Sermon Tone Analysis

I still remember the Christmas I received my first pocket knife.

Of course I received the customary lecture on knife safety and of course within a few days I had managed to cut my finger!

Looking back on that time now as an adult and father of three, I realize that my father’s “lecture” was not designed to prevent me from cutting my finger, but from cutting myself severely!

No adult can realistically think their “lecture” will prevent an eight year old boy for cutting his finger at least once.

However, his warning was sufficiently frightening to cause me to act with caution and the cut on my finger was sufficiently painful that I have always treated knives with respect ever since.

I think this story illustrates very well what the author of Hebrews has been doing in chapters 3 and 4. Throughout chapters 3 and 4 the author of Hebrews has been repeating the warning of Psalm 95...

Now in the closing verses of this teaching section he makes his final warning.

Turn in our bibles to Hebrews 4:11-13 or look to our screen and follow along as I read.

In using the imagery of a sword, the author of Hebrews is warning his readers to be careful in how they handle God’s Word.

Just like my father warned me to be careful with how I handled my new pocket knife, the author of Hebrews wants us to be careful how we handle God’s word.

Just like a knife the word of God can do more than just injure us, if it is not listened to and obeyed, it can kill us!

As we examine these three verses we find three things that make the Word of God so dangerous.

The Word of God is Living

The Word of God is Piercing

The Word of God is Revealing

Unlike other “words,” the Word of God is Living.

The Word of God is Living

It has long been recognized that words hold immense power.

This is why we say, “The pen is mightier than the sword.”

In hind sight the American Revolution was won long before the first shot was fired at Lexington and Concord, this is because the Founding Father’s had defeated the British in the war of ideas via the speeches and writings.

Books like Thomas Pain’s, Common Sense, demonstrated how bankrupt the British colonial system was.

As powerful as human words have been throughout history, the Word of God is even more powerful.

It was by God’s Word that everything that exists was created.

When God speaks, His Word always accomplishes what He intends:

Not so with human words—we can always defy the will of other humans, no matter how powerful and persuasive they are.

They may be able to punish us or even kill us for defying their word, but as soon as we die, their word has no effect on us!

God’s Word is very different!

We can’t escape its power in this life or the next.

God commanded the prophet Jeremiah to say this to the people of Jerusalem:

Every time you hear God’s Word, it is either working life or death in you!

If you respond with faith and obedience it will work life.

If your respond with unbelief and disobedience it will work death.

The Word that brought life to Caleb and Joshua brought death to everyone else in the Exodus generation!

This is why the author of Hebrews used the word “strive” in Heb 4:11.

Hearing or reading God’s Word is not something we can do casually.

We may read or listen to the Word of God like a dead person, but the Word of God is “living and active!”

While you are daydreaming it is piercing your soul like a double-edged sword!

Consequently...

The Word of God is Piercing

In the Roman world during the first century the premier battlefield weapon was the Roman short sword called the Gladius.

It was designed to be used in the close quarters of the Roman shield wall.

It was double edged so that it could be thrust into and out of an opponent’s body quickly.

As Hebrews 4:12 alludes, it was able to penetrate deep enough to sever the joints and marrow of the bones!

When an army confronted a Roman legion on the battlefield, one historian describes it like running into a meat grinder!

This same historian estimates that the Gladius was responsible for more battlefield deaths than an other weapon until the machine gun!

This killing machine is what the author of Hebrews is saying the Word of God is like, it cuts through all the false piety and lies we cover ourselves with.

It penetrates deep inside of us, even to our “souls and spirits!”

Consequently, it is able to “discern the thoughts and intentions of our hearts.”

Therefore...

The Word of God is Revealing

You see, the way we respond to God’s Word reveals what is in our hearts.

Jesus spoke frequently that it was what was in the heart that defined a person.

As we celebrate Advent, let us not forget that Jesus is the greatest and final “Word of God.”

The Apostle John opens his gospel with these familiar words,

John goes on to teach us that Jesus, as the Word of God, came into the world to save, not condemn.

However, this Word of Life can also become a Word of Death if not received in faith.

Do you now see why the Word of God is so dangerous!

Jesus, the Word of God, came into this world to bring life, but those that don’t respond to Him in faith and obedience will only find judgement and death!

This also makes Christmas the most dangerous holiday of the year.

The Good News of the Messiah’s coming is all around us: It is on postage stamps and Christmas cards, it is heard in Christmas songs on the radio and viewed on Christmas specials such as Charlie Brown’s Christmas.

In Heb 4:13, the Greek word the translators translated as “exposed” sound like our English word “trachea.”

The trachea is a part of the throat.

In it’s active form this Greek word refers to the bending back of the head of a person or animal so they you could slit their throats!

In its passive form, it is used metaphorically to speak of exposing a person.

That is how it is being used here, but in the context of chapters 3-4, with all its warnings and especially in the context of verses 11-13 which speak of the Word of God being like a sword, I am sure the author of Hebrews intended his readers to think of the active sense of this word as they read this sermonic letter we call Hebrews.

What does this mean from you and I? It means this: When we have our devotions or come to church and hear a sermon, God’s Word can become like a sword at our throats if we do not listen to it with faith.

I cut my finger with my new Christmas pocket knife because I was not paying attention.

God’s Word will cut us if we don’t pay attention.

Therefore, you must...

Conclusion: Take Heed How You Listen!

This past week, R. C. Sproul went to be with the Lord.

He had a passion for living life “Before the Face of God.”

In his Table Talk devotions there is always a section at the end of each day’s reading named “Coram Deo.”

This is Latin for “Before the Face of God.”

In our text today, the author of Hebrews warns us that we live our lives “Coram Deo.”

When you read or hear God’s Word give your full attention to it.

“Strive” to respond to it with faith and obedience.

The Word of God is not a toy to be trifled with—it has the power of life and death!

Let us pray.

Lord, your Word has exposed how little we respect your Word.

Thank you for being like a Father to us and giving us this warning.

Help us now to hear your Word with faith that issues forth in obedience.

Amen.