1. Context
17:1-2 The sin of idolatry was evidenced in the altar and even extended to their children.
(BKC) A carved image of Asherah had been placed in God’s temple by Manasseh (2 Kings 21:7; cf. Deut. 16:21) though he later removed it (2 Chron. 33:13, 15). Evidently the image was put back in the temple after he died because Josiah took it out during his reforms and burned it in the Kidron Valley outside the city (2 Kings 23:6). After Josiah’s death the people resumed their idolatry, and the Asherah poles were again set up. Possibly the “idol of jealousy” (Ezek. 8:5) was a carved image of Asherah. These idols were being worshiped by spreading trees and on the high hills, traditional places of worship for false gods (cf. Ezek. 6:13).
v.20-24 The violation of the commandments of keeping the Sabbath
(BKC) His message to those who passed through these gates was to keep the Sabbath Day holy. In contrast with their forefathers who disobeyed, they were to honor the day God had set aside by not doing any work on it. This was one visible test of their faithfulness to God’s covenant.
2. (BKC) If the ways of blessing and cursing are so clear (vv. 5–8), why would anyone choose the path of sin? The cause for such action is in the heart. It is so deceitful that Jeremiah wondered who could even understand it
申命記 29：18–19 18 惟恐你們中間，或男或女，或族長或支派長，今日心裡偏離耶和華我們的神，去事奉那些國的神。又怕你們中間有惡根生出苦菜和茵蔯來。19 聽見這咒詛的話，心裡仍是自誇說：‘我雖然行事心裡頑梗，連累眾人，卻還是平安。’
申命記 30：17 倘若你心裡偏離，不肯聽從，卻被勾引去敬拜事奉別神，
Perhaps because some of the sins are not easily detected and therefore people think they can deceit others and still look like a God-worshipper. But, more serious are those who do not believe there will be any consequence of disobeying God because they did not see anything bad happen yet.
Reflection: Some people in the church do not put God first in their lives and also do not want to change about it. Perhaps their lives still go on happily and thus they do not want to change. I pray for them to have their consequences sooner so that they and their kids can still repent.
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