“Do not trust in these deceptive words: ‘This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.’”
Not all repetition in Scripture is pleasing to God. Some of it is rebuked. In Jeremiah 7, we encounter a chilling form of repeated speech—repetitious presumption. The people of Judah were speaking religious words with confidence, but without repentance. They believed that because the temple stood in Jerusalem, they were immune to judgment. They repeated, “The temple of the Lord… the temple of the Lord… the temple of the Lord,” but God called them out for trusting in slogans rather than truth.
Jeremiah’s Temple Sermon: A Wake-Up Call
Jeremiah was commanded to stand at the gate of the temple and preach to people as they entered to worship. His message wasn’t one of comfort—it was confrontation. The people had begun to treat the temple like a lucky charm, a guarantee that God would not allow harm to come to them.
They said, “We have the temple! We’re safe!” But their lives told a different story—full of idolatry, injustice, and hypocrisy. Their repeated words were presumption, not praise.
Application: We, too, are tempted to rely on religious rituals, buildings, or heritage. But God is not impressed with words repeated without hearts repenting.
When Repetition Becomes Religion Without Relationship
Notice what’s happening in Jeremiah 7:4. The phrase “The temple of the Lord” is repeated three times—but not to glorify God. It’s used to justify sin. The repetition of religious phrases had become a substitute for obedience.
Examples of modern-day repetitions that can turn presumptuous:
- “God is good… all the time.” (But do we live like we trust Him?)
- “I’m blessed and highly favored.” (But are we surrendered?)
- “We go to church.” (But are we being the church?)
Lesson: When our lips say what our lives deny, we’ve entered the danger zone of religious presumption.
“I Will Do to This House…” – The Shocking Verdict
God’s response was swift and serious. In Jeremiah 7:12–14, He reminds the people of what He did to Shiloh, the previous center of worship, where the tabernacle once stood—and how He abandoned it due to the people’s wickedness. He warned them that unless they repented, the same fate awaited Jerusalem and the temple.
This is a sobering message: God will not dwell where He is only honored with lips but not with lives.
Jesus Cleanses the Temple
Centuries later, Jesus would walk into that same temple and drive out the moneychangers, saying, “You have made it a den of robbers” (Matthew 21:13). He was quoting from this same prophetic tradition in Jeremiah 7.
Jesus, too, opposed religious repetition without real righteousness. He taught that true worship is “in spirit and truth” (John 4:24), not merely in words and rituals.
How to Keep Repetition from Becoming Presumption
- Let repetition flow from reverence, not routine.
If you find yourself saying something in prayer or worship repeatedly, pause and examine—does my life reflect this truth? - Align repeated words with repentant hearts.
Before declaring, “God is faithful,” ask, “Am I being faithful to Him?” Let your words rise from obedience. - Test slogans by Scripture.
Not all Christian sayings are biblically sound. Make sure what you’re repeating is rooted in God’s Word, not cultural comfort.
Modern Temples and Trusts
Today, people put their trust in many “temples”—their church attendance, spiritual heritage, Christian nation identity, or even Bible knowledge. These are good gifts, but they are not a guarantee of God’s approval.
Trusting in these things while ignoring God’s commands is to repeat the mistake of Judah—saying the right thing but living the wrong way.
Say It Again (If You Mean It)
Words matter. Repetition matters. But not all repetition pleases God. Repetitious presumption is when our mouths echo truth our lives won’t obey. It’s when we substitute chants for change.
So say it again—but only if it’s true. Say it again—but back it up with surrender. Let your repetition be the echo of your obedience, not the cover-up of rebellion.
Next: Repetitious Prophecy – A Triple Ruin and a Certain Judgment