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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Jeremiah 9:23 - 9:26
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The Way of Escape Rejected
v. 23. Thus saith the Lord, in once more picturing to the apostate Jews the one way of salvation, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, as though that were sufficient to bring him redemption, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, trusting in his strength and power to deliver him, let not the rich man glory in his riches, as though they could protect him from the threatening destruction,
v. 24. but let him that glorieth glory in this, make this fact the one and only foundation of his boasting, that he understandeth and knoweth Me, that he has learned to know the true God, the Triune God and the Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the one Messiah of the world, that I am the Lord which exercise loving-kindness, His grace and mercy occupying first place in His attitude over against us, judgment, and righteousness, in the expression of His holiness and faithfulness in His Word, whether in reward or in punishment, in the earth, in His entire relation toward mankind; for in these things I delight, saith the Lord, He Himself is active in exercising His bliss in them, and He is anxious to have His children and all men walk in them.
v. 25. Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will punish all them which are circumcised with the uncircumcised, literally, "every circumcision in foreskin," that Isaiah He would visit in anger all men whose heart was not turned to Him in the true obedience of faith, whether they had submitted to the rite of circumcision or not:
v. 26. Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, and the children of Ammon, and Moab, the Jews with all the nations surrounding them, and all that are in the utmost corners, that dwell in the wilderness, literally, "all having their hair," that is, their beard, "clipped at the corners," a custom in use among the heathen nations, but expressly forbidden to the Israelites, Lev_19:27; Lev_21:5; for all these nations are uncircumcised, they had not accepted the rite by which the Jews were distinguished as the chosen people of the Lord under the covenant made with the patriarchs, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart, that is, in their case the outward observance of the formerly significant rite had lost its meaning, since they had not turned to the Lord in true repentance. Without such change of heart the rite of acceptance into the outward membership in Israel was of no avail, just as the Sacrament of Baptism has no value in the case of those who do not believe. A mere outward observance of the customs of religion will not bring men to true fellowship with the Lord.