Jeremiah (1-31) 7:2 Commentary and Bible Study

‘Stand in the gate of the LORD'S house.’ There is the clue to who is addressed here. Preach to those who come in to worship, and all the men, supposedly, in the course of a year will come from Judah into Jerusalem through those gates to worship. ‘And proclaim there’ – outside the Lord's house – ‘this word.’ So from this, if it isn't obvious from the verses that follow, we see that he is marshalling his arguments now to those who have a profession of belief in God. Now the first line of reasoning is going to be along these lines: to show them, to shock them into realising that it isn't something that they have left out for which God will condemn them; it isn't some portion of the faith or observances that they have omitted. It is for their entire mindset and attitude and life; everything is wrong. They are going to be deeply shocked at this. They believe, obviously, that as Jews they are born into the kingdom; they are God's people. But he is going to demonstrate that they are completely out of the way, and they have got everything wrong.