Why must the people “take care for the sake of your lives, and do not bear a burden on the Sabbath day”?
Jeremiah is to warn the people to take care for the sake of your lives, and do not bear a burden on the Sabbath day or bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem. And do not carry a burden out of your house on the Sabbath or do any work, but keep the Sabbath day holy.
This would not have been a new command for the people of Judah. Sabbath observance was clearly stated in the Ten Commandments and Jeremiah would certainly have spoken out against failure to observe it.1 Bringing a burden in by the city gates and carrying a burden out of your house were two common activities of carrying out business and would have been very obvious and public violations of the Sabbath.2 The seriousness of not observing the Sabbath is made clear by Jeremiah. The people of Judah are to observe the Sabbath for the sake of your lives.
To neglect the Sabbath, in short, was a serious affront to the Lord and his authority.3 Such blatant and willful disregard of the Lord placed Judah in grave danger as a nation. The Lord did not just require outward obedience, but hearts willing to bring every part of a person’s life in line with the covenant.4
21 Ainsi parle l'Eternel: Prenez garde à vos âmes; Ne portez point de fardeau le jour du sabbat, Et n'en introduisez point par les portes de Jérusalem.