Judgment on Unfaithful Shepherds
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Big Idea / Introduction
Big Idea / Introduction
Servanthood is the essence of true leadership, not authority. Guiding others towards God’s righteousness and faithfulness, modeled after Christ’s example.
In our survey of this chapter and its (40) verses we will see the implications of Godly authority, and the responsibilities of both the leaders and the followers. And an emphasis that true leadership is measured by one’s obedience to God and care for others, as demonstrated by Jesus.
In the overview of our chapter God confronts the unfaithful leaders, shepherds of Israel who have led people astray. He declares judgment on false teachers and prophets and assures His people He will raise up a righteous branch — a king who embodies true justice and righteousness, who will address the true spiritual needs of His people.
General application: God holds Christians that are in leadership accountable for their influence on others. It challenges believers to examine their own lives for areas of leadership, encouraging them to reflect God’s character in their roles and to seek guidance from the righteous shepherd who is Christ.
Woe to false shepherds
Woe to false shepherds
1 “Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of My pasture!” declares the Lord. 2 Therefore thus says the Lord God of Israel concerning the shepherds who are tending My people: “You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them; behold, I am about to attend to you for the evil of your deeds,” declares the Lord.
3 “Then I Myself will gather the remnant of My flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and bring them back to their pasture, and they will be fruitful and multiply. 4 “I will also raise up shepherds over them and they will tend them; and they will not be afraid any longer, nor be terrified, nor will any be missing,” declares the Lord.
This opening section pronounces judgment on Judah’s leaders for their negligence and exploitation, followed by God’s commitment to intervene directly.
Woe to the False Shepherds (23:1-4)
Indictment on the shepherds (vv.1-2)
They have scattered and destroyed the sheep
God will punish the for their evil deeds
Promise of restoration (vv.3-4)
God will gather the remnant of His flock.
He will raise up faithful shepherds to care for them
The righteous Branch of David (23:5-8)
Prophecy of the coming King (vv.5-6)
A righteous Branch from David will reign wisely.
He will execute justice and righteousness.
His name: The LORD our righteousness (YHWH Tsidkenu).
God holds corrupt leaders accountable for their neglect and misguidance. Just in these verses you can see God’s disdain for those who abuse their authority and you can see God is committed to justice. As Christians today we can influence for the bad or for the good, may we be a people who influence people for God’s glory drawing inspiration from Christ, who epitomizes the perfect shepherd by sacrificially caring for His flock.
Now in the later verses of this section we see the promise of the Righteous Branch, the promise of Jesus, the king who brings justice and salvation. He sets the model for leadership. His completed work on the cross and His continued presence today helps us to focus on guiding others towards God’s righteousness.
God’s rebuke of False Prophets
God’s rebuke of False Prophets
In this passage we are going to read it, over view it. This is a section where God rebukes the false prophets, shepherds, looking at the destructive power of false leadership. We need to know and discern true godly leadership and our allegiance to Christ our true Shepherd, who provides us clarity and truth. Real leadership reflects truth, His truth and His justice.
9 As for the prophets: My heart is broken within me, All my bones tremble; I have become like a drunken man, Even like a man overcome with wine, Because of the Lord And because of His holy words. 10 For the land is full of adulterers; For the land mourns because of the curse. The pastures of the wilderness have dried up. Their course also is evil And their might is not right.
11 “For both prophet and priest are polluted; Even in My house I have found their wickedness,” declares the Lord. 12 “Therefore their way will be like slippery paths to them, They will be driven away into the gloom and fall down in it; For I will bring calamity upon them, The year of their punishment,” declares the Lord
13 “Moreover, among the prophets of Samaria I saw an offensive thing: They prophesied by Baal and led My people Israel astray. 14 “Also among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: The committing of adultery and walking in falsehood; And they strengthen the hands of evildoers, So that no one has turned back from his wickedness. All of them have become to Me like Sodom, And her inhabitants like Gomorrah.
The Corruption of False Prophets/Shepherds (23:9-13)
The land is full of adulterers and evildoers (vv.9-11)
Prophet and priest alike are corrupt (v.11)
Their path leads people astray (vv.12-13)
15 “Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts concerning the prophets, ‘Behold, I am going to feed them wormwood And make them drink poisonous water, For from the prophets of Jerusalem Pollution has gone forth into all the land.’ ” 16 Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you. They are leading you into futility; They speak a vision of their own imagination, Not from the mouth of the Lord.
17 “They keep saying to those who despise Me, ‘The Lord has said, “You will have peace” ’; And as for everyone who walks in the stubbornness of his own heart, They say, ‘Calamity will not come upon you.’ 18 “But who has stood in the council of the Lord, That he should see and hear His word? Who has given heed to His word and listened?
19 “Behold, the storm of the Lord has gone forth in wrath, Even a whirling tempest; It will swirl down on the head of the wicked. 20 “The anger of the Lord will not turn back Until He has performed and carried out the purposes of His heart; In the last days you will clearly understand it.
21 “I did not send these prophets, But they ran. I did not speak to them, But they prophesied. 22 “But if they had stood in My council, Then they would have announced My words to My people, And would have turned them back from their evil way And from the evil of their deeds.
False Messages of Peace (23:16-22)
They speak visions from their own hearts, not from God (v.16)
They strengthen evildoers by promising peace (v.17)
They fail to turn people from Sin (v.22)
They “run” when God has not sent them (v.21)
23 “Am I a God who is near,” declares the Lord, “And not a God far off? 24 “Can a man hide himself in hiding places So I do not see him?” declares the Lord. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the Lord.
25 “I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy falsely in My name, saying, ‘I had a dream, I had a dream!’ 26 “How long? Is there anything in the hearts of the prophets who prophesy falsehood, even these prophets of the deception of their own heart,
27 who intend to make My people forget My name by their dreams which they relate to one another, just as their fathers forgot My name because of Baal? 28 “The prophet who has a dream may relate his dream, but let him who has My word speak My word in truth. What does straw have in common with grain?” declares the Lord.
29 “Is not My word like fire?” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer which shatters a rock? 30 “Therefore behold, I am against the prophets,” declares the Lord, “who steal My words from each other.
31 “Behold, I am against the prophets,” declares the Lord, “who use their tongues and declare, ‘The Lord declares.’ 32 “Behold, I am against those who have prophesied false dreams,” declares the Lord, “and related them and led My people astray by their falsehoods and reckless boasting; yet I did not send them or command them, nor do they furnish this people the slightest benefit,” declares the Lord.
The Distinction Between God’s Word and Their Lies (23:29-32)
God’s Word is like fire and like a hammer (v.29)
Prophets steal words from one another (v.30)
They prophesy lying dreams (v.32)
33 “Now when this people or the prophet or a priest asks you saying, ‘What is the oracle of the Lord?’ then you shall say to them, ‘What oracle?’ The Lord declares, ‘I will abandon you.’ 34 “Then as for the prophet or the priest or the people who say, ‘The oracle of the Lord,’ I will bring punishment upon that man and his household.
Jeremiah 23:35–36 “35 “Thus will each of you say to his neighbor and to his brother, ‘What has the Lord answered?’ or, ‘What has the Lord spoken?’ 36 “For you will no longer remember the oracle of the Lord, because every man’s own word will become the oracle, and you have perverted the words of the living God, the Lord of hosts, our God.”
37 “Thus you will say to that prophet, ‘What has the Lord answered you?’ and, ‘What has the Lord spoken?’ 38 “For if you say, ‘The oracle of the Lord!’ surely thus says the Lord, ‘Because you said this word, “The oracle of the Lord!” I have also sent to you, saying, “You shall not say, ‘The oracle of the Lord!’ ” ’
39 “Therefore behold, I will surely forget you and cast you away from My presence, along with the city which I gave you and your fathers. 40 “I will put an everlasting reproach on you and an everlasting humiliation which will not be forgotten.”
Twisting God’s Words
People used the phrase “oracle/burden of the Lord” sarcastically or manipulatively
God forbids the phrase due to its misuse.
Those who twist His words will be cast out (vv.39-40)
Application Points
Application Points
God holds Spiritual Leaders Accountable
Jesus is our Righteousness
Beware of False or Comfort-only Teaching
God’s Word is Powerful
Do Not Twist God’s Words
Explanation from above.
God Holds spiritual leaders accountable. Leadership is stewardship. Pastors/Elders/Shepherds, teachers, and all who influence others in God’s name must be faithful, truthful and sacrificial. God sees and will judge
Pray for and encourage faithful leaders
Asses your own influence, especially if teaching, mentoring, or serving.
Jesus our Righteousness - The Righteous Branch is fulfilled in Christ. He alone brings the justice, righteousness, and salvation we cannot produce.
Rest in Christ’s righteousness— not your own performance
Share the hope of Jesus’ reign with others
Beware of false or comfort-only teaching: False prophets in Jeremiah’s day offered easy messages that ignored sin and God’s authority. Modern versions exist today — teaching without repentance, holiness, and believe or not without scripture.
Test all teachings against God’s Word
Ask “Is this leading me toward holiness or away from it?”
God’s Word is Powerful: His Word is “fire” and a “Hammer” — purifying, refining, breaking and reshaping.
Allow scripture to convict, correct and transform you.
Approach God’s work expecting impact, not just information.
Do not Twist God’s Words- - - Jer23 ends with a warning against manipulating Scripture to justify self-made ideas.
Handle Scripture with humility and reverence.
Seek truth, not validation of personal preferences.
Major Takeaway: Trust in the Righteous Branch, listen to God’s true Word, and follow faithful leadership that reflects the heart of the Shepherd.
