Prophet vs Prophet
With the yoke still on his neck, Jeremiah encounters resistance to his message of submission. Hananiah the prophet preaches the exact opposite of Jeremiah the prophet: within 2 years the people and temples vessels will return from Babylon (Jeremiah 28:3-4). Who is to be believed? Both have the title “prophet”! I find it interesting how many times Jeremiah and Hananiah are given their titles of prophet throughout this chapter. Isn’t once enough? The author seems to be going out of his way to highlight this.
Hananiah’s false prediction was dangerous. Not only would it not save the people, it would make the matter worse. Babylon’s judgment of their rebellion would be brutal. The Lord has Jeremiah tell Hananiah that God did not “send” him, but now he would “send” him away from the face of the earth (the Hebrew uses the same word). Be careful what you claim!
How do we discern the false from the true prophet? It comes down to whether the prophet’s predictions come true (verse 9). Hananiah prophesied peace and restoration within two years. If it didn’t happen within that time frame, then that proved he was a false prophet. (See also Deuteronomy 13:1-5) In the end, he died just two months later, which didn’t prompt trust in his message.
Jesus gave a warning about false prophets in the Sermon on the Mount:
Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
Matthew 7:15-20
It’s easier to want to listen to people like Hananiah who say good times are coming. Jeremiah was such a downer! It’s especially easy to only listen to those with whom you agree. We want to look for confirmation of what we already believe. In an era with so many voices clamoring for our attention, may the Lord help us discern truth from fiction.
To Ponder…
- Who are you listening to?
- Are you only looking for confirmation of your views or are you seeking the truth?
- What does discernment look like?