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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Jeremiah 17:19 - 17:27
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The Hallowing of the Sabbath
v. 19. Thus saith the Lord unto me, with reference to the flagrant disregard of one of the chief commandments in the form in which it concerned the Jews, Go and stand in the gate of the children of the people, probably the main portal of the Temple, whereby the kings of Judah come in, and by the which they go out, identified by some as the "Gate of David," or the "Gate of the Fountain," at the foot of Zion, and in all the gates of Jerusalem, in order that this word might be observed at all entrances of the city,
v. 20. and say unto them, Hear ye the word of the Lord, ye kings of Judah, its successive rulers, and all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem that enter in by these gates:
v. 21. Thus saith the Lord, Take heed to yourselves, literally, "preserve your souls," guard over your souls, namely, on account of the danger which otherwise threatened their lives, and bear no burden on the Sabbath-day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem,
v. 22. neither carry forth a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath-day, neither do ye any work, for all of this was forbidden the Jews under the old dispensation, Exo_12:16; Exo_20:10; Deu_5:14, but hallow ye the Sabbath-day, as I commanded your fathers, the commandment to keep the Sabbath being insisted upon with great severity by the Lord at that time.
v. 23. But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, they did not pay the slightest attention to His precepts, but made their neck stiff, in deliberate stubbornness, that they might not hear nor receive instruction, their whole history being a series of examples in proof of this statement.
v. 24. And it shall come to pass, if ye diligently hearken unto Me, saith the Lord, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the Sabbath-day, but hallow the Sabbath-day to do no work therein,
v. 25. then shall there enter into the gates of this city kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, the kingdom being restored to its ancient power and splendor, they and their princes, the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the entire country participating in the benefits given to its capital; and this city shall remain forever, according to the promises made to the patriarchs and kings of old.
v. 26. And they shall come from the cities of Judah, in the neighborhood of the capital, and from the places about Jerusalem, and from the land of Benjamin, the northern district of the kingdom, and from the plain, the lowlands toward the Mediterranean Sea, and from the mountains, the hill section of the kingdom, and from the south, the great steppes west and southwest of the Dead Sea, bringing burnt offerings, and sacrifices, and meat-offerings, and Incense, and bringing sacrifices of praise, or thank-offerings, the various bloody and bloodless sacrifices of the Jews being thus briefly enumerated, unto the house of the Lord.
v. 27. But if ye will not hearken unto Me to hallow the Sabbath-day and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath-day, that is, if their deliberate desecration of the Sabbath would continue, then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, as the attack of the enemies would succeed, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched. Thus the warning of the Lord called the Jews to repentance again and again, for He does not desire the death of sinners, but wants all men to repent of their sins and be saved.