Hebrews 4:12-16
The “Rests” covered in
Chapter 3 and 4:
1) God’s Sabbath rest (4:4)
2) The Rest offered in
3) The Rest of Salvation in Jesus (4:1, 3, 8, 9)
4) The Rest in Heaven (4:10, 11)
5) The Application of the Rest in our daily lives
(application)
a. Psalm 37:7
b. Isaiah 41:10
c. Philippians 4:7
d. 2 Peter 1:4
e. 1 Peter 5:7
If you are a believer in
Jesus then you are a member of the royal family of God. (1 Peter 2:9)
You share with Christ:
a) everything he is
b) everything he has. (Ephesians 1:3)
(WARNING: THIS HAS BEEN PERVERTED AND TWISTED BY THE PROSPERITY MESSAGE WITH
LEADERS WHO TEACH MANIPULATION OF GOD AND PRACTICES THE MANIPULATION OF PEOPLE)
The pursuit of happiness,
fulfillment and satisfaction lead away from the Rest.
This is an inner peace, a
confidence in the soul, a place of strength that is both:
a) Caused by faith
b) Produces attitudes and acts of faith
This rest is based on an
understanding and trust in the Word of God.
This is a moment by moment
rest.
It is experienced or lost
each moment of your life.
It is something that is
always available.
The loss of focus can cause
the believer to momentarily lose the experience of this rest.
This rest is the place a
believer can operate in faith.
This rest is a place of
blessing and strength in the midst of life’s adversities.
Ephesians 1:3 and 18 –
If Jesus has provided the
big thing (salvation) he is also able and willing and actively providing for
the little things (details of life).
John 16:33 -
We will have problems. In the midst of
life’s tribulations Jesus has overcome the world.
Proverbs 3:5-6
4:12
“For” continues the thought
of the believers to consider their spiritual condition or Rest.
“For” follows “make every
effort to enter that rest” which means that what comes next is motivation to
not “fall by following their example of disobedience.”
“Word of God” refers to the
revealed and written scripture.
It was the “Word of God”
that fell on deaf ears in the wilderness.
Specifically here it refers
the scripture that has been our text in chapters 3 and 4 which is Psalm
95. More precisely it refers to the
theme verses Psalm 95:7, 8:
“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden
your hearts.”
The theme has been that in
every age (Today) God is calling people or believers to enter his rest.
They either choose to:
1) Obey and enter the rest
2) Disobey and rebel
a. First in their attitude
b. Next in their actions
“Living” picks up on the
theme of “Today”. Today God’s word is
active.
ζων γαρ ο λογος του θεου και ενεργης και τομωτερος υπερ
Living For the word
of God and operative
and sharper beyond
πασαν μαχαιραν διστομον και διικνουμενος αχρι μερισμου
every sword two-mouthed and
passing through as far as division
ψυχης τε και πνευματος αρμων τε και μυελων και
of soul and of spirit, of joints both
and of marrows and
κριτικος ενθυμησεων και εννοιων καρδιας
able
to judge of thoughts and intentions of a heart
“Living” ζων or “zwn” from “zao” is present active and means “to
be alive, living”. Without the article
it is referring to the quality of the “Word of God. Notice “living” is in the emphatic position
to begin the sentence.
“Active”
means “energetic, active, productive”.
It is a word used to refer to activities that produce results. Often it is used used of divine activities
that produce results.
“Sword” is
used in judgment and destruction.
The sword is very effective
in accomplishing judgment and destruction.
God’s word is said to be:
1) “Beyond” any sword
2) “Sharper” than any sword
3) “Two-mouthed” or “double edged” meaning it does twice the work
twice as fast. (It is not a mere knife
with one sharp blade. It cuts both
ways.)
Where does the “sword” of the “word of God” judge?
It judges way past mere
actions or the words from men’s mouths.
The Word of God can even
judge the difference between mere knowledge in a man’s mind (soul) and the very
faith that man has in his heart (spirit).
It divides the mind from the
heart (soul from the spirit) in a man’s inner being as precisely as a natural
sword can divide where the muscle and bone meet in a man’s physical body.
What does the “sword” of the “word of God” judge?
It judges the:
1 Corinthians 4:5 – “Wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in
darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts.”
Isaiah 55:11 – “So is my word that goes out from my
mouth: It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
4:13
The person of God replaces
the “word of God here.
και ουκ εστιν κτισις αφανης ενωπιον αυτου παντα δε
and there is no
creature unmanifest before him but all things
γυμνα και τετραχηλισμενα τοις οφθαλμοις αυτου
naked and having been laid open to the eyes of him
with whom to us
the word
(account – see Romans 14:12)
“naked” γυμνα means
“laid bare” τετραχηλισμενα
“ tetrachelismena” is a word used
only once in the NT.
1) It is related to the word “trachelos” which means “neck” or
“throat”.
2) The word’s meaning here is to be open or exposed.
3) The word may be building on two images:
a. The wrestler having defeated his opponent and has grasps
him by the throat.
b. The animal sacrifice having its head pulled back and
its neck exposed to the blade of the knife for the sacrificial slaughter.
”Logos” means “word” but also is used as it is here of “giving account by the
spoken word.”
4:14
“Therefore” begins a verse that is saying:
-
since this is
our position and
-
considering the
fact we have a great high priest in Jesus to assist us
-
we should not
give up our relationship with Jesus
4:15
Jesus, though he is God,
understands what it is like to be in our position.
Jesus understands but did
not fall into sin so he is still able to help us.
4:16
Go to God in Christ and
receive mercy and grace in this “naked and exposed” position we are in before
the sharp, doubled edged sword of God’s judging word.