Matthew Henry’s Modern English CommentaryJeremiah 20

The Sin and Doom of Pashur.This passage describes how Pashur, a priest and leader in the temple, reacts with anger and violence toward Jeremiah for preaching God’s message. Instead of supporting Jeremiah, Pashur persecutes him. But God has a response for Pashur’s actions. Even though Pashur tries to shame Jeremiah, God turns the shame back onto Pashur and warns that he will face disaster along with those who follow him. The story shows that those who oppose God’s truth and mistreat His messengers will not escape judgment.v. 1–2: Pashur, the priest and chief governor in the temple, hears about Jeremiah’s prophecies. He becomes angry and strikes Jeremiah, then puts him in the stocks at the high gate of Benjamin by the temple (Jeremiah 20:1–2 ). Pashur wants to silence and shame Jeremiah, but his power is used to hurt, not to help.

v. 3: The next day, Pashur releases Jeremiah from the stocks. But Jeremiah has a message from God for him: The Lord

v. 4: God continues, I will make thee a terror to thyself, and to all thy friends; and they shall fall by the sword of their enemies, and thine eyes shall behold it. Pashur will see the people he cares about be destroyed and carried away by the Babylonians. His position and power will not be able to protect anyone.

v. 5: God says, I will deliver all the strength of this city, and all the labours thereof, and all the precious things thereof, and all the treasures of the kings of Judah into the hand of their enemies...to Babylon. Everything the people value, including riches and treasures, will be taken away by the enemy. Even the things they trusted in will be lost because they rejected God’s message.

v. 6: God tells Pashur that he himself, his family, and his friends will go into captivity in Babylon. Thou shalt come to Babylon, and there thou shalt die, and shalt be buried there, thou, and all thy friends, to whom thou hast prophesied lies. Pashur had prophesied falsely, promising peace, but now he will share the fate of those he misled. This shows that no one can escape God’s judgment by hiding behind lies or by persecuting God’s true messengers.

Jeremiah’s Complaint and Praise This section records a time when Jeremiah was deeply troubled and poured out his feelings to God. He had faithfully spoken God’s messages, but faced much opposition, ridicule, and pain. Jeremiah struggles with the burden of his calling, feeling both overwhelmed and compelled to continue. Yet he also finds moments of hope and praise, showing how even those who serve God can experience strong emotions and doubts, but should keep trusting in God’s purpose.v. 7: Jeremiah complains to God, saying he feels deceived and overpowered. He did not expect so much suffering from obeying God’s call. He says, “O LORD, you deceived me, and I was deceived; you are stronger than I, and have prevailed.” Jeremiah feels that God’s message brought him only trouble and shame, even though he had trusted God. It is an honest cry from the heart, showing that even prophets can feel confused and alone (O LORD, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived; thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed,.

v. 8: He explains that whenever he speaks God’s words, he shouts about violence and destruction, and this message makes people mock him and insult him all day long. Jeremiah feels the cost of faithfully delivering God’s warning to the people, because it brings him only ridicule. But he cannot keep silent, because the message burns in his heart (For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the LORD was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily,.

v. 9: Jeremiah says he sometimes wants to give up and stop speaking in God’s name, but God’s word is like a fire in his heart and bones—he cannot hold it in. Even when he tries to stay quiet, he becomes weary and cannot keep from speaking. This shows that true servants of God feel a powerful urge to share God’s message, even when it is hard (Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay,.

v. 10: Jeremiah describes how people around him are whispering about him and waiting for him to fail. Even his friends are watching for him to make a mistake, so they can accuse him. This shows how lonely Jeremiah feels, and how much pressure he is under from those who want to see him fall (For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him,.

v. 11: Still, Jeremiah expresses his trust in God. He says the LORD is with him like a mighty warrior, so his persecutors will not win. They will stumble and be shamed, and their dishonor will last forever. Jeremiah knows God is stronger than all his enemies and will protect him (But the LORD is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten,.

v. 12: Jeremiah prays to God, who sees the hearts and minds of people. He asks God to punish those who oppose him, because he has committed his cause to God. He leaves judgment and vengeance in God’s hands (But, O LORD of hosts, that triest the righteous, and seest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I opened my cause,.

v. 13: Suddenly, Jeremiah praises God, telling others to sing to the LORD and give Him thanks, because God saves the poor from the hands of evil people. Even in his pain, Jeremiah remembers to praise God for His deliverance (Sing unto the LORD, praise ye the LORD: for he hath delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evildoers,.

The Prophet's Impatient AppealIn this section, Jeremiah shares some of his most difficult feelings. After praising the Lord

v. 15: Next, Jeremiah wishes evil on the man who brought news of his birth to his father . He says that the messenger, who once made his father glad, should instead be cursed. Usually, a child’s birth is a happy event, especially for a family of priests, but Jeremiah’s pain makes him see it only as a reason for sorrow. This shows that parents often rejoice at their child’s birth, not knowing what suffering the child might face.

v. 16: Jeremiah speaks more curses against the messenger. He says, Let him be like the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, which the Lord

v. 17: Jeremiah goes even further. He wishes he had died before birth, saying it would have been better if his first breath had been his last or if he had never left his mother’s womb . He even says it would be better if his mother had always been pregnant with him, so that the womb would have been his grave. This is similar to Job’s words, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there (Job 1:21 ).

v. 18: Finally, Jeremiah asks, Why did I come forth out of the womb, to see labor and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame? (Jeremiah 20:18 ). He feels that his whole life has been filled with pain and shame. He wishes he could have stayed in the safety of the womb, instead of facing so much suffering and disgrace.We can learn important lessons from Jeremiah’s honesty. First, these words remind us that life is often full of trouble and that people sometimes feel desperate. Second, we see that strong emotions can lead us to think and say things that are not reasonable or true—like cursing a day or a messenger, or wishing one’s own mother had never given birth. The Bible warns against letting our anger or sadness guide our words (Isaiah 45:10 ), and tells us to control our tongues when our hearts are troubled (Psalm 39:1–2 ). Third, even faithful people like Jeremiah can feel weak and speak unwisely. This reminds us to be humble and always pray, Father in heaven, lead us not into temptation (Matthew 6:13 ).