False and True Prophets, a Reflection on Jeremiah 23:23-29

In this week's gospel lesson, Jesus speaks prophetically giving warnings. His audience would not later be able to use ignorance of consequences as an excuse. After all, as Jesus reminded them, they were already accomplished sign readers.

Jeremiah was preaching to an earlier generation. He accused them of behaving as if God did not pay attention to their misdeeds. Furthermore, they had been listening to the wrong voices.

His words remain applicable to us. We still have to sift through the various points-of-view expressed by the many persons claiming to know what God wants us to do. We, like those ancient Judaeans, must strive to distinguish between false and true prophets. We must continue to wrestle with who is conveying the word of God to us and how we can know.