Jeremiah 17:20-27

20 and tell them, Hear you the word of the LORD, you kings of Yehudah, and all Yehudah, and all the inhabitants of Yerushalayim, that enter in by these gates:

21 Thus says the LORD, Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the day of Shabbat, nor bring it in by the gates of Yerushalayim;

22 neither carry forth a burden out of your houses on the day of Shabbat holy, neither do any work: but make the day of Shabbat, as I commanded your fathers.

23 But they didn't listen, neither turn their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, and might not receive instruction.

24 It shall happen, if you diligently listen to me, says the LORD, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the day of Shabbat, but to make the day of Shabbat holy, to do no work therein;

25 then shall there enter in by the gates of this city kings and princes sitting on the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they, and their princes, the men of Yehudah, and the inhabitants of Yerushalayim; and this city shall remain forever.

26 They shall come from the cities of Yehudah, and from the places round about Yerushalayim, and from the land of Binyamin, and from the lowland, and from the hill-country, and from the South, bringing burnt offerings, and sacrifices, and meal-offerings, and frankincense, and bringing [sacrifices of] thanksgiving, to the house of the LORD.

27 But if you will not listen to me to make the day of Shabbat holy, and not to bear a burden and enter in at the gates of Yerushalayim on the day of Shabbat; then will I kindle a fire in the gates of it, and it shall devour the palaces of Yerushalayim, and it shall not be quenched.

Jeremiah 17:20-27 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 17

This chapter is a further prophecy of the destruction of the Jews, with the causes of it, their sins, as their idolatry, which was notorious; of which their own consciences, their altars, and their children, were witnesses, Jer 17:1,2 for which they are threatened with the spoil of their substance and treasure, and discontinuance in their land, Jer 17:3,4 as also their confidence in an arm of flesh, which brought the curse of God upon them, when such are blessed that trust in him; and the difference between those that trust in men and those that trust in the Lord is illustrated by very apt similes, Jer 17:5-8, the source of which vain confidence is the wicked heart of man, known to none but God, Jer 17:9,10 and the vanity of it is exposed by a partridge sitting on eggs without hatching them, Jer 17:11, and their departure from God, by trusting in the creature, and in outward things, is aggravated by their temple being the throne and seat of the divine Majesty; by what God is to his people that trust in him; and by the shame and ruin that follow an apostasy from him, Jer 17:12,13, wherefore the prophet, sensible of his own backslidings, prays to be healed and saved by the Lord, who should have all the praise and glory, Jer 17:14 and then relates the scoffs of the people at the word of God by him, another cause of their ruin; declares his own innocence and integrity; prays for protection and security from fear in a time of trouble; and for confusion, terror, and destruction to his persecutors, Jer 17:15-18, then follows an order to him from the Lord, to go and stand in the gate of the city, and exhort all ranks of men to the observation of the sabbath, with directions how to keep it, which had not been observed by their fathers, and which was another cause of their ruin, Jer 17:19-23, and the chapter is closed with promises of blessings in city, court, and country, in church and state, should they religiously observe the sabbath day; but if they profaned it, the city of Jerusalem, and its palaces, should be burnt with fire, Jer 17:24-27.