Jacob 4

I consider this chapter a intro to the ominous Jacob 5 (dun dun dun). Jacob hits on the points be wants before the analogy of the vineyard. He talks about the atonement, worshipping the Father through Christ, and the Jews rejection of the foundation stone.

Jacob starts by expressing his inability to write all the words of his teaching but engraving what he can for the benefit of the generations to come (v1-2). It is harder to engrave than to write on the perishable material, but he rejoices in providing this for others because it testifies of Christ before his coming (v3-4). Years before Christ came, he was known of by prophets and had testimonies of the truth (v5-6). The Lord humbled them in order to show his great work but he is still gloriously mysterious (v7-8). 

His power, wisdom, justice, and mercy extend beyond our scope of knowledge, therefore we should take what counsel and guidance He gives (v9-10). Christ is the only one who can give us reconciliation because of the atonement and we will be resurrected. Excuse of Him (v11). We shouldn't be shy about speaking of the atonement because it is the greatest gift we have the opportunity to know about from Christ (v12).

Jacob knows that he prophesies to help men understand the truth of the spirit just as prophets of old who spoke to the Jews (v13). Unfortunately, they rejected the words because they were 'too' simple and sought knowledge they could not understand, and for that they were prevented from understanding any of it (v14). According to his prophesying, Jacob, tells of the Jews rejecting the stone which provides the last chance for building a safe foundation (v15-16). This stone is Jesus Christ who we know the Jews rejected.

After all that they have done though, it is possible that they can come back and have the chance again (v17). Jacob hopes he can unfold the mystery right by quoting Zenos who was a prophet (v18).