Verse-by-Verse Bible CommentaryJeremiah 26:4
"And you will say to them, `Thus says the LORD, "If you will not listen to Me, to walk in My law which I have set before you, Jump to: Clarke Commentary • Gill's Exposition • Calvin's Commentary • Trapp's Commentary • Poole's Annotations • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes • Commentary Critical and Explanatory - Unabridged • Treasury of Knowledge Other Authors
Adam Clarke CommentaryIf ye will not hearken - This and several of the following verses are nearly the same with those in Jeremiah 7:13, etc., where see the notes. Copyright Statement Bibliography John Gill's Exposition of the Whole BibleAnd thou shalt say unto them,.... What follows is the substance of the prophecy, and the sum of the sermon or discourse he was sent to deliver, without diminishing a word of it: thus saith the Lord, if ye will not hearken to me, to walk in my law which I have set before you; first by Moses, by whose hands it was given to their fathers; and by the prophets, the interpreters of it to them; before whom it was set as a way for them to walk in, and a rule to walk by; a directory for them in their lives and conversations; and which continues to be so, as it is set before us Christians by our King and Lawgiver Jesus Christ; though not to obtain righteousness and life by the works of it; which should not be sought for, nor are attainable thereby. Copyright Statement Bibliography Calvin's Commentary on the BibleThe Prophet now briefly includes what he had been teaching, what he had been commanded to declare to the people. No doubt he spoke to them more at large; but he deemed it enough to shew in a few words what had been committed to him. And the sum of it was, that except the Jews so hearkend as to walk in God’s Law, and were submissive to the prophets, final ruin was nigh the Temple and the city. This is the meaning: but it may be useful to consider every particular. By these words, Except ye hearken to me, to walk in my law, God intimates, that he mainly requires obedience, and esteems nothing as much, according to what he says, that it is better than all sacrifices. (1 Samuel 15:22.) This subject was largely treated in the seventh chapter, where he said, “Did I command your fathers when they came out of Egypt to offer sacrifices to me? this only I required, even to hear my voice.” (Jeremiah 7:22) We hence see, that the only way of living piously, justly, holily, and uprightly, is to allow ourselves to be ruled by the Lord. This is one thing. Then what follows is worthy of being noticed, To walk in my law God here testifies that his will is not ambiguous or doubtful, for he has prescribed what is right in his law. Were God then to descend a hundred times from heaven, he would bring nothing but this message, that he has spoken what is necessary to be known, and that his Law is the most perfect wisdom. Had he said only, “Hear me,” men might have still evaded and avowed themselves ready to learn. God therefore does here silence hypocrites, and says that he required nothing else but to follow his Law. And for the same purpose he adds what follows, which I have set before you: for this kind of speaking intimates that the doctrine of the Law was by no means obscure or doubtful, as Moses said, “I this day call heaven and earth to witness, that I have set life and death before your eyes.” (Deuteronomy 30:19) And in another place he said, “Say not, Who shall ascend above the clouds? or, Who shall descend into the abyss? or, Who shall pass beyond the sea? The word is in thy heart and in thy mouth,” (Deuteronomy 30:12; Romans 10:6) as though he had said, “God has deprived you of every excuse, for there is no reason for doubting, since he has spoken so familiarly to you, and has explained everything necessary to be known.” And hereby is confuted the impious blasphemy of the Papists, who impudently assert that not only the Law is obscure, but also the Gospel. And Paul also loudly declares, that the Gospel is not obscure except to those who perish, and who have a veil over their hearts, being visited with judicial blindness. But as to the Law, in which there is no such plainness as in the Gospel, we see what Jeremiah affirms here, that it was set before the eyes of all, that they might learn from it what pleased God, and what was just and right. Copyright Statement Bibliography John Trapp Complete CommentaryJeremiah 26:4 And thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD If ye will not hearken to me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you, Ver. 4. If ye will not hearken unto me.] A conditional menace, the contrary promise whereunto see Jeremiah 26:13. And this was the sum of all Jeremiah’s sermons. Copyright Statement Bibliography Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy BibleA course of actions in Scripture is ordinarily called a way; in which sense we often read of the way of the Lord, the way of the wicked, the way of the righteous, & c.; and a motion in this course is usually called walking, Psalms 1:1 Ezekiel 18:9, and applied both to God and men. To walk in God’s laws is expounded by hearkening unto them, or (as in other places) by observing, keeping, and doing them. God is said to have set his laws before them, both in respect of their first promulgation to them at Sinai, and writing them in tables; and the daily expositions and urging of them upon their practice by his servants the prophets, as it followeth. Copyright Statement Bibliography E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible NotesIf ye will not hearken. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:14. Deuteronomy 28:15). App-92. My law. Reference to Pentateuch (Ex. 20). Copyright Statement Bibliography Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - UnabridgedAnd thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD If ye will not hearken to me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you, No JFB commentary on this verse. Copyright Statement Bibliography Treasury of Scripture KnowledgeAnd thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; If ye will not hearken to me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you,
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