Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Sforno · Torah

Sforno on Exodus 31:13/ספורנו על שמות ל״א:י״ג

אאַךְ אֶת שַׁבְּתוֹתַי תִּשְׁמֹרוּ. אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁצִּוִּיתִי עַל מְלֶאכֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן, מִכָּל מָקוֹם אֶת שַׁבְּתוֹתַי תִּשְׁמֹרוּ, וְלֹא תִדְחוּ אוֹתָן בִּשְׁבִילָהּ.
1אך את שבתותי תשמורו, even though it was I Who commanded you to build the Tabernacle and to construct all its appurtenances, and it is to serve as a residence for My presence, this commandment does not override the restrictions associated with proper observance of the Sabbath. The reason is that the Sabbath is
בכִּי אוֹת הִיא בֵּינִי וּבֵינֵיכֶם. וְאִם תְּקַלְקְלוּ זֶה הָאוֹת, אֵין שׁוּם מָקוֹם לַעֲשׂוֹת מִשְׁכָּן לְשָׁכְנִי בְּתוֹכְכֶם:
2אות היא ביני וביניכם, a symbol serving as a reminder of our mutual relationship. If you were to ignore this symbol by building a residence for Me on this day, there would be no point in doing so as I would not then take up residence in that Tabernacle.