11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
Commentary
Vs. 11 "Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience."
The example of the wilderness wandering Israelite's having failed to believe and obey (and thus apprehend God's salvation that was offered to them) are to be an example to us all to be diligent and enter God's commanded rest, which we do by believing and then obeying the Lord Jesus Christ's Gospel (Rom 1:5; 16:26). For again the Israelite's who came out of Egypt did not believe God that He could bring them into the Promised Land when they saw the opposition and difficulties before them, and so rather than walking by faith, they turned away from Him in their hearts and instead they desired to return to Egypt, the very place of their bondage (Num. 14:1-4)! And so when they did so God swore in His wrath "they shall not enter My rest" (Psalm 95:10-11). Therefore let everyone be diligent to enter God's rest by repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ by which we do enter God's rest and find eternal rest for our souls (Matt 11:28-30). For today is the day of salvation, and tomorrow may not be a day when one can apprehend it for themselves, therefore be diligent and do enter Christ's Rest today!
Vs. 12-13 12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
Now God's command to enter His rest comes to us all through the Living Word of God, that is the Holy Scriptures, which is sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (vs. 12). And so by it God reveals to us all just what we are and where we stand with Him, whether reconciled by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, or alienated by ones own willful unbelief. The Word of God then not only declares God's unchanging truth, but it also cuts through and exposes all that is false (vs. 12). No liar, no deceiver, then will ever outwit the Word of God (Matt 22:1-14, vs. 13). For the living and powerful and piercing reality of God's Word always reveals the truth about ourselves. It makes us see what God already knows and sees. There is then no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account (vs. 13). There is a good reason that the sword of the Spirit for us who believe is the Word of God, for it is by it that we discern for ourselves all that has come forth from the Word of God, and all that has not. Conviction of sin is never a bad thing then, especially if it makes one change course and choose a new direction, which happens when anyone repents and believes in the Gospel, therefore don't remain dead in your sins and transgressions, alienated from the life of God, choose Christ, choose life!
Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.
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