“THE WORD OF GOD – A SHARP TWOEDGED SWORD”

“For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword” (Hebrews 4:12)

The context of Hebrews chapter 4 is entering into the rest prepared for the believer in Christ. This is not only the rest which God gives but the rest which God Himself enjoys in Christ – Hebrews 4:9-10. The great hindrance is unbelief. The warning of verse 11 is, “lest any man fall”, and so we are commended to the Word of God.

“The Word of God” is the discerner between reality or falsehood; it is the test of faith or unbelief. The Word of God is …

“Quick” (Living); possessed of life, contrary to that which is dead, the Word like seed sown has life in itself.

”Powerful”; effectual, energetic, active, exposes weakness and enables.

“Sharper than any twoedged sword”; double edged; condemns – commends; rebukes – restores, it may wound in order to heal, it may cut out what is unhealthy that healing may take place, it will divide the bad from the good, it will disapprove and it will approve.

“Piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit”. The Word of God penetrates deeply to distinguish; to divide the “soulish” (the carnal, material, emotion, formal part of man) and the “spiritual” (immaterial, affections, intents). God’s Word develops the spirit as the faculty to discern the unseen and eternal.

“And of the joints (external) and marrow (internal), and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart”. The word cuts into the complexity of personality. It disentangles the thoughts (before they become words) and intents (before they become actions), and brings them into proper relationship.

The figure may be the sacrificial knife or the surgeon’s scalpel. The surgery may be very serious; a life or death issue but the removal of the malignant tumour of unbelief will be beneficial to the health and strength of our faith.

The last word of the verse would seem to indicate a “heart” condition. “It is a good thing that the heart be established with (confirmed by) Grace” (Heb. 13:9).

Ephesians 6 teaches that if we are to stand in the evil day we must; “Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” (Eph. 6:17). Vigilance is needed in the spiritual conflict. “Salvation” gives courage against assault. The specific application of the “Word of God” by “the Spirit” will give appropriate defence in the battle.

“These things saith He which hath the sharp sword with two edges” (Rev. 2:12). The church in Pergamos was the worldly church tolerating the doctrine of Balaam. “Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand” (Num. 22:31). The church in Pergamos was warned by the Lord about the toleration of evil teachers and their doctrines. “Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and fight against them with the sword of My mouth” (Rev. 2:16).