Jeremiah 23:17Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

To prevent the people from believing they are exempt from guilt by following deceitful teachers, it is stated, "Do not pay attention to the words of the prophets who give you false assurances and lead you astray. For both the teacher and the student will face the same judgment. They do not convey messages from the Lord, but rather what is fabricated in their own hearts. They address those who speak against Me, meaning they target heretics and the wicked, or those who disregard My word. What messages do they deliver? The Lord declares, 'You will find peace.

They express what lies within their hearts rather than conveying the divine message from the Lord. They offer assurances of peace that I have not granted. To those who follow their own desires and to those who persist in their obstinate ways, they proclaim, "No harm will befall you." Who among them has stood in the counsel of the Lord to witness and listen to His words? Who will pay attention to His revelations? In making these declarations, they embolden those who practice deception, allowing them to remain in their wickedness while hindering them from heeding the words of the prophets.