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Jeremiah 14:14
Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.

Jeremiah 23:25,26
I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed…

Lamentations 2:14
Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of banishment.

bear rule.

Isaiah 30:10,11
Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: …

Micah 2:6,11
Prophesy ye not,say they to them that prophesy: they shall not prophesy to them,that they shall not take shame…

John 3:19-21
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil…

and what.

Jeremiah 4:30,31
Andwhen thouart spoiled, what wilt thou do? Though thou clothest thyself with crimson, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, though thou rentest thy face with painting, in vain shalt thou make thyself fair;thy lovers will despise thee, they will seek thy life…

Jeremiah 22:22,23
The wind shall eat up all thy pastors, and thy lovers shall go into captivity: surely then shalt thou be ashamed and confounded for all thy wickedness…

Deuteronomy 32:29
O that they were wise,that they understood this,that they would consider their latter end!

and the priests rule by their own authority
The priests, who were supposed to be spiritual leaders and mediators between God and the people, were instead acting on their own authority. This indicates a corruption of the religious system, where priests were no longer adhering to the Law of Moses or seeking God's guidance. In the historical context, this reflects a period of spiritual decline in Judah, where religious leaders were more concerned with maintaining power and influence than with true worship. This mirrors the situation in the time of Jesus, where religious leaders were criticized for their hypocrisy and self-serving actions (Matthew 23).

My people love it so
The people of Judah were complicit in this corruption, preferring the comforting lies of the false prophets and the self-serving leadership of the priests over the hard truths of God's message. This reflects a human tendency to seek out messages that align with personal desires rather than truth (2 Timothy 4:3-4). The people's love for these falsehoods indicates a deep spiritual blindness and rebellion against God, similar to the Israelites' repeated turning away from God throughout the Old Testament (Exodus 32:1-6).

but what will you do in the end?
This rhetorical question serves as a warning of impending judgment. It challenges the people to consider the ultimate consequences of their actions and the futility of relying on falsehoods. In the broader biblical narrative, this points to the inevitable accountability before God that all people face (Hebrews 9:27). The question underscores the urgency of repentance and returning to God, a central theme in Jeremiah's prophetic ministry. It also foreshadows the ultimate judgment and redemption found in Jesus Christ, who calls people to truth and repentance (John 14:6).

When Jeremiah says, “The prophets prophesy falsely” (Jeremiah 5:31), he is exposing spiritual leaders who claim divine authority while inventing their own messages.

•Deuteronomy 18:20-22 warns that anyone who speaks a word God has not commanded is a false prophet. The people in Jeremiah’s day ignored that standard.

•Jeremiah 14:14 records God’s verdict: “They are prophesying to you a false vision, worthless divination, the deceit of their own minds.”

• In our day, Jesus’ caution inMatthew 7:15 (“Beware of false prophets…”) and Paul’s in2 Timothy 4:3 (“people will not tolerate sound doctrine”) remind us the danger persists.

Takeaway: Whenever a “word from the Lord” contradicts Scripture or centers on human desire rather than God’s glory, it is false, no matter how popular it sounds.

Priests were supposed to teach God’s law (Malachi 2:7), yet these priests “rule by their own authority.”

•Ezekiel 22:26 laments priests who “do violence to My law,” blurring right and wrong.

• Jesus confronts a similar spirit inMark 7:8: “You have set aside the commandment of God to hold to the tradition of men.”

• Whenever leaders elevate personal preference, tradition, or cultural trends above God’s Word, they repeat the sin Jeremiah condemned.

Takeaway: Spiritual authority is legitimate only when it submits to Scripture. Personal charisma or position can never replace God’s revealed will.

Tragically, the problem isn’t just corrupt leaders; the people “love it so.”

•Isaiah 30:10 pictures Israel begging for “pleasant words” instead of truth.

•2 Timothy 4:3-4 predicts a time when believers will “accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires.”

•John 3:19-20 explains why: people love darkness because it hides their deeds.

Takeaway: False teaching survives because audiences crave comfort more than repentance. A heart that delights in flattery resists the hard but healing truth of God.

God’s final question pierces every generation: “What will you do in the end?”

•Jeremiah 8:19 foresees the anguish of people discovering too late that they trusted lies.

•Hebrews 9:27 reminds us, “it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.”

•Revelation 6:16-17 pictures those who clung to deception begging mountains to fall on them from “the wrath of the Lamb.”

Takeaway: Present comfort gained by rejecting truth will collapse under future judgment. The only safe course is immediate repentance and wholehearted return to God’s Word.

Jeremiah 5:31 exposes a lethal cycle: leaders invent lies, people applaud, and everyone marches toward judgment. God calls us to break that cycle by testing every message against Scripture, submitting all authority to His Word, and loving truth more than ease—because, sooner or later, we will all face “the end,” and only truth endures.

Bear rule by their means.--Better,move at their hands, i.e.,according to their direction (as in1Chronicles 25:2;2Chronicles 23:18. The Vulg. and LXX. translateThe priests applauded with their hands.So taken, the words of Jeremiah make the priests follow the prophets, not the prophets the instruments of the priests. InIsaiah 9:15 the prophets are as "the tail," the basest element in the nation. . . .

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