“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.” Hebrews 4:12
After the three characteristics of God’s word are presented, we are told the impact the living word has on corrupt human beings. We are told that there are two major actions that the word of God carries out.
Piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow The first action God’s living, powerful and sharp word does is pierce. We should not be surprised at this for it is called a sword here and in Ephesians 6. The role of a sword is to pierce whatever it
attacks. The word pierce is only used here in the New Testament. The concept of the word piercing means that the sword penetrates. We know from the parable of the sower that the seed (the word of God) penetrates all but one type of soil – the hardened heart (like Pharaoh who despite personal pain rejected every attempt by God to reach his heart.
When the word penetrates a person it divides. This word means to separate, part or sever. It divides into parts. The writer of Hebrews then gives us two examples of this division. He says God’s Word separates the soul and the spirit . It does this like a regular sword would separate the joints and the marrow. This is a powerful analogy to show us how God’s word works in a man’s heart. Joints are thick, hard and om the outer part of the bone. Inside the bone is the soft, tender, living, inner part of the bone called the marrow. The word of God is like a sword that is sharp enough to cut right through the outer, hard, tough part of a man’s heart to reach and touch the inner, soft, living part of his being. Man’s reasoning cannot do this – only the living word of God. Thus we see why we mut give out God’s words not just our thoughts or opinions.
And is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Second, we see the living word of God discerns mans thoughts.
The word discern means a sharpness or ability to evaluate and make distinctions. Thus the word of God enables us to see ourselves for what we are before God. James teaches the same truth when he states, “For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” This is what we read of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus when the Lord taught them the truths in the Old Testament – “their hearts burned within them”. God’s word gives us insight to evaluate the thoughts we have and the motives for them against the word of God. Are we acting in accordance with His word and will or are we acting in the flesh? Thus we see the Holy Spirit uses the word of God to instruct, guide and warn us.
What can we learn? The power of the word of God is a tremendous gift. If we are a believer when we hear it, read it or study it, it pierces our hearts – it shows us he truth about ourselves, the truth of God resonates in our soul. If we unbelievers, the word shows us the truth about ourselves. One of the greatest warnings that we are not spiritually is a deadness to hearing and responding to God’s word. We should thanks to God daily for his great gift of His written word.