Jeremiah 23:35

Jeremiah 23:35 is a powerful instruction from God to the people of Judah, delivered through the prophet Jeremiah, on how to discern true prophecy from false. It comes within a larger discourse (Jeremiah 23:25-40) where the Lord vehemently condemns the widespread practice of false prophets who spoke their own dreams and imaginations rather than the word of God.

Context

Jeremiah ministered during a tumultuous period in Judah's history, leading up to the Babylonian exile. The people were steeped in idolatry and moral corruption, yet many prophets were proclaiming "peace, peace," when there was no peace (Jeremiah 6:14). These false prophets often misused or mocked the phrase "the burden of the LORD" (Hebrew: masse), which originally referred to a weighty, authoritative prophetic utterance, often one of judgment (as seen in Jeremiah 23:33). God's command in verse 35 directly addresses this misuse, redirecting the people's inquiry from a flippant question about a "burden" to a serious pursuit of genuine divine revelation.

Key Themes and Messages

• Discerning True Revelation: The primary message is the imperative for God's people to distinguish between human invention and authentic divine communication. Instead of asking about "the burden" as a casual or mocking term, they are to seek what the Lord has truly "answered" and "spoken." This emphasizes the content and source of the message over its mere form.
• Accountability for God's Word: This verse underscores the serious nature of speaking in God's name. Both those who prophesy and those who listen are held accountable for the words exchanged. God demands faithfulness in relaying His message (Jeremiah 23:28).
• Seeking God's Voice: The instruction encourages active and intentional seeking of God's will and word. It's not enough to passively receive messages; one must critically evaluate them against the standard of God's character and previous revelation.

Linguistic Insights

The contrast between the "burden of the LORD" (masse) in the preceding verses and the phrases "What hath the LORD answered?" and "What hath the LORD spoken?" in verse 35 is crucial. While masse could denote a weighty prophetic message, the false prophets had trivialized it. By instructing the people to ask "What hath the LORD answered?" (Hebrew: anah, meaning to answer, respond) and "What hath the LORD spoken?" (Hebrew: dabar, meaning to speak, declare), God shifts the focus from the mere *form* of the prophetic word to its authoritative *source* and *content*. This highlights the need for a direct, clear communication from God Himself.

Practical Application

In every age, believers are called to discern between truth and falsehood. Jeremiah 23:35 provides timeless guidance for navigating spiritual claims:

• Test Every Spirit: Just as in Jeremiah's day, we are surrounded by many voices claiming divine authority. We are exhorted to "test the spirits whether they are of God" (1 John 4:1) and to "prove all things" (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
• Focus on God's Established Word: The ultimate standard for truth is God's revealed Word, the Bible. Any message claiming divine origin must align with the Scriptures. When seeking guidance, our primary question should be, "What has the Lord already spoken in His Word?"
• Personal Responsibility: This verse places a responsibility on every individual to actively pursue and understand God's truth, rather than blindly accepting every pronouncement. It encourages a community of believers to engage in spiritual discernment together.