Discipleship Lesson

True or False?

Read Jeremiah 28:1 through 30:24

Do you remember taking tests in school that had true and false questions on them? They were really easy if you knew the answer. If you didn’t have a clue, you had only a 50 percent chance of being right.

The Jews struggled to discern who was a false prophet and who was a true one. Many times their sin blinded them to the true prophets, and they chose to accept the false prophets’ teaching. Even today, it can be difficult for some to know the difference between what is true and what is false.

But the prophet who prophesies peace will be recognized as one truly sent by the Lord only if his prediction comes true (Jeremiah 28:9).

The false prophet Hananiah prophesied that the Babylonian captivity would only last two years and then everything would be fine again. This was what the people wanted to hear. But Jeremiah told Hananiah that because he preached rebellion against the Lord (Jeremiah 28:16), he would die. Hananiah died two months later, just as Jeremiah had prophesied. Now who was the true prophet?

Prayer Suggestion: Father, help us to be able to discern the true from the false in spiritual matters.

Quicklook: Jeremiah 28:5–17