How to dive deeper into the Word
12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” - Hebrews 4:12
Reflection
I have a confession to make. When faced with a major decision in the past, it was not uncommon for me to grab my Bible, close my eyes, and randomly browse the pages. I would then indiscriminately place my finger on a page before opening my eyes to see what the Holy Scriptures revealed. There were times when the verse seemed to almost magically directly address my circumstances, perfectly pointing the direction I was to go. Most certainly in God’s will, or so I thought. Other times, in an almost comical manner, I would land on verses such as, well, you can select any number of verses from the book of Deuteronomy that would require a tremendous stretch of the imagination to apply the verse to the specific circumstances. The obvious reality is that I was using the Bible more like a magic 8-ball than the Sacred Word of God.
Though this is certainly unfortunate, what is even more inappropriate is that the tendency to isolate Bible verses and contort them to fit our needs is more common than we would like to admit. The truth is that when we take the time to study the context surrounding a particular verse, we unlock the true richness of the scripture. Only then can also discover how it can apply to our circumstances.
Application
Take, for example, the Great Commission found in Matthew 28:18-20.
“18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
After a brief reading of the verse, one could summarize it as Jesus’s command to His disciples to spread His teaching throughout the world and leave it there. This interpretation is not wrong; however, if we ask ourselves a few questions and make some observations, we uncover so much more. First, note how Jesus opens His exhortation by stating, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth,” There is a reason why Jesus made that bold and significant statement. If we look at the very next verse, note how it begins with the conjunctive adverb “therefore” or, in other words, “for that reason.” Let’s pause and go back to reconsider Jesus’s words. It can be read as follows:
All authority has been given to Me in heaven and earth. For that reason, go and make disciples of all nations…
When read this way, there is a greater emphasis on Jesus' authority in both heaven and earth, a statement of truth that should instill confidence and wonder in the audience. Why did Jesus place such an emphasis on His authority in both heaven and earth when giving the Great Commission? What else was going on at the time? We will turn our lens to earlier verses rather than moving forward in the text to discover the answer.
Note how verse eighteen begins with the conjunction “And.” This should spark some curiosity, as it implies that verse eighteen directly relates to what was stated in verse seventeen and perhaps even verse sixteen. Let’s take a look.
16. But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. 17 When they saw Him, they worshipped Him; but some were doubtful.
What stands out about these verses? How do they help us understand verses 18-20?
It is not by chance that verse seventeen notes that some were still doubtful. But why? Furthermore, much like the “And” in verse eighteen, verse sixteen begins with another conjunction, prompting us to look back even further to gain more insight into the context. Are you starting to get the idea? For time's sake, I will take us back to verse eleven.
11. Now while they were on their way, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened. 12. And when they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13. and said, “you are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’ 14. And if this should come to the governor’s ears, we will win him over and keep you out of trouble.” And they took the money and did as they had been instructed; and this story was widely spread among the Jews, and is to this day.
There is a lot packed into this portion of the account. It reads like a TLC made-for-TV drama! When read carefully, we understand that there was a major coverup in the works. The Jewish elders paid the guards to lie about Jesus’s resurrection. It is understood historically that the guards would have been facing certain death for failing to secure the grave properly. The coverup was meant to protect the guards from punishment, but even more scandalous was that the Jewish elders would use it to suppress the truth of Jesus’s death and resurrection and His identity as the Messiah.
So, how does this impact how we read the Great Commission? What does it mean for us today?
Jesus sent His disciples into a world at war with the truth. They would face doubt, some from within their camp and also the broader society. They would also face persecution. We, too, face a society at war with the truth. There are false teachers and entire movements focused on suppressing the truth of Jesus’s death and resurrection, and redemption through His sacrifice on the cross. However, like the disciples, we must take comfort in knowing that all authority in heaven and earth is His. As a result, we can boldly and lovingly share the truth and the good news with the rest of the world.
The next time you sit down to read scripture, I encourage you to dig a little deeper. Observe the language, and ask yourself why the author chose those specific words to help you fill in the context. Then pray for the Lord to reveal to you how the scripture can be applied to your life. I pray that you experience the reality of Hebrews 4:12. May the Word of God penetrate you to your core, transforming you from within and changing the very condition of your heart.
“12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” - Hebrews 4:12
Yours in Christ,
Brad
