The Word of God – Part II
HEBREWS 4:12-13
LAST WEEK’S BLOG, DEALING PRIMARILY WITH V. 11, SERVED AS AN INTRODUCTION TO THIS WEEK’S STUDY…
NAS Hebrews 4:11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall through following the same example of disobedience.
“ALTHOUGH GOD’S WORK MAKES HIS PEOPLE HOLY, THEY ARE TO BE DILIGENT TO ENTER THAT REST BY WORKING TO MAKE THEIR SALVATION THEIR OWN.” – David Jeremiah
NAS Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
VERSE 12 IS POETIC IN STYLE: “Using a high proportion of unusual words, figurative language, and a frequent though not monotonous number of terms accented vigorously on the last syllable (I see this as being very Hebraistic. I note this to support my studied contention that the Bible in general, not only the Old Testament, of course but also the New Testament, which was written by Jews, is a Hebrew book – TAR). Other poetic features include the cumulation of words and phrases with overlapping meaning, and some obscurity in construction.” – Paul Ellingworth
NOTE THAT V. 12 BEGINS WITH THE IMPORTANT WORD “FOR.” This conjunction is explanatory, clearly connecting with the previous verse and the entire context…
THE BIBLE IS TELLING US THAT THE WORD OF GOD IS NOT ONLY SAVING AND COMFORTING AND NOURISHING AND HEALING, IT IS ALSO AND AWESOME FORCE OF JUDGMENT. There will come a day when every displayed and concealed hypocrisy of man will be laid bare before God. If you are an unbeliever, you will face the final judgment before being consigned to the Lake of Fire. And if you are a believer, although you are in no danger of condemnation, you must face the Judgment Seat of Christ, in which your Christian works – bad as well as good – will be judged…
KJV Jeremiah 23:29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?
“THE WORD OF GOD IS LIKE A FIRE WHICH CONSUMES anything and everything contrary to God’s character and will; and like a hammer that breaks in bits all opposition and smashes any and all illusions and falsehoods in which men place their confidence. The Word of the living God is a dynamic, creative, powerful thing!” – Broadman Commentary
“THE WORD OF GOD” IS THE BIBLE. Some scholars and commentators, mostly from the distant past, have suggested that the “Word of God” in Hebrews 4:12 is not referring to Scripture but to the Lord Jesus Christ. It is true, of course, that Jesus is called the “Word of God” in the Bible…
NAS John 1:1, 14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
IT MUST BE SAID THAT THERE IS A CLOSE CONNECTION to God and the Word He speaks through the Bible. Either way one might read the passage, the point is the same: God’s Word – rather that be Christ or the Bible – is extremely powerful and probing and that we are powerless to hide from Him or it…
BUT I BELIEVE HEBREWS 4:12 IS SPEAKING OF GOD’S WORD THE BIBLE, and in particular the searching, convicting, judgmental aspect of the Bible…
KJV 2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
IN OUR PASSAGE FOR THIS WEEK WE CAN, I BELIEVE, clearly see the reproving and correcting dimension of the Bible. If we prayerfully, studiously read God’s Word it will search our hearts and show us the errors of our ways and instruct us in righteousness by showing us the right way we should follow…
ONLY PRAYER CAN BE SAID TO EQUAL THE IMPORTANCE OF interaction with God’s Word. The Word of God is absolutely essential to both the individual Christian and the community of faith we call the “church.”
“EVERY HOUR I READ YOU KILLS A SIN, OR LETS A VIRTUE IN, TO FIGHT AGAINST IT.” – Neil Lightfoot
“IN THE DAY OF THE GREAT JUDGMENT THE WORD OF GOD IS GOING TO PENETRATE AND LAY BARE ALL HEARTS WHO HAVE NOT TRUSTED IN HIM. The sham and hypocrisy will not be revealed and no profession of faith, no matter how orthodox, and no list of good works, no matter how sacrificial, will count for anything before Him. Only the thoughts and intentions of the heart will count. God’s Word is the perfect discerner, the perfect κριτικός (kritikos) [from which we get ‘critic’]. It not only analyzes all the facts perfectly, but all motives, and intentions, and beliefs as well, which even the wisest of human judges or critics cannot do. The sword of His Word will make no mistakes in judgment or execution. All disguises will be ripped off and only the real person will be seen.” – MacArthur
THE WORD OF GOD IS A PRECIOUS GIFT THAT SHOULD BE cherished with detailed attention. Exegetical preaching and the public and private reading of Scripture are foundational for the community of faith. It is vital that that the Word of God be unflinching proclaimed from the pulpit each week and that church members are daily in God’s Word throughout the week. Listening to a sermon, no matter how accurately that sermon may reflect God’s truth from the Bible, on its own is not sufficient. That message must be followed up with personal Bible study, personal meditation and prayer based upon that message. In listening to God’s Word preached each individual must ask himself whether he is truly hearing the Word preached in such a way that he is opening himself up to obedient action based upon that Word. In addition to hearing the Word and privately studying the Word, there is a need for small-group reading and discussion of the Word. “As individuals grow in biblical literacy the entire community is strengthened. Without personal Bible study, both the life of the individual and the community suffer.” – Guthrie
THE WORD OF GOD IS A PRECIOUS GIFT. To properly, obediently respond to it, requires discipline and commitment. It takes discipline and commitment to be in church each Sunday. It takes discipline and commitment to be in God’s Word daily. Are discipline and commitment too great a price to pay for the instruction, correction, and encouragement we receive from the Word of God?
THE ISSUES AT STAKE ARE SERIOUS. Either we go on toward God’s commanded rest, or, like the ancient nation of Israel, we fall back. Either we enter God’s rest, or we do not. Either we exercise discipline and commitment, or we do not. We make our decision every day. We will make that decision on this biblical passage. Will we really hear it, or will we just listen to it in between thoughts of other things? Will you meditate upon Pastor Matt’s sermon this week, or will we allow it to slip away into the back of our minds? What’s more, if we do actually hear the Word of God – really hear it, will we act upon it? Will it have a noticeable effect in our lives?
ESV Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
“LIVING” – This word comes first in the Greek text. Its initial position in the sentence means that it is especially emphatic. The Greek word ζων (za-o) is a present active participle, meaning that it is now and continuously living. The Word of God is not just some ancient book; it is living; it is living today. The Word of God is a word that is alive with the very life of God. The Spirit of God conveys the living Word to the people of God…
NET Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and joints from marrow; it is able to judge the desires and thoughts of the heart.
“ACTIVE” – The Greek word ενεργης(en-er-gace) also means and can be translated “effective,” “powerful.” God’s Word is entirely able to make things come about.
NKJ Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
“SHARPER THAN ANY TWO-EDGED SWORD” – There are two words in Greek that are translated “sword.” One is μαχαιρα (ma-kai-ra); the other is ρομθαια (hrom-fi-ra). The former is a short sword, more like a dagger than what we probably think of in our day as a sword. The latter is a long sword, one that you would use both hands to wield. The “sword” in v. 12 is not like that, but a short sword like a large knife.
“THE IMAGE OF A KNIFE IS MORE APPROPRIATE TO THE IDEA OF PROBING, which is directly expressed in the text; the traditional translation ‘sword’ expresses the underlying thought of divine judgment. In the N.T μαχαιρα is more common than ρομθαια, but there is considerable overlap of meaning; both terms are associated with divine judgment (mavcaira, Rev 13:10; ρομθαια, Rev 1:16; 2:12, 16), with judicial violence or persecution (μαχαιρα, Mk 14:43, 47F; Acts 12:2; Rom 8:35; Heb 11:34, 37; Rev 6:4; 13:14; ρομθαια, Rev 6:8), and, as in Hebrews 4:12, with the word of God (mavcaira, Eph 6:17;ρομθαια , Rev 19:15, 21). The distinction between the two virtually disappears in the LXX.” – Ellingworth.
LISTEN TO THIS VERSE OF THE CLOSE CONNECTION OF JESUS, HIS WORD, AND THE ILLUSTRATION OF A SHARP SWORD. Here it is clearly referring to judgment…
NAS Revelation 19:15 And from His mouth comes a sharp sword (ρομθαια), so that with it He may smite the nations; and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.
THE EXPRESSION “THE WORD OF GOD” IN GREEK is found only here and in Hebrews 13:7, where it clearly refers to the Scripture, and not Jesus.
THE CONTEXT OF V. 12 IS LARGELY NONCHRISTOLOGICAL, MEANING THAT IT IS NOT PRIMARILY The nonchristological writer of Hebrews is not really talking about Christ in this passage, but rather the rest of God.
NAS Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
“PIERCING” – We should not take the imagery here too literal. In other words, we should not allow our minds to picture a literal sword somehow slipping between an actual soul and an actual spirit. Nor should we think of the sword as splitting actual joints and marrow. What the writer to the Hebrews is saying here is that the Word of God reaches to the innermost recesses of our being. The Greek word means penetrating, able to go through, go through our deception, both of other people and ourselves…
NAS Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
“ABLE TO JUDGE” – As we have previously mentioned, God’s Word is an instrument of judgment.
OF COURSE, GOD SEES OUR HEARTS. He’s God; He knows everything. But we do not ourselves always know what is there deep inside us. Our hearts can deceive us…
NAS Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?
“THE WORD OF GOD EXPOSES OUR HEARTS… And then, if we trust God, the Word enables our hearts to obey and claim God’s promises. This is why each believer should be diligent to apply himself or herself to hear and to heed God’s Word. In the Word we see God, and we also learn how God sees us. Through God’s Word we see ourselves as we really are. This experience enables us – you might say, forces us – to be honest with God, to come to trust His will for us, and to obey that will.” – Warren Wiersbe
NAS Hebrews 4:13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. (to whom we must render an account – NET Bible).
“HIS”… “HIM.” Note the personal pronouns. It is possible the writer is personifying the Word, similar to the personification of “Wisdom” in Proverbs…
OR, IT IS POSSIBLE THE WRITER IS SIMPLY REFERRING TO GOD. “God,” as in “Word of God” in v. 12, would be the antecedent. “The author moves smoothly from the Word of God to God Himself… the two main clauses are closely parallel” – Ellingworth. Either way, the emphasis is on the supernatural ability of God – either Himself or His living Word – to know our every thought and action – even before we ourselves know them…
NAS Psalm 139:1-10 For the choir director. A Psalm of David. O Lord, Thou hast searched me and known me. Thou dost know when I sit down and when I rise up; Thou dost understand my thought from afar. Thou dost scrutinize my path and my lying down, And art intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O LORD, Thou dost know it all. Thou hast enclosed me behind and before, And laid Thy hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot attain to it. Where can I go from Thy Spirit? Or where can I flee from Thy presence? If I ascend to heaven, Thou art there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, Thou art there. If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, Even there Thy hand will lead me, And Thy right hand will lay hold of me.
GOD KNOWS US BETTER THAN WE KNOW OURSELVES. There is absolutely no way we can trick God or hide anything from Him. That is a comforting thought only if we are walking obediently with Him. If we are not being obedient to God and living more in the world than we are in His Word, “all things are laid bare before His eyes.”
“ONLY THE WORD OF GOD, which is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword is capable of exposing the thoughts and attitudes of a single human heart. We do not know ourselves. We do not even know how to distinguish, either by feelings or rationale, between that which comes from within us – our souls and our spirits. Even our bodily functions – symbolized by joints and marrow – are beyond our full knowledge. Only the all-seeing eye of God knows us thoroughly and totally (Psalm 139:1-18), and before Him we will stand and ultimately give account.” – Steadman
“LIKE A RAZOR-SHARP SWORD that can lay open the human body with one slashing blow, is the sword that is the Scripture can open our inner life and expose it to ourselves and to others. Once the ugly thoughts and hidden rebellions are out in the open, we stand like criminals before a judge, ineffectually trying to explain the wrong we have done. Yet such hones revelation is what we need to humble our stubborn pride and render us willing to look to God for forgiveness and His gracious supply.” – Steadman
PLEASE DON’T LOSE CONNECTION WITH THE CONTEXT. Remember v. 11…
NAS Hebrews 4:11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall through following the same example of disobedience.
THE NATION OF ISRAEL MISSED GOD’S ORDAINED REST BECAUSE OF THEIR DISOBEDIENCE. They were not persuaded that what God promised was trustworthy. Perhaps that rings a bell in your life. Maybe you are being disobedient to God’s commands. If that is the case, you do well to heed the warnings of Hebrews. God knows. One day His patience may turn to chastisement…
NET Hebrews 4:13 And no creature is hidden from God, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.
THE GREEK WORD FOR “LAID BARE” (NAS), OR “EXPOSED” (ESV, NET), OR “OPEN” (NKJ) IS A COLORFUL TERM THAT EITHER PICTURES A WRESTLER GRIPPING AN OPPONENT’S NECK AND THROWING HIM DOWN TO THE GROUND, OR IS REFERRING TO THE EXPOSED NECK OF A SACRIFICIAL ANIMAL BARED FOR THE KNIFE. In either possibility there is the image of absolute authority of one and the complete subjection to that one by the other. God loves us, yes, but it is at the same time good to remember that we are dealing with God Almighty, and as such He commands our healthy fear…
NAS Hebrews 4:12-13 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.
AGAIN, I FEEL I MUST EXCLAIM, “THIS IS AN INTENSE PASSAGE!”
I PRAY WE WILL ALL COME TO APPRECIATE GOD’S WORD ANEW THIS WEEK THROUGH THIS. Let us not only recognize it for the treasure it is but let us also recognize it as the only reliable guide we have to function properly in a broken world. I hope you do not see that as an exaggeration. Philosophy, psychology, politics can only give partial insights that are based on human experience. And we cannot fully trust human experience, even our own. These earthly things cannot compare to the supernatural, living Word of God.
NAS Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp to my feet, And a light to my path.
THE WORD OF GOD!
– Professor Thomas A. Rohm
