Jeremiah 7:1-11
False Religion Worthless
God raised up prophets in ancient Israel for the same reasons He raises up prophets today. God tells Jeremiah to proclaim judgment on the people of Judah, and to listen and obey the Word of God. A prophet is used by God to communicate His message, expose the sinful practices of the people, and make known God’s holiness. A prophet in Ancient Israel taught people the laws of God and how to live by the law. Jeremiah stood at the gate of the temple greeting the people and reminding them to examine their moral lives as they enter the temple. This is similar practice of Christians today entering temple, Churches and places of worship. We examine or think about our actions and enter into prayerful repentance while we worship our dear Lord and Savior during service and Mass. The prophets have always prophesied, that if the people don’t change, they are going to die, whether that be spiritually and/or physically. The lesson of this scripture reading is that we should listen and obey the Word of God, and always repent before entering our place of Worship.
7 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 “Stand at the gate of the Lord’s house and there proclaim this message: “‘Hear the word of the Lord, all you people of Judah who come through these gates to worship the Lord. 3 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place. 4 Do not trust in deceptive words and say, “This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord!” 5 If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly, 6 if you do not oppress the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, 7 then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your ancestors for ever and ever. 8 But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless.
9 “‘Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury,[a] burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, 10 and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, “We are safe”—safe to do all these detestable things? 11 Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! declares the Lord.
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