The following is an excerpt from the Study Guide to my book, Jesus Now.
Bonus Chapter: What You Didn’t Know About Hebrews 4:12
When I was a young believer, I committed to memory Hebrews 4:12:
“For the word of God is living and operative and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit and of joints and marrow, and able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
Admittedly, I had no clue what “the dividing of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow” meant.
I since discovered that this text has everything to do with one of the present-day ministries of Jesus. Specifically, His ministry as Great High Priest.
The high priestly ministry of Christ is in fact the main theme of Hebrews. Just count the number of times “high priest” is used throughout the letter and that will become clear.
As I pointed out in Jesus Now, we often miss this theme because Hebrews contains five parenthetical warnings which interrupt the author’s main subject.
So what is the meaning of “piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit and of joints and marrow?”
It is this:
Jesus Christ, by His living word and through His indwelling life, enables us to differentiate between our soul (our mind, will, and emotion) and our spirit (the deepest part of us where God dwells).
To put it another way, part of the high priestly ministry of Christ is to reveal what comes from our own thoughts, feelings, and volition and what comes from His leading.
(I’ve demonstrated elsewhere that the human spirit and soul are not the same thing. 1 Thess. 5:23 makes that plain, as well as many other biblical texts.)
In Hebrews 3:1, the writer mentions Jesus as our Apostle (a sent messenger) and High Priest. He uses Moses as a shadow of both roles and then collapses into a long parenthetic warning, explaining how the word of God fell on disobedient ears in the wilderness (quoting Psalm 95:7-11).
In Hebrews 4:12, the writer picks up the themes of God’s word and Christ’s high priestly ministry, telling us that the Lord Jesus is carrying out His work as High Priest for our spirit and soul.
Specifically, the writer likens each of us to be a sacrifice on the altar.
Under the Old Testament covenant, when Israel offered up sacrifices, the sacrifice was tied to an altar. The priest killed it with a very sharp knife, dividing the sacrifice into two halves.
The word translated “sword” in Hebrews 4:12 is machaira, and one of the meanings is “a large knife, used for killing animals and cutting up flesh.” The priest’s knife was so sharp that it pierced the sacrifice to the joints and the marrow.
As a result, all the insides of the sacrifice that were once hidden could now be seen. They were laid bare without concealment. After the priest opened the sacrifice with his knife, he would burn it with fire as an offering to the Lord.
Now hold that image in your mind and read the next verse, Hebrews 4:13,
“And there is no creature that is not manifest before Him, but all things are naked and laid bare to the eyes of Him to whom we are to give our account.”
In verse 14, the writer continues into other aspects of the high priestly ministry of Christ saying, “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven . . . ”
So in Hebrews 4:12-14, the Holy Spirit paints a powerful picture illustrating the work of the Lord Jesus as our Great High Priest.
As the sacrifice was opened with the knife of the Old Testament priest so that the joints and marrow were all laid bare, the Lord Jesus does this same penetrating, exposing, and dividing work on our spirits and souls with the knife of His word.
It’s no accident that Revelation 1:16 says of Christ, “Out of his mouth went a sharp two edged sword.” In like manner, Revelation 2:12 says, “To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him [Jesus] who has the sharp, double-edged sword.”
As our Great High Priest, the Lord Jesus uses His word to pierce and divide every part of us: the spiritual from the soulish.
Only the sharp sword of God’s word handled by the Lord Jesus Christ can clearly discern the source of our living. Just as a human knife can divide bone from marrow, the knife of God’s word can divide the closely knit spirit from the soul.
Within an immature Christian or one who operates in his or her flesh, it’s virtually impossible to distinguish between what comes from a person’s own natural soul (mind, will, or emotion) and what comes from their spirit (the place where God dwells, speaks, and reveals).
In other words, such a person can’t tell when God is speaking to them and when it’s their own fallen thoughts, emotions, or desires that they assume is God’s speaking.
The word of God, when received with a teachable ear and an unhardened heart (see Hebrews 3), proves sharper than any two-edged sword.
Hebrews 4:12 says the word of God is “living.” It’s not dead or inanimate, but something that is vital and speaks yesterday, today, and forever.
(We’ll explore what “the word of God” means in Hebrews 4 shortly.)
It’s also “operative.” This means it’s capable of accomplishing its purpose, which is to divide spirit from soul and expose the intentions of the heart.
It’s “sharper than any two-edged sword.” It’s so sharp it can pierce into the human spirit, the innermost part of the human anatomy. Your spirit is the part of you that’s deeper than thought, feeling, and volition.
So how does this all work practically?
To read the rest of the article, order the book and download the Study Guide.
The Forgotten Conscience
I’m diving into Hebrews by just committing to re-read it many, many times…and see what the Spirit will show me. Verse 10 states that anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work. Verse 11 then encourages us to make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their (Israelites) example of obedience. So, when I read verse 12, I recently received a similar revelation as you, Frank, when you stated that “part of the high priestly ministry of Christ is to reveal what comes from our own thoughts, feelings, and volition and what comes from His leading”. To add on to that, it is a revealing and laying bare of the motives and attitudes behind the works that we do….are they works of our flesh – some that might even look very spiritual on the outside – or are they works of true obedience that are a result of our belief – rest! – in what God has said is true (our righteousness is in Jesus alone – His life in/through us – and not originating from anything in ourselves).
Belief = rest = Jesus lives His life through us as we continue holding on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.
Unbelief = disobedience; the Israelites just couldn’t believe that God was good to them and was for them, they constantly doubted His intentions toward them and as a result, disobeyed his commands.
(Heb.3:10 -“That is why I was angry with that generation, and I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.'”) I find that so telling….God’s anger was that they didn’t know His ways, that they didn’t trust in His character and His goodness toward them.
I think we grieve the Spirit more than we know when we complain and grumble through the trials in our lives, rather than trusting that our Father has only good planned for us in all things….and if we’d rest in that and allow Him to live out His sacrificial life through those trials, we would cross the Jordan and step into the promised land of His abundant life.
I do not remember from where I linked to your site, maybe reading another blog that a friend suggested. Now I cannot remember the other blogger, but read everything you write! It isn’t often that we can “feast at the table” on such satisfying and nourishing “meat.” You have given new richness to this familiar scripture. I’ll definitely be here on May 5th.
I am currently reading through Watchman’s Nee’s “Release of the Spirit” and it looks like what you are writing will be a nice compliment to the understanding I have been gaining. I have appreciated reading several of your books and am sure I will benefit from this new book too… I look forward to reading it.
Frank, you’ve really heightened my expectation. Can’t wait for this book.
Been studying Hebrews myself. Can you throw some light on the New Covenant priesthood and the new law that we’ve been given because of the change in priesthood?
The verse below is quite revealing.
“For where there is a change in the priesthood there is necessarily a change in the law as well”. Hebrews 7:12
It’s in the book. There’s an entire chapter on Jesus as our Great High Priest.
Awesome! Will it be available in Canada without horrendous shipping fees?
I can’t speak about their shipping. Shipping is shipping.
Got me anticipating more…thanks, Frank!
Phew, is it getting hot in here, or what?? Anyone? Anyone?
Brilliant!!
Frank- love the teaser, however, I only buy ebooks and am wondering if the same offer will be available for those buying ebooks.
They will offer it in ePub, which is digital. So yes.
Frank, so excited to get & read your new book! This insight is very powerful! It makes me think of two things;
1. My mentor, an 83-year old wise man (We met weekly with his wife there, too) once told me: “The soul always desires to please the flesh.” This was such a huge revelation for me in my Christian walk because I became keenly aware that my soul (emotions, core personality, etc) were at odds with God’s Spirit in me. Paul discusses the constant war between the flesh & spirit. I used to count my emotions as valid, but have since learned that usually my emotions of anger are not of the spirit but of the flesh (not righteous anger). It helps me discern better & quicker now!
2. The Bible discusses circumcision of the flesh in the New Testament. Jesus says He circumcises new covenant saints not with human hands as old covenant saints were (Col 2:11). This circumcision is a spiritual circumcision of our flesh–He cut it off and purified it–consecrated it and made it holy. The old covenant saints could never keep the law, but we are given a new spirit, the Spirit of God, God’s nature in us; therefore we are given the full power to keep God’s law! (See Jeremiah 31:31-33).
I fail to keep God’s law daily, yet we are equipped with the sword of discernment to see “fleshly” acts from “spiritual” acts & we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to act according to the Spirit. This inspires & propels me to walk in the Spirit more & more!
Would love your thoughts, Frank.
God bless you for your teachings! I look forward to reading your daily blog–I read yours & one other every day! Thanks for sharing your heart & wisdom with me & so many others!
Gaynor
Your teasing us with some awesome stuff! I’ve never looked forward to a date as I am looking forward to May 5th so I can order the book! It’s like I’m a kid again who can hardly wait for Christmas morning to get here! Love it.
Nice cliff hanger! I’ll get the book on May 5th.
Love the insight and depth of this article especially the understanding of the high priestly focus. Thanks.
Wonderful insight