Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Jeremiah
Book: Jeremiah
Chapter: 11
Overview:
The disobedient Jews reproved.
(1-10) Their utter ruin.
(11-17) The people would be destroyed who sought the
Prophet's
Life.
(18-23)
1-10 God never promised to bestow blessings
On his rational
creatures, while they persist in wilful disobedience.
Pardon and
acceptance are promised freely to all believers; but
No Man can
be saved who does not obey the command of
God to repent, to
believe in
Christ, to separate from
Sin and the world, to choose
self-denial and newness of
Life. In general, men will hearken to
those who speak of doctrines, promises, and privileges; but when
duties are mentioned, they will not bend their
Ear.
11-17 Evil pursues sinners, and entangles them in snares, out
of which they cannot free themselves. Now, in their distress,
their many gods and many altars stand them in
No stead. And
those whose own prayers will not be heard, cannot expect benefit
from the prayers of others. Their profession of religion shall
prove of
No use. When trouble came upon them, they made this
their confidence, but
God has rejected it. His
Altar shall yield
them
No satisfaction. The remembrance of
God's former favours to
them shall be
No comfort under troubles; and his remembrance of
them shall be
No argument for their relief. Every
Sin against
the
Lord is a
Sin against ourselves, and
So it will be found
sooner or later.
18-23 The
Prophet Jeremiah tells much concerning himself, the
times he lived in being very troublesome. Those of his own
City
plotted how they might cause his
Death. They thought to
End his
days, but he outlived most of his enemies; they thought to blast
his memory, but it lives to this
Day, and will be blessed while
time lasts.
God knows all the secret designs of his and his
people's enemies, and can, when he pleases, make them known.
God's
Justice is a terror to the wicked, but a comfort to the
godly. When we are wronged, we have a
God to commit our cause
to, and it is our duty to commit it to him. We should also look
Well to our own spirits, that we are not overcome with evil, but
that
By patient continuance in praying for our enemies, and in
kindness to them, we may overcome evil with good.