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Lent · The Third Sunday in Lent (Oculi)

Jeremiah 26:1-15

Jeremiah Threatened with Death

March 8, 2026

Jeremiah on the Ruins of Jerusalem, Horace Vernet
Jeremiah on the Ruins of Jerusalem, Horace Vernet, 1844Amsterdam Museum
A French orientalist's prophet, seated on broken masonry in the smoke, painted with the archaeological detail Vernet collected on his travels.My joy is gone, grief is upon me, my heart is sick: the reading is the lament, and the painting is the rubble it is spoken over.Horace VernetA French painter of battles and oriental subjects, who directed the French Academy in Rome and travelled widely in North Africa and the Levant.Amsterdam MuseumThe city's own museum, telling Amsterdam's history through what its citizens owned, painted and argued about.Amsterdam Museum
Historic One-Year Lectionary
GospelLuke 11:14-28Lk 11:14-28
EpistleEph. 5:1-9Eph 5:1-9
Old TestamentExod. 8:16-24Ex 8:16-24Alt. OTJer. 26:1-15Jer 26:1-15
PsalterPs. 136:1-16Ps 136:1-16Alt. PsalmPs. 4Ps 4

Overview & Insights

“As for me, behold, I am in your hands. Do with me as seems good and right to you.” (Jeremiah 26:14)

This oracle is dated in the first verse to early in the reign of Jehoiakim (609–597 B.C.). Assuming that this means before 605 B.C., then the oracle would be before Babylon became an active threat toward Judah, and even then only if one accepts the testimony of Daniel 1:1–2 that Nebuchadnezzar threatened Jerusalem in the third year of Jehoiakim’s reign. The following oracle is marked as a word from the Lord and is directed to Jeremiah who is to take this message to the people.

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Take it further: Jeremiah 26:1-15

Commentary

Jeremiah 26 Commentary: Jeremiah Spared from DeathJer 26 Commentary: Jer Spared from Death Enduring Word

A verse by verse evangelical commentary on Jeremiah's temple sermon and trial.

Commentary on Jeremiah 26 by Matthew HenryCommentary on Jer 26 by Mt Henry Blue Letter Bible

A classic Puritan-era commentary on Jeremiah's near execution for prophesying.

Background & Word Study

Jeremiah 26:1 CommentariesJer 26:1 Commentaries BibleHub

Parallel classic commentaries and Hebrew word study on the passage.

Jeremiah 26 in HebrewJer 26 in Hebrew Sefaria

The Hebrew text with classical commentary on the temple sermon and the trial.

Worship & Prayers

One-Year Series Prayers of the Church LCMS Resources

Prayer resources keyed to the one-year lectionary that includes this Oculi reading.

Art & Music

Art in the Christian Tradition Vanderbilt

A curated image index for this reading across the history of Christian art.

Study Hub

Jeremiah 26, Preacher's Complete Homiletical CommentaryJer 26, Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary StudyLight

A homiletical outline commentary geared toward preaching this chapter.

Jeremiah 26, Dr. Constable's Expository NotesJer 26, Dr. Constable's Expository Notes StudyLight

A second, distinct expository commentary on the same chapter for comparison.

Questions preachers ask

Why is Jeremiah threatened with death?

For prophesying judgment in the temple court, Jeremiah is seized and faces death, yet stands firm, a suffering prophet who foreshadows Christ.

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