Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Being Deceived About the Sabbath

The following are different translations for Hebrews 4:9:
(KJV)
There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
(ASV)
There remaineth therefore a sabbath rest for the people of God.
(AMP)
So then, there is still awaiting a full and complete Sabbath-rest reserved for the [true] people of God;
(ESV)
So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God,
(GW)
Therefore, a time of rest and worship exists for God's people.
(HCSB)
A Sabbath rest remains, therefore, for God’s people.
(MOFF)
There is a sabbath-Rest, then, reserved still for the People of God
(NASB)
So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.
(NKJV)
There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.
(NLT)
So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God.

Matthew Poole's Commentary provides a typical explanation: " Here the Spirit concludes from his former proofs, that there is a more excellent rest revealed to faith in the gospel, which is remaining, future, and to come, and will surely and most certainly do so; though it be behind, yet it will be enjoyed. A sabbatism, which is a state and season of a most glorious rest, (see Heb 4:10), shall be enjoyed by sincere believers, the true Israel of God, of whom he is the Proprietor, and who are for their eternal state so excellently holy, and of so Divine a nature, that he is not ashamed to be called their God."

I submit that the translators are deceiving the readers. This is another example of the purposeful attempt to disconnect followers of Yeshua with his Hebraic roots. The Greek word for "rest" is sabbatismós and it means to keep the Sabbath. The use of the word "rest" was added by replacement theologians in an effort to change the commandment to keep the Sabbath into a futuristic ideal. However, the word for "remains" is in the present tense indicative mood. The present indicative asserts something which is occurring while the speaker is making the statement. This is not about the future; it is about now.

The correct translation should be:
"There remains a keeping of the Sabbath by God's people."

A true interpretation of Hebrews 4:9 reveals the failure of the modern church to obey God's command to keep the Sabbath. It is not a futuristic fulfillment; it is a current duty.

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