In Jeremiah chapter twenty-eight, verses thirteen through seventeen, Hananiah deceived the people with his lies before God’s people. As a result, Jeremiah received a word from the Lord that predicted Hananiah’s death; within two months, the false prophet died, confirming Jeremiah’s prophecy. The penalty for apostasy and false prophecy is high. Why would Hananiah risk himself doing such mischief before God’s people, and the servant of God, Jeremiah?
Pride is of the devil. False prophets do not like being proved wrong, especially getting caught, and put on the spot before the public, which Jeremiah states in verse nine of this theme chapter. After that statement was made by the servant of God to expose Hananiah, this son of Azur went further to demonstrate, to convince the people in verse ten. “Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke from off the prophet Jeremiah’s neck, and brake it.” Then followed by another one of his false prophecies in verse eleven, “And Hananiah spake in the presence of all the people, saying, “Thus saith the Lord; Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all the nations within the space of two full years. And the prophet Jeremiah went his way.”
In verses fifteen to seventeen, “Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The Lord hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust a lie. Therefore thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the Lord. So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.
The Gospel of Christ encourages men to do works meet for repentance, but gives no encouragement to continue in sin.