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"Behold, you trust in lying words"

Text: Jeremiah 7:8

THE PROBLEM OF FALSE TEACHINGS

One of the biggest problems for Judah in the days of Jeremiah was “false teachings”. There were views that were contrary to what the children of Israel had been taught. Nevertheless, the false teachings gained traction and many believed in them.

“‘Behold, you trust in lying words that cannot profit.
Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods whom you do not know,
and then come and stand before Me in this house which is called by My name,
and say, ‘We are delivered to do all these abominations’?
Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of thieves in your eyes? Behold, I, even I, have seen it,’ says the LORD.”
Jeremiah 7:8-11

1. “Behold, you trust in lying words that cannot profit”

a) Judah had come to “trust” in these false teachings.

b) But these teachings were no more than “lying words”.

c) These “lying words” cannot profit.

2. A glimpse of these false teachings

a) Stealing

b) Murder

c) Adultery

d) Swearing falsely

e) Burning incense to Baal

f) Walking after “gods” they did not know

3. False teachings

a) Bad deeds were “tolerable”.

b) Baal and the other gods did not care about how the people conducted their lives.

c) Religious practices and conduct need not complement each other.

These false teachings appeared to be attractive to many people.

4. “And then come and stand before Me in this house which is called by My name, and say, ‘We are delivered to do all these abominations’?”

a) These false teachings did not disallow the devotees to go to the Temple in Jerusalem to offer worship to the LORD.

b) Their teaching:

i) Worshippers have already been delivered (saved).

ii) They can do anything they wish.

iii) They can worship idols if they wished.

5. “‘Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of thieves in your eyes? Behold, I, even I, have seen it,’ says the LORD.”

a) Direct effects on the Temple.

b) The Temple was called “God’s House”.

i) It was meant to stand for holiness and righteousness.

ii) The Temple had become “a den of thieves”.

iii) This became widely known.

iv) The Temple was no better than any of the shrines of Baal.

c) God’s solemn declaration:

i) He had examined all that was going on in the Temple.

ii) He had personally seen it and checked it out.

iii) The Temple had indeed become a den of thieves.

iv) Those who ran the Temple preyed on the worshippers.