06/05/2026
Jeremiah 32:32 “Because of all the evil of the children of Israel and of the children of Judah, which they have done to provoke me to anger, they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets, and the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.”
As Jesus continues to explain why the Jews and their city would be punished and destroyed, He casts the blame on everyone! Of course the leadership are very responsible, and the priests or pastors, the spiritual heads of the church, and all the men who are in charge of their families and positions. No one is overlooked or excused.
There is individual responsibility in every choice that we have made in our lives, Amen? Jesus gives the same power, purpose, and possibilities, and lets them decide if they want to follow or not. Each person has talents, abilities and opportunities, and the freedom to choose what they want to do with them.
We are given a life and a ledger, and every choice is written down, added up, and calculated. Then a designated value is assigned, whether it was good or bad. And all of this is considered, and then the determination is announced. Are we “worthy” of entrance into heaven? And if we are, then in what position will we be stationed? Street sweeper, or something more responsible? No one will complain, because that position was not assigned, but earned! Each choice we made in this earthly life, was all considered and tabulated, and the sum created a certain value, or a certain level, which determined the position we will have in heaven!
Jesus keeps explaining to us that our choices have impact! We have already learned that in the concept of calories in and calories out, or amount of Bible study we do, or amount of TV watching we do, that it all has its effect on us. And no one will be able to point to someone else and accuse. We are our own worse enemy! Amen? Nobody “made” us eat bad food. No one made us sit on the couch. No one took our Bibles away from us! It is our own choices.
Of course we can blame the pastors and teachers and conference presidents for certain things. We can blame Trump or Biden or Putin. We can even blame our parents and their lousy examples, and school teachers! Bad environment and lack of intelligence, etc., etc. And all of that will be accounted for. No one will be judged for what they didn’t have or didn’t understand. We will only be judged by what we did have, or could have had, if we had applied ourselves! See? Individual responsibility!
Jesus points out the certain tribes of Israel, or the northern kingdom, and Judah, the southern kingdom. Each Jew in both tribes, were given certain abilities, freedoms, and choices in their lives. Based on what they did with those gifts, it will be added up and assigned value. Samson and Solomon were given a lot, but a lot was also required! The widow with her two mites was given a little, and only a little was required, too! Then it was written down, what she did with her two mites! We have no idea what the “assignation” of that choice added up being, but God knows and He will repay, or He will assign to her ledger account!
And don’t think who gets what is based on our certain gifts right now! Remember, God says He is not like us! His value, or what He wants the most, is love and loyalty! That is worth more than gold to Him! Amen? Fidelity, true words and actions. Purity of heart and mind. Real interest for others and their needs and support. These are the things, that matter to God. And that will be added up a whole lot more, than preaching to a lot of people in a coliseum!
Our study verse explains this to us and much more than we think! God takes into account of where we were born, whether into the northern kingdom, or southern kingdom. Or if they were a prince, or prophet, or priest. All is considered, all is added, all is looked at. Even if you are a man or simply an inhabitant. What did you do, with what you were given? Even if all you had, was two mites! Are we getting this?
Finally, we need to quit looking at others and what they got. Remember what Jesus said to Peter? “What is that, to thee?” In other words, how is this relevant to you? Peter had only one thing to focus on, or worry about. Jesus told him what he needed to do. “Follow thou Me!” Everybody has to follow our God, Jesus Christ! This is the litmus test. This is the common denominator. This is the value that God is looking for!
So when we look at our study verse, let’s let Jesus explain to us what He is talking about. He is not just naming certain people or vocations. He is expressing a principle! He is telling us how each one is treating Him! How are we treating Jesus?
Jeremiah 32:32 “Because of all the evil of the children of Israel and of the children of Judah, which they have done to provoke me to anger, they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets, and the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.”
~Joey Olson