The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 131

ctc, The Word of God is frequently compared to a sword. "The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God." And to a two-edged sword. "Out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword." "As it is from the mouth that man's word proceeds ; eo this sword, not ~;elded in the hand, but proceeding from the mouth of the Son of God, is his "\Vord (cf. Isa. xlix. 2)." Here are two suggestions concerning the penetration of God's "\Vord. 1. It searches the whole of man's nature. The " soul," i.e. man's animal soul_';_ "spirit," i.e. man's religious spirit. By the former he is related to the brute creation ; by the latter he is related to angels and to God himself, who is the " .Father of spirits." The Word enters the heart and makes an impression there ; it pierces through even to the spirit, and works mightily there. It divides "both joints and marrow;" it investigates the most interior and hidden parts of man's being. 2. It searches the whole of man's 'IUI,ture most rigorously. "Even to the dividing of soul and spirit;" not dividing the soul from the spirit, but dividing the soul itself and the spirit itself. This Word is not as an ordinary sword, but is "sharper than any two-edged sword;" and it does not as an ordinary sword cut to the bone, but through the bones and through the innermost marrow. So thoroughly and rigorously does the Word of God search man's moral natnre. IV. THE DISCRIMINATION OF Goo's WonD. "And is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." It exercises a critical and separating power upon the thoughts and ideas, opinions and principles, of the heart. And it discovers to men the true moral character of their thoughts and intents, their opinions and principles. The Word of God frequently reveals man to himself. "'l'he Bible," says Dr. Parker, "exposes the very innermost recesses of human nature ; sets a light where no other hand ever placed a candle; lights up the pathways of our most secret life and thought; and we begin to feel that the book we must shut up when we are going to do evil is God's Book. This is the great hold, the sovereign mastery, which the Book of God has over the ages-tha. t it knows ns; that it gives articulation to our dumb reproaches; that it puts into the best words the things we reap against ourselves and cannot fully explain. Esaia.s knows ns; Jeremiah has analyzed and dissected and anatomized us. If any man would know the human heart, he must read the human heart in God's Book." " The sacred page With calm attention scan I If on thy soul, As thou dost read, a ray of purer light Break in-oh, check it not; give it full scope I Admitted, it will break the clouds which long Have dimmed thy sight, and lead thee, till at lo.et, Convictions, like the sun's meridian beams, lllwci.nate thy mind," (So.muel Hayes.) W.J. Ver. 13.-The omniscience of God. "Neither is there any creature that is not manifest," etc. I. THE UNIVERSALITY OF Gon's KNOWLEDGE, • " There is no creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things," etc. All created things, high and low, great and small, visible and invisible, are comprehended in this word "creature." ,"His understanding is infinite." Nothing is too great for his comprehension; nothing too small for his notice (Ps. L 11); nothing too hidden for his penetration (Ps. cxxxix. 11, 12). II. 'l'HE HINUTENEBB A.ND EXHAUSTIVENESS OF GoD'B KNOWLEDGE, "All things ere naked and opened unto the eyes of him," etc. 1. He sees all things as they really are. "All things are naked unto" his eyes. He beholds them without any covering or disruise. 'l'hings and persons are cloaked, concealed, and made to appear other than they a.re amongst men; but none of these things can impose upon him. 2. He sees all things thoroughly, completely. "All things are naked and opened unto," etc.; Revised Version, "la.id open before the eyes," etc. 'l'he word rendered "opened" is a difficult one. Alford adopts the meaning "to la.y prostrate." He says, "This is the simplest and most frequent sense in the classical writers. I regard the word as signifying entire prostration and subjugation under the eyo OH. lV. 1-16.] 'l'HE -EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 123