Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
Jeremiah Ch.5 / 52 Ch.s
JER:5
* The Jews' profession of religion was hypocritical. (1-9) The
cruel proceedings of their enemies. (10-18) Their apostacy and
idolatry. (19-31)
#1-9 None could be found who behaved as upright and godly men.
But the Lord saw the true character of the people through all
their disguises. The poor were ignorant, and therefore they were
wicked. What can be expected but works of darkness, from people
that know nothing of God and religion? There are God's poor,
who, notwithstanding poverty, know the way of the Lord, walk in
it, and do their duty; but these were willingly ignorant, and
their ignorance would not be their excuse. The rich were
insolent and haughty, and the abuse of God's favours made their
sin worse.
#10-18 Multitudes are ruined by believing that God will not be
so strict as his word says he will; by this artifice Satan undid
mankind. Sinners are not willing to own any thing to be God's
word, that tends to part them from, or to disquiet them in,
their sins. Mocking and misusing the Lord's messengers, filled
the measure of their iniquity. God can bring trouble upon us
from places and causes very remote. He has mercy in store for
his people, therefore will set bounds to this desolating
judgment. Let us not overlook the "nevertheless," ver. #18|.
This is the Lord's covenant with Israel. He thereby proclaims
his holiness, and his utter displeasure against sin while
sparing the sinner, #Ps 89:30-35|.
#19-31 Unhumbled hearts are ready to charge God with being
unjust in their afflictions. But they may read their sin in
their punishment. If men will inquire wherefore the Lord doeth
hard things unto them, let them think of their sins. The
restless waves obeyed the Divine decree, that they should not
pass the sandy shores, which were as much a restraint as lofty
mountains; but they burst all restraints of God's law, and were
wholly gone into wickedness. Neither did they consider their
interest. While the Lord, year after year, reserves to us the
appointed weeks of harvest, men live on his bounty; yet they
transgress against him. Sin deprives us of God's blessings; it
makes the heaven as brass, and the earth as iron. Certainly the
things of this world are not the best things; and we are not to
think, that, because evil men prosper, God allows their
practices. Though sentence against evil works is not executed
speedily, it will be executed. Shall I not visit for these
things? This speaks the certainty and the necessity of God's
judgments. Let those who walk in bad ways consider that an end
will come, and there will be bitterness in the latter end.