obey God, their city and temple will be destroyed. God reminds them to follow His law, which He gave through Moses, and to listen to His prophets, who call them back to obedience. The destruction of Jerusalem is compared to what happened to Shiloh, where God allowed the tabernacle to be destroyed because of the people’s sins (Jeremiah 7:12–14 ^b). If they persist in their rebellion, Jerusalem will become a curse, and people will use it as an example when they speak of God’s judgment. This serves as a warning that rejecting God’s commands leads to ruin.

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Jeremiah Prosecuted for His Preaching; Jeremiah's Defence

After Jeremiah gave his bold sermon warning about the destruction of the temple and city, the reaction was not repentance but anger. The leaders and people were offended by his message, even though he spoke in God’s name. Instead of listening and changing, they accused Jeremiah of wrongdoing. This section records how Jeremiah was put on trial for his preaching and how he defended himself. It shows the danger faced by those who speak God’s truth, but also the courage and faithfulness required.

v. 7–9: The priests, prophets, and people heard Jeremiah’s sermon. They allowed him to finish, but after he spoke all that God commanded, they seized him and accused him of saying, This house shall be like Shiloh (Jeremiah 26:9 ^c). They twisted his words, ignoring that Jeremiah only warned of this if they did not repent. Instead of admitting their own sins, they accused Jeremiah of blasphemy and said he deserved to die. The crowd gathered and became angry, threatening his life.

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v. 10–11: The princes of Judah, who were the judges, came from the king’s house to the temple to investigate. The priests and prophets acted as prosecutors, urging the court and the people to declare Jeremiah worthy of death for his words about the city. They did not care about justice, but only wanted to silence Jeremiah because his message challenged their authority and comfort (Jeremiah 26:10–11 ^d).

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v. 12–13: Jeremiah courageously defends himself. He does not deny what he said, but declares, The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and this city (Jeremiah 26:12 ^e). He explains that his warning was not to harm them, but to lead them to repentance and so avoid disaster. He urges them to change their ways so that God will not bring the threatened judgment. Jeremiah shows that true prophets speak for God and for the good of the people, even if the message is hard to hear.

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v. 14–15: Jeremiah submits himself to their decision, saying, Behold, I am in your hand; do with me as seems good and right (Jeremiah 26:14 ^f). But he also warns them that if they kill him, they will bring innocent blood upon themselves. Killing God’s messenger will only add to their guilt and bring greater punishment. Jeremiah’s calmness and honesty show the courage of someone who knows he is doing God’s will.

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Jeremiah's Acquittal; Jeremiah's Deliverance

In this section, Jeremiah is put on trial for his life after preaching God’s message. Even though the priests and false prophets want him executed, other leaders and people defend him. The story shows how God can protect His faithful servants, even when they are in great danger. It also warns that persecuting God’s messengers brings harm to those who do it, not just to the messenger. The account includes examples from history to help the people make the right decision.

v. 16: The princes and many of the people decide that Jeremiah is not guilty of a crime worthy of death. They say, This man is not worthy to die: for he hath spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God . They recognize that Jeremiah spoke by God’s authority, not his own. This shows that sometimes people can see the truth, even when others are angry or confused.

v. 17–19: Some elders remind the group of a past example. They speak of the prophet Micah, who also warned about the destruction of Jerusalem in the days of King Hezekiah (Micah 3:12 ^g). Instead of punishing Micah, Hezekiah and the people listened to his warning, prayed to God, and God showed mercy to them. The elders warn that if they kill Jeremiah, they might bring great evil upon themselves, just as bad choices have harmed people in the past. It is wise to learn from history and not repeat old mistakes.

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v. 20–23: The text gives another example—Urijah, a prophet who preached a similar message to Jeremiah. King Jehoiakim tried to kill him, so Urijah fled to Egypt. But the king sent men to capture him, brought him back, and killed him, even throwing his body into a common grave. This example shows the danger of fearing people more than trusting God, and how some rulers go to great lengths to silence God’s messengers. But even this did not stop God’s word.

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v. 24: God protects Jeremiah through Ahikam, an important official who supports him. Ahikam stands up for Jeremiah and keeps him from being handed over to the violent crowd. This shows that God can use influential people to help His servants and that we can trust God to protect us when we are doing what is right (2 Kings 22:12 ^h).