Jeremiah 23:14
I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.
Jeremiah 23:14
Jeremiah escalates the indictment with stunning imagery: prophets in Jerusalem commit adultery and walk in lies, strengthening evildoers and ensuring none turn from wickedness. The severity lies in the intimate betrayal—religious leaders who corrupt by deception in a sacred city. The reference to Sodom and Gomorrah intensifies the judgment imagery, signaling total moral collapse. The prophets’ complicity in injustice and immorality shows counterfeit covenant faithfulness, where ritual acts cloak enabling of wickedness. This verse exposes a structural problem: when leaders normalize corruption, the entire society is endangered, and true repentance becomes elusive.
Theologically, this passage underscores God’s intolerance for ceremonial religion devoid of ethical transformation. It anchors the relationship between worship and ethical living: God desires a people who turn from sin, pursue justice, and uphold truth. The reference to Sodom and Gomorrah aligns with a biblical pattern: when society embraces pervasive immorality, judgment follows. The verse calls for a repentance that reconciles worship with righteous living.
In today’s context, beware of religious systems that bless corruption or gloss over wrongdoing for the sake of institution or power. Encourage ethical reform, accountability, and transparency. If you see leaders endorsing or enabling sin, seek wise counsel, confront with grace, and advocate for practical steps toward justice and truth. Cultivate communities where accountability, mercy, and integrity define the life of faith, rather than mere appearances of holiness.
Cross-References: Ezekiel 16:49-50; Amos 5:7; Luke 11:42; James 1:27