THEOSISJerome of Stridon
Thus says the Lord, Go to the house of the king of Judah and deliver this message: Hear the word of the Lord, O king of Judah, who sits on the throne of David, along with your officials and the people who enter through this gate. The Lord declares, Administer justice and righteousness, rescuing the oppressed from the hand of their accusers, and do not mistreat the foreigner, the orphan, or the widow, nor unjustly exploit them, and do not shed innocent blood in this place. For if you heed these words, then the descendants of David will enter through the gates of this palace, sitting on their thrones, riding on chariots and horses, along with their servants and their people.
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However, if you choose to ignore these commands, I have sworn, declares the Lord, that this house will become a desolation.
This message from the Lord was given to the prophet either before Zedekiah sent his envoys or after Jeremiah had instructed them on what to communicate to the king. Jeremiah is directed to approach the palace directly rather than through the ambassadors. Divine wisdom is evident here: with the ambassadors, he delivers a serious warning but also offers hope for repentance; in contrast, since he is to speak directly to the king, he focuses on counsel for avoiding impending judgment rather than the harsh reality of captivity.
It is especially important for rulers to deliver justice and truth, to liberate the oppressed from their accusers, and to provide support for the vulnerable—the foreigner, orphan, and widow—who can be easily exploited by the powerful. Further, to motivate them to adhere to God's commandments, he emphasizes: Do not harm them; do not merely refrain from taking from them, but also be vigilant against allowing them to be harmed by others due to your negligence. And do not shed innocent blood in this place. Executing murderers and those guilty of sacrilege is not the spilling of innocent blood, but rather the enforcement of law.
If you, O kings of Judah, follow this guidance, you will maintain your power and enter Jerusalem's gates with honor. But if you fail to do so, O royal household, it will not be the Lord’s severity that brings this about but your own choice that turns the entire city into a wasteland. Those addressed must recognize that this message applies equally to bishops, presbyters, and deacons within the church. If they fulfill their duties (Luke 17:10) without shedding innocent blood, leading astray even the least (Matthew 18:6), and causing harm to consciences (1 Corinthians 8:12), they will preserve the ministry entrusted to them by the Lord. Yet if they neglect their responsibilities, they risk turning the Church of God into a desolate place.
Meanwhile, the descendants of David will enter through Jerusalem's gates and sit upon its throne, moving with strength while maintaining control over both their own challenges and those of the people, advancing in the path laid out by the Church and embodying a gathering of many virtuous qualities. To underscore the truth of this promise, He swears by Himself, as the Apostle affirms there is no greater authority upon which to swear (Hebrews 6).