Jeremiah’s words sound biased in favor of the leader class in his society. He was, after all, the son of a priest—not a farmer.

But Jeremiah could see the faults of the leaders of his people too. His hopes that “surely [the leaders] know the way of the Lord” were dashed.

God had set before him a challenge: “If you can find but one person who deals honestly and seeks the truth, I will forgive this city.”

This was an echo of God’s promise to Abraham—that if there were ten righteous people in Sodom, he would not destroy the city (Genesis 18:32). Actually, Jeremiah received a more generous promise: if he could find even one righteous person, God would forgive the city!

People in our day who are critical of the poor should look closely at the sins of the elite. Is there more acceptance of the Word of God? Is it only the poor who make unwise choices in their behavior?

“With one accord [the leaders] too had broken off the yoke.” High class or low, salvation is always and only by the grace of God.