John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 4. Be ye not as your fathers , etc.] Who lived before the captivity, and misused the prophets and messengers of the Lord, and despised his word, and fell into gross idolatry; the evil examples of parents and ancestors are not to be followed: unto whom the former prophets have cried : such as Hosea, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and others: saying, thus saith the Lord of hosts, Turn now from your evil ways, and [from] your evil doings ; by their “evil ways” may be meant their idolatrous worship; and by their “evil doings” their immoralities; or, by both, their wicked lives and conversations, both before God and men; from whence they were exhorted by the former prophets to turn, and to reform; even “now”, at that present time they prophesied to them, immediately, lest destruction come upon them: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the Lord ; speaking by his prophets, who were sent by him, and came and spoke in his name; so that not hearing them was not hearing him who sent them, and whom they represented.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-6 - God's almighty power and sovereign dominion, should engage an encourage sinners to repent and turn to Him. It is very desirable to have the Lord of hosts for our friend, and very dreadful to have his for our enemy. Review what is past, and observe the message God sent by his servants, the prophets, to your fathers. Turn ye now from your evi ways, and from your evil doings. Be persuaded to leave your sins, a the only way to prevent approaching ruin. What is become of ou fathers, and of the prophets that preached to them? They are all dea and gone. Here they were, in the towns and countries where we live passing and repassing in the same streets, dwelling in the same houses trading in the same shops and exchanges, worshipping God in the sam places. But where are they? When they died, there was not an end of them; they are in eternity, in the world of spirits, the unchangeabl world to which we hasten apace. Where are they? Those of them who live and died in sin, are in torment. Those who lived and died in Christ are in heaven; and if we live and die as they did, we shall be with them shortly and eternally. If they minded not their own souls, is tha a reason why their posterity should ruin theirs also? The prophets ar gone. Christ is a Prophet that lives for ever, but all other prophet have a period put to their office. Oh that this consideration had it due weight; that dying ministers are dealing with dying people abou their never-dying souls, and an awful eternity, upon the brink of whic both are standing! In another world, both we and our prophets shal live for ever: to prepare for that world ought to be our great care in this. The preachers died, and the hearers died, but the word of God died not; not one jot or title of it fell to the ground; for he is righteous.
Original Hebrew אל408 תהיו1961 כאבתיכם1 אשׁר834 קראו7121 אליהם413 הנביאים5030 הראשׁנים7223 לאמר559 כה3541 אמר559 יהוה3068 צבאות6635 שׁובו7725 נא4994 מדרכיכם1870 הרעים7451 ומעליליכם4611 הרעים7451 ולא3808 שׁמעו8085 ולא3808 הקשׁיבו7181 אלי413 נאם5002 יהוה׃3068
