“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires” (Hebrews 4:12 NLT).
Of the three hundred and three verses that comprise the Biblical book of Hebrews, the passage quoted above is undoubtedly one of the most important. Much like a small steering wheel that influences the direction of a large vehicle, this verse carries implications that far outweigh its brevity. Consider the implications that flow from this passage…
“…God will do a spiritual postmortem on us at the judgment seat of Christ (Rom. 14:10-12; 2 Cor. 5:10). He will examine our innermost attitudes (‘thoughts’) and motives (‘intentions’). The ‘scalpel’ He will use is His Word.” (1)
So, this spiritual review will encompass our deeds as well as the thoughts, attitudes, and motivations behind them- and Hebrews 4:12 reminds us that God views such things with absolute clarity no matter how well-hidden they may seem. For example, most of us are probably familiar with the concept of an “ulterior motive” or a hidden agenda as it relates to others. These phrases describe an internal objective that differs from the way our external choices and decisions appear.
Nearly everyone knows what it’s like to interact with someone who seems to be sincere but really isn’t. Perhaps we have engaged with those who were polite and respectful in face-to-face conversations but were very different in other environments. Or maybe we’ve had the unfortunate experience of discovering that someone who claimed to represent God actually held a different agenda.
While we can rest assured that God will evaluate such individuals in complete righteousness, we should be more concerned with this passage as it applies to ourselves. For instance, we may use these examples as an excuse to absolve ourselves from the pursuit of God’s work in our lives. That sentiment is commonly reflected in the oft-quoted objection, “I’m not interested in Christianity – there are too many hypocrites in the church.”
While there may be many who hold that view today, a far more important question is this: “What are we doing to change that perception?” A God-honoring person will prayerfully seek to uncover and address such areas of hidden insincerity in his or her life. As we’re told in the New Testament book of 1 Corinthians…
“Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God” (1 Corinthians 4:5).
(1) Constable, Thomas. DD, Notes on Hebrews 2021 Edition “C. The Possibility of Rest for God’s People 4:1-14” [4:12] https://www.planobiblechapel.org/tcon/notes/html/nt/hebrews/hebrews.htm