Single lesson
Jeremiah 11: The Broken Covenant
Jeremiah 11:1–17
Jeremiah 11:1–17 is a serious message about God’s covenant with Judah and Jerusalem. The passage repeats the call to hear and obey, then shows how deeply the people have broken that covenant by turning to other gods.
Before you teach
In this passage, Yahweh tells Jeremiah to speak the words of the covenant to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. The message looks back to what God commanded when he brought their fathers out of Egypt, and it explains why judgement is coming now. Jeremiah answers, “Amen, Yahweh.”
Explain the central teaching of Jeremiah 11: The Broken Covenant, using two details from the reading. Jeremiah 11:1–17 teaches that breaking God’s covenant by refusing his words and serving other gods brings guilt and judgement, not rescue.
Welcome: Jeremiah 11: The Broken Covenant
5 minIntroduce “The Broken Covenant” and locate Jeremiah 11:1–17. Jeremiah 11:1–17 teaches that breaking God’s covenant by refusing his words and serving other gods brings guilt and judgement, not rescue. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for.
Jeremiah 11:1, Jeremiah 11:9, Jeremiah 11:17
Read and explain the passage
12 minYahweh tells Jeremiah to speak “the words of this covenant” to Judah and Jerusalem. The covenant includes a warning and a call: the one who does not hear is cursed, and the people are to obey God’s voice and do what he commands. God also reminds them that he brought their fathers out of Egypt.
Yahweh says there is a conspiracy among the people. They have returned to the sins of their forefathers, refused God’s words, and served other gods. Both Israel and Judah have broken the covenant. Trouble will come, and neither their cries to Yahweh nor their prayers to the gods they worship will save them.
The passage becomes vivid in its pictures. God tells Jeremiah not to pray for the people because he will not hear them in their trouble. He speaks of his beloved acting wrongly, then compares the people to a green olive tree once beautiful and fruitful. Now fire is kindled on it and its branches are broken because they offered incense to Baal.
Read the selected verses together, pausing at “The Broken Covenant”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
Jeremiah 11:2, Jeremiah 11:3, Jeremiah 11:4, Jeremiah 11:5, Jeremiah 11:9, Jeremiah 11:10, Jeremiah 11:11, Jeremiah 11:12, Jeremiah 11:13, Jeremiah 11:14, Jeremiah 11:15, Jeremiah 11:16, Jeremiah 11:17
Discuss the details and their meaning
8 minUse the three questions below. Begin with “What does this passage say the covenant required from the people?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. Jeremiah 11:1–17 teaches that breaking God’s covenant by refusing his words and serving other gods brings guilt and judgement, not rescue. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
Jeremiah 11:3, Jeremiah 11:4, Jeremiah 11:6, Jeremiah 11:7, Jeremiah 11:8, Jeremiah 11:10, Jeremiah 11:15, Jeremiah 11:16, Jeremiah 11:17
Make and respond: Vision and message evidence map
12 minWork on “Jeremiah 11: The Broken Covenant: Vision and message evidence map”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “The Broken Covenant” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
Jeremiah 11:1, Jeremiah 11:9, Jeremiah 11:17
Closing: return to The Broken Covenant
3 minRevisit Jeremiah 11:1–17. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about The Broken Covenant and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
Jeremiah 11:1, Jeremiah 11:9, Jeremiah 11:17
Questions to explore
What does this passage say the covenant required from the people?
Look for the repeated commands about hearing God’s words, obeying his voice, and doing what he commanded.
Jeremiah 11:3, Jeremiah 11:4, Jeremiah 11:6, Jeremiah 11:7
How does the passage describe the people’s response to God’s warnings?
Notice the contrast between God’s repeated protest and the people’s refusal to obey or listen.
Jeremiah 11:7, Jeremiah 11:8, Jeremiah 11:10
Which images in the last part of the passage show the seriousness of Judah’s sin and judgement?
Consider both the language about God’s house and the picture of the olive tree with broken branches.
Jeremiah 11:15, Jeremiah 11:16, Jeremiah 11:17
Make, think or respond
Jeremiah 11: The Broken Covenant: Vision and message evidence map
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- a Bible or the source reading on this page
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “What the passage describes”, “What is explained in the text”, “What question remains”.
- Read Jeremiah 11:1–17. Use “The Broken Covenant” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Compare your notes with a partner. Check that every quotation is accurate and every conclusion has support in the passage.
- Circle an explanation the passage itself provides. Leave unexplained details as questions for further reading.
The finished sheet keeps the details of Jeremiah 11: The Broken Covenant connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For learners who need more support, prepare the reading headings “The Broken Covenant” and let them match short quotations to the correct heading.
- For confident readers, compare two sections of Jeremiah 11:1–17. Ask for a written explanation with two supporting references and one question that the text leaves open.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read Jeremiah 11:1–17. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Jeremiah 11
1 The word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying,
2 “Hear the words of this covenant, and speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem;
3 and say to them, Yahweh, the God of Israel says: ‘Cursed is the man who doesn’t hear the words of this covenant,
4 which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the iron furnace,’ saying, ‘Obey my voice and do them, according to all which I command you; so you shall be my people, and I will be your God;
5 that I may establish the oath which I swore to your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey,’ as it is today.” Then I answered, and said, “Amen, Yahweh.”
6 Yahweh said to me, “Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Hear the words of this covenant, and do them.
7 For I earnestly protested to your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even to this day, rising early and protesting, saying, “Obey my voice.”
8 Yet they didn’t obey, nor turn their ear, but everyone walked in the stubbornness of their evil heart. Therefore I brought on them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but they didn’t do them.’ ”
9 Yahweh said to me, “A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
10 They have turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, who refused to hear my words. They have gone after other gods to serve them. The house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers.
11 Therefore Yahweh says, ‘Behold, I will bring evil on them which they will not be able to escape; and they will cry to me, but I will not listen to them.
12 Then the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will go and cry to the gods to which they offer incense, but they will not save them at all in the time of their trouble.
13 For according to the number of your cities are your gods, Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem you have set up altars to the shameful thing, even altars to burn incense to Baal.’
14 “Therefore don’t pray for this people. Don’t lift up cry or prayer for them; for I will not hear them in the time that they cry to me because of their trouble.
15 What has my beloved to do in my house, since she has behaved lewdly with many, and the holy flesh has passed from you? When you do evil, then you rejoice.”
16 Yahweh called your name, “A green olive tree, beautiful with goodly fruit.” With the noise of a great roar he has kindled fire on it, and its branches are broken.
17 For Yahweh of Armies, who planted you, has pronounced evil against you, because of the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have done to themselves in provoking me to anger by offering incense to Baal.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.