The Proclaimer

God's Word: The Sword Of The Spirit

“For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb. 4:12).

In this passage the Hebrew writer likens the word of God to a sword, a figure not peculiar to this passage alone, for Paul wrote the Ephesians concerning “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:17).  As a part of the “whole armor of God” (Eph. 6:10) the Christian is to use this spiritual sword to ward off Satan’s attack.  “It is written,” worked for Jesus during the devil’s assault in the wilderness (Matt. 4:4, 7, 10) and it will deal with him just as effectively today.  But the imagery used in Hebrews is different, for in this passage the word of God is set forth as a sword thrust into the hearts of men. The figure probably refers to the short, very sharp two-edged sword of the Roman legionary that was used to pierce the armor of the opponent.

The writer says, “the word of God is living.”  The word is as alive as the source from whence it comes, the only true and “living God” (Heb. 3:12). Interestingly, we usually consider a sword as a destructive force, striking its blow to incapacitate the victim.  But it is to give life that this sword is wielded.  In fact it is this spiritual sword, the word of God, that is the means through which the Spirit operates producing spiritual life itself.  Only that which is alive can bring life.  Therefore, the Spirit thrusts this sword into the hearts of men penetrating their innermost parts, laying bare and exposing the heart’s most secret thoughts and motives.  Nothing else brings such life.

But the Spirit does not operate upon the heart of man directly.  There is no miraculous wielding of this sword, for God does not speak directly to man today, but through His written word, that spiritual sword which pierces only the heart of the man that is taught.  For this reason Jesus said, “Go teach all nations” (Matt. 28:19), for it is “God’s good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save them that believe” (1 Cor. 1:21).

Some may think that the preaching of God’s word is not as effective today as it was in times past.  But the word of God is not only alive today, it is as active or effective as it has always been, the honest heart being just as “pricked” today as on the day of Pentecost. The word of God is effectual.  “Today if ye shall hear his voice, harden not your hearts” (Psalm 95:7; Heb. 3:8, 15; 4:7).

                                                                                              -- Clark Dugger

The Proclaimer