The two-edged sword

The word is INSIDE us! Isn't that awesome! Today at our meeting the guy speaking was talking about the word cutting joint and marrow, I've always heard that and read that before in the bible. But words on a paper can't cut jack. Your comments on that Jim? John

Excellent distinction, John! :)

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. Hebrews 4:12-13

Many regard Hebrews 4:12 as referring to the Bible, and yet the next sentence suggests it speaks of Jesus himself. "... no creature hidden from HIS sight ... the eyes of HIM with whom we have to do." Everything in the letter to the Hebrews (Jews) contrasts the Law and Christ so that he is shown to be "better" in every way. Basically, the message is this: if the Law was to be heeded, Jesus―being the fulfillment of the Law―was to be heeded even more so.

Any verse from Hebrews cannot be seriously considered apart from this reality. As a matter of fact, Hebrews establishes the old covenant of Law as being tied to the writings of men moved by God, while the "better" covenant is connected to the very Word of God ... the same Word through which all things were made. In other words, Hebrews declares the LIVING word of God to be much superior to the WRITTEN word of God. It seems kind of silly to flip the reality of the superior Word around so that we totally miss the whole distinction being made by the writer, don't you think?

Jim