The readings for the tenth Sunday after Pentecost are taken from Jeremiah 23:16-29; Hebrews 11:1—12:3; and Luke 12:49-56.
False prophets speak their own thoughts, promising peace while contradicting God’s design and Word. Jeremiah prophesies the fury of the Lord in order to turn them back. God is near, not far away as if He did not know what was going on, even in the secret places of our hearts and minds.
Hebrews provides a contrast between the false prophets and wicked Israel with faithful people in Old Testament times—Jews and Gentiles—who were regenerated and sustained by the Word of the Lord. They came to rest in His care for them, and they were not disappointed.
But there was plenty of hardships for the faithful as the wicked resented the witness of the faithful ones.
Luke provides the history of Jesus, who IS the truth in human flesh, thus necessarily causes division, within us and among us. Jesus is the source and fulfillment of Jeremiah’s prophecies. Jesus IS a witness to the fury of God against wickedness and the destruction it causes AND Jesus bore the fury of God and the wickedness of men who condemned Him to crucifixion in order to save us from it all.
These verses from Hebrews are a blessing to hold in our memory and consciousness: Therefore, we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.