Chapter Summary

Message in the temple court. Spiteful treatment of Jeremiah and his brave stand. Martyrdom of Urijah.

Discussion Questions for Jeremiah, Chapter 26

1. When the Lord was instructing Jeremiah to speak a message of warning, why did God tell him, "Do not omit a word!" (v. 2, NASB)? What could have been the consequences of only telling part of this message from God? When evangelizing to a lost person, what would be the consequences of telling them only about their sin and the wrath of God? What would be the consequences if you only told them about the love of God and heaven?
2. Why would the people reject God's message through Jeremiah even as they are there in Jerusalem at the Temple worshipping? How can religious tradition become such an idol that a person can reject God's truths in a place of worship even today? How do we as believers guard our hearts against this?
3. What are the similarities of the city of Shiloh and the city of Jerusalem in the context of ancient Israel and how they worshipped? What does this similarity reveal about how God wanted his people to serve Him?
4. Why do you think the response to God's message from Jeremiah so immediately hostile, to the point of all who are there wanting to kill Jeremiah? What does Jesus say about our natural relationship to God's truth in John 3:19-21? Has there been a time where you reacted in a hostile way to something you knew was the truth?
5. Do Christians today have a similar command from the Lord that Jeremiah was charged with in verses 2-6? How do we speak "the truth in love" (Eph. 4:15, NASB) when the truth of our sin and dependence on God for salvation in Jesus can be initially offensive?
6. Jeremiah and many of the prophets faces threats of death, and Jesus tells Christians to expect persecution (John 15:19-20, NASB). How did Jeremiah face this persecution from this hostile group? How then should believers face persecution?
7. How can we help believers who are in places in the world who face worse persecution than where we live? How ought we pray for the persecuted church? How does Jesus say we should pray for those who persecute His people in Matthew 5:43-47?
8. Does it appear that some people in Jerusalem end up taking the warning seriously? What changed the minds of some there who were just ready to kill Jeremiah? Who was King Hezekiah and what did he do?
9. Just as some listened to Jeremiah because of King Hezekiah, is there a story of a great work of God from scripture that changed the course of your life? Has there been a time when remembering the things God has done in your life before strengthened your relationship with God during a tough season?
10. Does it appear that there are some who ultimately reject the warning Jeremiah gives? What is their reasoning? How is Jeremiah delivered? Has there been a time when the Lord protected you in a bad situation?

Key Words/Phrase

Faithful prophet, vv. 14, 15.

Characters

Jehoiakim, Jeremiah, Micah, Hezekiah, Urijah, Elnathan, Ahikam.

Strong Verse(s)

13