I can be fairly certain that nobody wants to be lied to. We all want to hear the truth. Advertising companies know how to make an item sound really good with their slick advertising commercials. Are they telling us the truth? Perhaps sometimes, but often we believe what they say, buy the item, and find out it is a piece of junk. We all know about used car salesmen. Some are good and honest, but far too many will smoothly tell their lies, trying to get us to believe them and buy from them. They are not the only ones who will tell their lies with a smile on their face. The prophet Jeremiah tells us of another group, ones who spread their false words, and who are far more dangerous to us than any used car salesman. Let’s look into God’s Word to find out.
As we read this brief Scripture passage found in the middle of the Book of Jeremiah, we see that the group of people that God is warning us about are false prophets. These are false religious leaders, who preach messages that they claim are from God, but which He tells us are not. There were some back in the days of Jeremiah, who wanted the people to believe they were sent by God. Unfortunately there are plenty today, preachers in the pulpits and often on television, who claim they are giving us God’s message, but who are just as much a false prophet as the one’s warned about in today’s Scripture.
Why would a preacher want to give a false message to people? For one, if they preach a message that everyone likes to hear, one that “tickles the ears” of the congregation, he will become popular, and his congregation will grow. A growing congregation means more money in the offering. There are some TV preachers that only preach positive, fluffy, feel-good messages, ones that tell them how good they are, how they were born to win, to be a champion, be their best self, but never mention the reality that we are all sinners and in need of salvation through Jesus Christ.
Another lying message false prophets of today say is that if you give money, particularly to their ministry, you will become rich. They want you to believe that they are concerned with your being blessed and get rich, but in reality they are only concerned with getting and staying rich themselves, and with buying their next private jet or giant mansion.
Other false prophets or preachers preach messages saying that we are all “little gods”, which is a false twisting of Scriptures to boost their own egos. They claim that they have a “special” message from God, that He spoke directly to them, or gave them a special dream or vision. Other false teachings that some spread is that Jesus is not God, but just a good teacher, like so many other teachers. They preach that the Bible is not God’s inspired Word, but that it “contains” some of God’s words, or that only parts of the Bible can be believed. One could go on and on, listing untruthful teachings these false prophets are spreading.
One thing that is common among the false prophets of today and in Jeremiah’s day is that they are not afraid of what God has to say. They do not think that He hears their words, that He is far off, far away in heaven or someplace, but that He certainly doesn’t know or bother to care what is going on here on earth. However, God has news for them. His true messenger Jeremiah gave us His Words, saying that God is omnipresent and omniscient. He is everywhere and knows everything (vs. 23-24), nor is He confined to one location. There is no place one can hide from Him. We need to be aware that nothing is hidden from God, and knowing this should produce reverence and accountability in us.
God condemned these false prophets, those who claimed divine revelations but instead were speaking lies from their own imagination (vs. 25-27). He condemns the false prophets today who are also leading people away from God, from His message of salvation through Jesus Christ. Before we accept anyone’s message or teaching, we must test all that they say against Scripture (Acts 17:10-11). Nothing that is preached or taught can be authoritative unless it aligns solidly with God’s Word, the Bible.
God’s Word purifies, like fire does, and also breaks hardened hearts like a hammer (vs. 29). It is powerful, transformative, and authoritative. God’s true Word is nourishing and life-giving, such as wheat, while false teachings are empty and worthless, like chaff (vs. 28). We must be able to discern substance from fluff, as not all religious speech is spiritually profitable. In some cases it is outright dangerous, as it can lure us away from the truth and bring spiritual damnation to our souls.
Only God’s Word carries divine authority. Christians must reject teachings that contradict the Bible, no matter how popular or emotionally appealing they may be, or what society is saying. A true prophet or preacher will speak God’s Word faithfully, not their own message. To keep from falling victim to false teaching, take your Bible out, read and study it, and then test the message of the preacher against what God’s Word actually says.
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