Jeremiah 23:20Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

To those who previously declared, "The Lord said to us: Peace be with you," and whom He indicted for their inability to anticipate the future and discern God's judgment, He now reveals their profound ignorance, stating the opposite: rather than peace and security, the tumult of Babylon approaches. This calamity will not affect just anyone but will strike the wicked directly. Furthermore, God's wrath and fury will not be soothed as in times past, for what He has prophesied and threatened will frequently come to pass. His designs and judgments will be justly executed through the punishment of the unrighteous. When, as He states, the last period of captivity arrives, and the conquering victor ensnares you, binding your hands with delicate chains, only then will you grasp the understanding you now falsely claim to possess.

Observe, the storm originates from the Lord, with His wrath manifesting in chaos. This represents ongoing misfortune, indicating that they are dispensed by God Himself, who administers discipline upon us. He further declares to those who endure trials: ‘It shall come upon the wicked,’ (Jeremiah 23:20) ‘the fury of the Lord shall not turn back until He has accomplished the intentions of His heart.’ What He has predicted will indeed occur. ‘In the last days’ they will comprehend these matters with clarity. When they witness the deeds, they will recall the spoken words. Furthermore, He points out that those who falsely prophesy, acting arbitrarily and not in accordance with God’s directive, have presented the people with misleading notions. For God declares: