Jeremiah 7:16

“Therefore pray not thou for this people, etc.] These are the words of the Lord to the Prophet Jeremiah, forbidding him to pray for the people of the Jews; which he either was doing, or about to do, and which, from the great affection he had for them, he was inclined unto; wherefore, to show how much the Lord was displeased with them, and how determined he was to punish them with captivity, he orders the prophet not to make any supplication for them: neither lift up cry nor prayer for them; referring to the gestures of lifting up the eyes and hands in prayer, and also to the frame of the heart, in the exercise of faith and holy confidence: “cry” and “prayer” are put together, because prayer…”

“When people are given up to judicial hardness of heart, intercessory prayer for them is unavailing (Jer 11:14; Jer 14:11; Jer 15:1; Exo 32:10; Jo1 5:16).”

“They had reached that stage in which men sin without any sense of guilt (see 1 John 5:16). Neither make intercession to me - In Jeremiah 14:7-9 we have an intercessory prayer offered by Jeremiah, but not heard. The intercession of Moses prevailed with God Numbers 11:2; Numbers 14:13-20; Numbers 16:22, because the progress of the people then wins upward; the progress now was from bad to worse, and therefore in Jeremiah 15:1 we read that the intercession even of Moses and Samuel (see 1 Samuel 12:23) would profit nothing. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Pray not - Certainly the prophet did pray that God would save a remnant, though not that he would revoke his decree; or save the body of them. Jeremiah 7:18”

“7:16 The Lord commanded Jeremiah not to pray . . . for these people because it would not do any good (15:1; cp. Exod 32:10; Deut 9:14).”

“pray: Jer 11:14, Jer 14:11, Jer 14:12, Jer 15:1, Jer 18:20; Exo 32:10; Eze 14:14-20; Jo1 5:16 I will: Sa2 8:18; Isa 1:15; Mic 3:4 Jeremiah 7:17”

“This punishment will be turned aside, neither by intercession, because the people re2fuses to give up its idolatry, nor by sacrifice, which God desires not, because for long they have turned to Him the back and not the face, and have not hearkened to His words. - Jer 7:16. "But thou, pray not for this people, and lift not up for them cry and prayer; and urge me not, for I do not hear thee. Jer 7:17. Seest thou not what they do in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem? Jer 7:18. The sons gather sticks, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead dough, to make cakes for the Queen of heaven, and to pour out drink-offerings unto other gods, to provoke me. Jer 7:19.…”