The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 114

Ver. 14.-The unwashed heart and the vain purposes cherished in it. There are here nn exhortation and a question which, taken together, pierce very deep, and suggest onco more the true cause of all the terrible calamities which are to befall Israel; for though Jerusalem is addressed, the repentance and remedy for all the evils in question must come from the action of a united people. Jererniab's words in ver. 10 are in a measure representative words; they indicate the way in which the nation would conclude that Jehovah had promised one thing; whereas quite another thing had happened, and that evidently by his disposition. And so Jehovah meets Jeremiah with this word, so that he shall not persist in a mistaken attempt to harmonize Jehovah's predictions. Further, he is to declare the same thing to Jerusalem, that being the great centre where kings and princes, priests anrl prophets are gathered together. Instead of looking outward and ignorantly complaining of God, let them look inward, with practical iutent, and see what they can do by way of heart-reformation. These stupendous perils can all be removed, but Jehovah by himself cannot remove them. In one sense, of course, he could do so. The wind might be made to subside, the lion be driven back to his thicket, the destroyer of the Gentiles annihilated. Ilut there would be no permanent putting right in this if Israel remained the same. Israel indeed might think that, if only the enemies vanished, then the sword would indeed be withdrawn from the soul. The hearts of the king and princes did not perish simply because of the hosts that were gathered against them. This was a reason so far; but in another sense no reason at all, seeing it did not go to the root of the matter. But now J ehov1.1h does go to the root of the matter; his Word is indeed a sword reacbin~ deeper than the superficial thoughts of the people. I. THE EXHORTATION. 1. The heart is to be cleansed. The heart. Persistently foes God drag these people to look within. Either they were not willing to do so, or not able to do so, or, what is perhaps a more correct way of putting it, they lacked both willingness and ability. 'l'hey would look anywhere but to the true cause of all their ills and to the true sphere where redemption and security were to be worked out. If they would only attend to their hearts and see in their hearts what God saw in them, all the seeds of peril, corruption, and everlasting shame, then they would get on to the right way, and being delivered from fundamental errors in their thoughts, they would come to the apprehension and practice of fundamental truths. They had nlready been told of the mockery of a mere outward circumcision, and enjoined to circumcise their hearts. Now the figure is varied, and they are told to cleanse their hearts. It is because the heart of the king and the prince is so polluted that it perishes. If it wore a clean heart it would be a strong heart, invincible against panic nnd despair. 2. The filth that is to be taken out of the heart is wickedness. It takes a long time to work the conviction into the minds of many people that wickedness is as filth. These very people loathe the waifs and strays who think nothing of being constantly begrimed with dirt. To such the impurity of the great unwashed is a loathsome thing; it nauseates them to come within sight or scent of it. But let such recollect that even if, as far as their bodies are concerned, they have daily changes of fine linen, white and clean, that is a mere trifle if the consciousness within be habitually defiled by inhuman and degrading thoughts. '!'here is, of course, a very practical trnth in the common saying that" Cleanliness is next to godliness;" but cleanliness of the conscience, removal of every slimy stain of self, is but one of the aspects of perfect godliness. If only we are labouring to cleanse our hearts from wickedness, all other cleanliness will assuredly follow. In proportion as wickedness is cleansf.d out, there will follow all outward decencies, courtesy of manner and refinement of tastes. 'l'ho right inwardly grows to the comely outwardly; but if that inward right be lacked, then all apparent comeliness is but the whited sepulchre. 3. 7'he mode of cleansing. The word chosen to indicate this is a very significant one. The mere general term for cleansing is not sufficient; nor even the more restricted bnt still general term for cleansing with water. 'fhe washina to be dono is that sort which in the literal instance _is to bo dono by a vigoroW1 tr~mpling of the feet. The Hebrew word is the same one in which the  110 nm nooK OF 'l'HE PilOPllET JEHE~IL\.H. [ell, IV. 1-31.