Scripture Text (NRSV)
4:12 Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any
two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints
from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the
heart.
4:13 And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid
bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.
4:14 Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through
the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our
confession.
4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with
our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested
as we are, yet without sin.
4:16 Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so
that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Comments:
The letter to the Hebrews teaches that God knows all our failings and
understands our struggles. Christ reveals to us that we need not hide
from God in shame. We can draw near to receive mercy.
To search for God is to discover oneself searched and know by God in
deep ways. The Word of God, the word incarnate in Christ, discerns our
true selves. Yet it is not a searching of us that is accusatory in
nature, but compassionate and redemptive. Christ's "priestly" ministry
provides us access to the very grace and mercy of God, "to help in
time of need."
Verses 12-13 remind me of disecting a fetal pig in the biology lab.
It's a scary thought that I will be "laid bare to the eyes of the one
to whom I must render an account." A sharp sword could divide the body
from the soul, but how sharp is the sword that can divide the soul
from the spirit. I suppose the "word of God" is refering to the
scriptures. "The great high priest who has passed through the heavens,
Jesus, the Son of God" is the fulcrum that this text pivots upon. On
one side of the balance is judgment and on the other is the compassion
of Christ which will tip the scales in our favor. This is the reason
we can hold fast to our confession and approach the throne of grace
with boldness. Thanks be to God. Creature Wayne
I used to teach Grades 1 and 2 children in Sunday School class. One of
my main lessons about Jesus' "role" was that of Mediator. I would tell
the children that before Jesus came, the Law of God was very strict
and the penalty for breaking it was severe. But when Jesus came to
earth as a human, God knew what it was to face temptations, to want to
push boundaries, and all that human stuff. When we sinned against God,
we could talk to Jesus about it, tell him how we felt about what we
had done, and Jesus could then talk to God about it, and say that he
completely understood the choices we faced, and that he requested
mercy instead of punishment. God would say, "Because of you, My Son,
the request is granted." Well, all this helped the kids understand,
anyway. We got deeper as they got older.
Anonymous
v. 14 "Let us hold fast to our confession."
The great high priest ... hmmm... this is a day when we honor the
firefighters and police officers. I'm thinking of holding fast to our
confession, as holding fast to our faith.
I can only guess, but i imagine that firefighters and police officers
see plenty that challenges their confession.
Sally in GA
This passage in conjunction with the Gospel lesson makes me wonder
what would have happened if the Rich Young man would have taken the
approach of the Centurian, "I believe. Help my unbelief." Had he not
just walked away, but stayed with Jesus to ask him to help him
understand, whether we would have a different story. He gives us the
mercy and strength in times of need, whether it is our struggle with
our stuff, or whether it is some other part of life that holds us back
from complete dependence on God.
Susan in Wa.
Susan, Thank you. You have given clear direction to my jumbled
thoughts. How would we answer Jesus if He said that to us? What do we
hold onto so tightly that we cannot give it up, even to follow Jesus?
What 'treasure' is more valuable than Christ? Because of Him, and what
He endured for us, we share in His new life. How might Jesus have
responded to your question, Lord, help me believe/understand/let
go...? still thinking (and praying) RevJan in CNY
This passage links nicely with the Gospel for this Sunday. Is Jesus
not simply asking the rich young ruler to prioritize the "intentions
of his heart?" So, I'm taking that angle...and incorporating it into
the gospel lesson. LFW Washington State
I'm not sure that the phrase "word of God" means the scriptures.
Maybe, just, maybe, it means the person of Jesus Christ, the living
word. Maybe the people of this time and before had a much more dynamic
understanding of word than we have had in our print-drenched
Protestant heritage. That could be the "him" referred to in verse
thirteen, the one to whom we must render an account.
There's a quote from Martin Luther that goes something like this "Is
it not a great comfort to know that the one who is our judge is also
the one who died for us" (if any one of you know the exact quote could
you please post it here)
revgilmer in texarkana
I don't know about Martin Luther's quote, but a Seminary professor
once said, "A judge can either convict you or set you free."
I agree that this passage goes along well with the Gospel lesson this
week. And it makes me think that the reason Jesus made the request of
the Rich Young Man that he did was his ability to judge his thoughts
and intentions of the heart. The Rich Young Man was naked before the
one to whom he had to give an account.
I am intrigued by the thought that maybe the word of God is the living
Christ and not the scriptures. The Rich Young Man seemed to believe he
had mastered the scriptures. But when the living Christ is standing
there before him, making a request of him, making the scriptures have
flesh and bones on them, he walked away sadly. How often do we do the
same? Rest in the fact that we have gone to Sunday School since we
were children, have memorized many scripture verses, and even for we
pastor folk, have mastered all the proper theological doctrines and
thoughts to pass our committees, but the living word, that stands
before us in the heat of the day asks something of us that is too
pricey, and we walk sadly away. Been there, done that.
Susan in Wa.
"The devil will let a preacher prepare a sermon if it will keep him
from preparing himself." -Vance Havner
Fitting quote, isn't it?
Dear Fitting Quote,
What is the devil keeping himself from being prepared for as he lets
the preacher prepare a sermon?
Dear person who asked the question about "Fitting quote" -
I didn't understand the quote that way at all. It is talking about the
Pastor preparing the sermon, but not preparing their own heart. Isn't
it? Maybe I am interpreting it wrong, but that is how I understood the
quote.
Susan
