Thus says the Lord: Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings, who makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. 6 He is like a barren bush in the wasteland that enjoys no change of season, But stands in lava beds in the wilderness, a land, salty and uninhabited. 7 Blessed are those who trust in the Lord; the Lord will be their trust. 8 They are like a tree planted beside the waters that stretches out its roots to the stream: It does not fear heat when it comes, its leaves stay green; In the year of drought it shows no distress, but still produces fruit. 9 More tortuous than anything is the human heart, beyond remedy; who can understand it? 10 I, the Lord, explore the mind and test the heart, Giving to all according to their ways, according to the fruit of their deeds.
This passage contrasts the fate of those who place their trust in human strength with those who trust in God. The former is likened to a barren bush in the desert, dwelling in desolation (vv. 5-6), while the latter is compared to a flourishing tree by the waters, its roots firmly planted and yielding fruit even in hardship (vv. 7-8). The passage then turns to the inscrutability of the human heart, which is "devious" and beyond self-understanding (v. 9), and concludes with God's omniscience and justice, as He alone "probes the mind and tests the heart" to repay each person according to their deeds (v. 10).
The imagery of the cursed and blessed man echoes the wisdom traditions of Psalm 1:1-6, where the righteous are compared to a tree planted by streams of water, while the wicked are like chaff blown away. This contrast emphasizes reliance on God rather than human power, wealth, or worldly security, a theme central to biblical spirituality. The reference to the deceitful heart (v. 9) highlights humanity’s fallen condition (cf. Gen. 6:5; Mark 7:21-23), necessitating divine justice and judgment (Rom. 2:6). Yet, God’s mercy offers hope: through His promise, He gives His people a new heart and a new spirit, replacing their stony hearts with hearts that truly belong to Him (Ezek. 36:26-27).
Jeremiah’s teaching finds resonance in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, where He warns against placing trust in earthly wealth, instead calling His followers to "store up treasures in heaven" (Matt. 6:19-21). Just as Jeremiah contrasts the blessed and cursed man, Jesus speaks of two masters—God and mammon (Matt. 6:24). Additionally, Jeremiah’s teaching on the heart aligns with Jesus’ teaching that "where your treasure is, there also will your heart be" (Matt. 6:21).
Paul reinforces this theme in Romans 8:5-9, contrasting those who live by the flesh (trusting in human power) with those who live by the Spirit (trusting in God), highlighting both divine justice and judgment. Similarly, Galatians 6:7-8 echoes the idea that God, in His justice, ensures that each person reaps what they sow, repaying them according to their deeds (cf. Rom. 2:6).
Jesus, the perfectly righteous One, is the ultimate "tree planted by streams of water" (cf. Jer. 17:8; Ps 1:3). In His Passion, He took upon Himself the curse of those who trust in human power (Gal. 3:13), allowing those who believe in Him to receive new life (John 7:37-38). His death and resurrection reveal God’s judgment on sin, as Christ bore the punishment for humanity’s transgressions, and His immeasurable mercy, offering salvation and a transformed heart to all who believe. This fulfills the passage’s warning about the heart’s deceit and the need for divine purification, as God alone can cleanse the depths of human intentions (cf. Ezek. 36:26-27; Heb. 4:12-13).
Jeremiah’s message is particularly fitting for Lent, a season of repentance and trust in God’s mercy. Lent calls believers to turn away from reliance on worldly security and self-sufficiency, embracing prayer, fasting, and almsgiving (Matt. 6:1-18) as a means of deepening trust in God. The passage’s reminder that God alone searches the heart (Jer. 17:10) urges an examination of conscience (2 Cor. 13:5) and a renewed commitment to Christ, the true source of life (John 15:5-8).
Almighty God, You alone search our hearts and know our ways. Help us to trust not in human strength but in You, the source of all life. Plant us like trees by living waters, that we may bear fruit even in trial. Turn our hearts from the fleeting treasures of this world and fix our eyes on the riches of Your kingdom. Purify us, O Lord, and lead us in the way of righteousness, that we may store up treasures in heaven and walk as faithful disciples of Christ. This we pray through the same Christ our Lord. Amen!
Sources
- McSorley, Joseph. An Outline History of the Church by Centuries (From St. Peter to Pius XII). 2nd ed., B. Herder Book Co., 1944.
- Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
- Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
- Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
- Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: The Pentateuch. Four Courts Press, 2017
- Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Prentice Hall, 1990.
- Charpentier, Etienne. How to Read the Old Testament. Translated by John Bowden, 1981.
- Komonchak, Joseph, et al., editors. The New Dictionary of Theology.
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