For more than twenty years, LearnTheBible.org has consistently provided free content from a Bible-believing perspective to our thousands of annual visitors. We do not run ads or charge for access to this wealth of Bible study materials, outlines, preaching, teaching, and so much more! Expenses to maintain our hosting, servers, etc. are provided by the generous donations of God's people. If you have been helped and blessed by LTB through the years, would you help us continue to maintain and support this growing ministry by partnering with us with a onetime or monthly gift?
To those who read, listen, and share our content, we are extremely grateful! Please continue to pray for us and "Thank You!" for 20 great years!
The Field of Inheritance
Scripture Passage:
Jeremiah 32:1-15 Attached audio files:
- During the siege of Jerusalem (Jeremiah 32:1-2 [1] The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar.
[2] For then the king of Babylon's army besieged Jerusalem: and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the prison, which was in the king of Judah's house.
See All...) - During the imprisonment of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 32:3For Zedekiah king of Judah had shut him up, saying, Wherefore dost thou prophesy, and say, Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it;
See All...) - Facing the end of the kingdom (Jeremiah 32:4-5 [4] And Zedekiah king of Judah shall not escape out of the hand of the Chaldeans, but shall surely be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, and shall speak with him mouth to mouth, and his eyes shall behold his eyes;
[5] And he shall lead Zedekiah to Babylon, and there shall he be until I visit him, saith the LORD: though ye fight with the Chaldeans, ye shall not prosper.
See All...)
- THE FIELD WAS HIS RIGHT OF REDEMPTION (Jeremiah 32:7-8 [7] Behold, Hanameel the son of Shallum thine uncle shall come unto thee saying, Buy thee my field that is in Anathoth: for the right of redemption is thine to buy it.
[8] So Hanameel mine uncle's son came to me in the court of the prison according to the word of the LORD, and said unto me, Buy my field, I pray thee, that is in Anathoth, which is in the country of Benjamin: for the right of inheritance is thine, and the redemption is thine; buy it for thyself. Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD.
See All...) - His Right by Reason of Family Relationship
- A Picture of the Inheritance which is our Right
- Because of our entry into the family of God by salvation (Romans 8:32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
See All...; Ephesians 2:10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
See All...) - That for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:12Thou didst march through the land in indignation, thou didst thresh the heathen in anger.
See All...) - THERE SEEMED TO BE GOOD REASONS NOT TO BUY
- Jeremiah was in Prison (Jeremiah 32:3For Zedekiah king of Judah had shut him up, saying, Wherefore dost thou prophesy, and say, Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it;
See All...) - Jeremiah had No Family (Jeremiah 16:2Thou shalt not take thee a wife, neither shalt thou have sons or daughters in this place.
See All...) - The Whole Land Would be Destroyed (Jeremiah 32:4-5 [4] And Zedekiah king of Judah shall not escape out of the hand of the Chaldeans, but shall surely be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, and shall speak with him mouth to mouth, and his eyes shall behold his eyes;
[5] And he shall lead Zedekiah to Babylon, and there shall he be until I visit him, saith the LORD: though ye fight with the Chaldeans, ye shall not prosper.
See All...) - There are Always Good Reasons Not to Redeem Your Inheritance
- Not a convenient season (Acts 24:25And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
See All...) - Other things to take care of first (Luke 14:17-20 [17] And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
[18] And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.
[19] And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.
[20] And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
See All...) - Enjoying life too much now (Luke 12:16-21 [16] And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
[17] And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
[18] And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
[19] And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
[20] But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
[21] So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
See All...) - HE BOUGHT IT TO PLEASE THE LORD (Jeremiah 32:8So Hanameel mine uncle's son came to me in the court of the prison according to the word of the LORD, and said unto me, Buy my field, I pray thee, that is in Anathoth, which is in the country of Benjamin: for the right of inheritance is thine, and the redemption is thine; buy it for thyself. Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD.
See All...) - To Do His Will (Acts 9:6And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
See All...) - To Bring Him Glory (1 Corinthians 1:31That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
See All...) - To Give Him Pleasure (Revelation 4:11Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
See All...) - HE BOUGHT IT ACCORDING TO THE DEED (Jeremiah 32:10-11 [10] And I subscribed the evidence, and sealed it, and took witnesses, and weighed him the money in the balances.
[11] So I took the evidence of the purchase, both that which was sealed according to the law and custom, and that which was open:
See All...) - Sealed (Psalm 119:89For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.
See All...); it was secure - Open (2 Timothy 3:16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
See All...); meant to be understood - In an Earthen Vessel (Jeremiah 32:14Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Take these evidences, this evidence of the purchase, both which is sealed, and this evidence which is open; and put them in an earthen vessel, that they may continue many days.
See All...); we take the word to others in our own earthen vessels (2 Corinthians 4:17For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
See All...) - HE BOUGHT IT IN THE SIGHT OF WITNESSES (Jeremiah 32:10And I subscribed the evidence, and sealed it, and took witnesses, and weighed him the money in the balances.
See All...) - The Father and Son
- The Angels (1 Peter 1:12Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
See All...) - The Saints (Hebrews 12:1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
See All...) - HE PAID THE REQUIRED PRICE FOR THE FIELD (Jeremiah 32:9And I bought the field of Hanameel my uncle's son, that was in Anathoth, and weighed him the money, even seventeen shekels of silver.
See All...) - He Paid an Exact Amount of 17 Shekels
- Abraham paid 400 shekels for the cave of Machpeleh (Genesis 23:9-16 [9] That he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he hath, which is in the end of his field; for as much money as it is worth he shall give it me for a possession of a buryingplace amongst you.
[10] And Ephron dwelt among the children of Heth: and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth, even of all that went in at the gate of his city, saying,
[11] Nay, my lord, hear me: the field give I thee, and the cave that is therein, I give it thee; in the presence of the sons of my people give I it thee: bury thy dead.
[12] And Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land.
[13] And he spake unto Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, But if thou wilt give it, I pray thee, hear me: I will give thee money for the field; take it of me, and I will bury my dead there.
[14] And Ephron answered Abraham, saying unto him,
[15] My lord, hearken unto me: the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver; what is that betwixt me and thee? bury therefore thy dead.
[16] And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron; and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver, which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant.
See All...) - David paid 50 shekels for the threshingfloor and oxen of Araunah (2 Samuel 24:24And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
See All...) - The price of 17 shekels for the field in Anathoth seems low and odd
- It was a time when the country was disintegrating
- Jeremiah was in prison in Jerusalem
- Perhaps it was all he could afford
- We Must Pay the Full Amount for our Inheritance
- We must count the cost (Luke 14:27-30 [27] And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
[28] For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
[29] Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
[30] Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
See All...) - We must deny ourselves (Luke 9:23And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
See All...) - We must become a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
See All...) - IT WAS PRESERVED BY GOD’S PROMISE (Jeremiah 32:15For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land.
See All...) - The Promise of Future Inheritance (Jeremiah 32:43-44 [43] And fields shall be bought in this land, whereof ye say, It is desolate without man or beast; it is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.
[44] Men shall buy fields for money, and subscribe evidences, and seal them, and take witnesses in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, and in the cities of the mountains, and in the cities of the valley, and in the cities of the south: for I will cause their captivity to return, saith the LORD.
See All...) - The Promise to the Grace Age Believer (1 Peter 1:4To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
See All...)
Conclusion:
- Missionary couple returning from a life-long service in Africa. The man was jealous of the reception President Teddy Roosevelt received in returning from a big game hunt in Africa until the Lord impressed him, “But you’re not home yet!”
- Obadiah 1:17But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.
See All... – “But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.”
Proverbs 23:10
Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless: