Matthew Henry’s Modern English CommentaryJeremiah 21

Zedekiah's Message to JeremiahThis section shows what happened when King Zedekiah was in deep trouble. Before this, Zedekiah had not truly humbled himself before Jeremiah, who spoke the word of the Lord

v. 2: Zedekiah sent two messengers, Pashur and Zephaniah, both priests from important families (1 Chronicles 24:9, 18 ), to Jeremiah. It showed some respect for the prophet, but it would have been better if Zedekiah had come himself. Sometimes, those who are despised later become respected. Jeremiah, who once cried, My days are consumed with shame (Jeremiah 20:18 ), is now honored by the king.The message from Zedekiah was, Enquire, I pray thee, of the Lord

v. 3: God gave Jeremiah a reply with no comfort. If Jeremiah answered on his own, he might have given hope, but God knows people’s hearts. He answers as the Lord

v. 4: God says He will make all their efforts useless. He will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands . When they try to defend the city, their weapons will not help. In fact, their own swords will turn against them. If God is against someone, nothing can succeed.

v. 5: God Himself will fight against Jerusalem. He says, I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and a strong arm, in anger, in fury, and in great wrath . This is not a loving correction but a strong punishment. The Lord

v. 6: Those who stay in the city, trying to avoid the enemy, will still not escape. God says, I will strike those who remain in this city, both man and beast; they will die of a great pestilence . Disease will enter the city even if the Babylonians are kept out. Nothing can protect people from God’s judgment.

v. 7: Even the king and those who escape the sword, famine, and pestilence will be captured by the Babylonians. They will fall into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar… and he shall strike them with the edge of the sword; he shall not spare them, nor have pity or mercy . When people have rejected God's mercy, they should not expect mercy from others. So, Jeremiah’s prayers cannot help because the people’s hearts are not changed.

Answer to Zedekiah's Message; Advice to the King and the PeopleIn this section, God tells Jeremiah to give a hard message to the people and their leaders. Even though the king and people are starting to respect Jeremiah, God’s answer is not what they want to hear. God’s advice is difficult and even makes the people angry, but it is the truth. The prophet must tell them what God says, not what they want to hear. This passage shows that sometimes the only way to survive is to accept hard choices, and that real safety comes from obeying God, not from trusting in our own strength or position.v. 8–10: God tells Jeremiah to set before the people the way of life and the way of death (Jeremiah 21:8 ). If they stay in the city and trust in its walls, they will die by the sword, famine, or disease. But if they surrender to the Chaldeans, they will save their lives, even though it will be hard and shameful. God says, I have set my face against this city for evil and not for good (Jeremiah 21:10 ). The city will be given to the king of Babylon, who will burn it. This advice is very different from what the false prophets say, but it is the only way to survive. In the past, God set before them life and death if they obeyed or disobeyed (Deuteronomy 30:19 ), but now the only life left is to surrender. Most people do not listen, because their hearts are hard.

v. 11–12: God gives a special message to the king and his officials. He tells them, Execute judgment in the morning (Jeremiah 21:12 ). They must do justice quickly and fairly, helping those who are oppressed. If they do not, God’s anger will burn against them because of their evil actions. This shows that the leaders’ failure to do what is right has brought disaster on the nation. If the leaders change and do what is right, there is still hope that God may show mercy, as Daniel once said, break off your sins by righteousness… if it may be a lengthening of your tranquility (Daniel 4:27 ). The leaders must set a good example for the people and remember they are from the house of David, who was known for justice.

v. 13–14: God warns Jerusalem not to trust in its strong position. The city is surrounded by valleys and mountains, making it hard to attack. The people feel safe and say, Who shall come down against us? (Jeremiah 21:13 ). But God says, Behold, I am against you. No walls or mountains can protect them if God is their enemy. He will punish them according to their actions, and His anger will be like a fire that cannot be stopped (Jeremiah 21:14 ). God is a consuming fire, and no one can stand against Him when He is angry. Their only hope is to turn back to Him and do what is right.