71 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord , saying , 2 " Stand in the gate of the Lord'S house and proclaim there this word and say , 'Hear the word of the Lord , all you of Judah , who enter by these gates to worship the Lord !' " 3 Thus says the Lord of hosts , the God of Israel , " Amend your ways and your deeds , and I will let you dwell in this place . 4 " Do not trust in deceptive words , saying , 'This is the temple of the Lord , the temple of the Lord , the temple of the Lord .' 5 "For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds , if you truly practice justice between a man and his neighbor , 6 if you do not oppress the alien , the orphan , or the widow , and do not shed innocent blood in this place , nor walk after other gods to your own ruin , 7 then I will let you dwell in this place , in the land that I gave to your fathers forever e and ever . 8 "Behold , you are trusting in deceptive words to no avail . 9 "Will you steal , murder , and commit adultery and swear falsely , and offer sacrifices to Baal and walk after other gods that you have not known , 10 then come and stand before Me in this house , which is called by My name , and say , 'We are delivered !'-that you may do all these abominations ? 11 "Has this house , which is called by My name , become a den of robbers in your sight ? Behold , I, even I, have seen it," declares the Lord . 12 "But go now to My place which was in Shiloh , where e I made My name dwell at the first , and see what I did to it because e of the wickedness of My people Israel . 13 "And now , because you have done all these things ," declares the Lord , "and I spoke to you, rising up early and speaking , but you did not hear , and I called you but you did not answer , 14 therefore, I will do to the house which is called by My name , in which you trust , and to the place which I gave you and your fathers , as I did to Shiloh . 15 "I will cast you out of My sight , as I have cast out all your brothers , all the offspring of Ephraim .
16 "As for you, do not pray for this people , and do not lift up cry or prayer for them, and do not intercede with Me; for I do not hear you.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Jeremiah 7:1-16
Commentary on Jeremiah 7:1-16
(Read Jeremiah 7:1-16)
No observances, professions, or supposed revelations, will profit, if men do not amend their ways and their doings. None can claim an interest in free salvation, who allow themselves in the practice of known sin, or live in the neglect of known duty. They thought that the temple they profaned would be their protection. But all who continue in sin because grace has abounded, or that grace may abound, make Christ the minister of sin; and the cross of Christ, rightly understood, forms the most effectual remedy to such poisonous sentiments. The Son of God gave himself for our transgressions, to show the excellence of the Divine law, and the evil of sin. Never let us think we may do wickedness without suffering for it.