Hebrews 4:12

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Hebrews 4:11-16

In this latter part of the chapter the apostle concludes, first, with a serious repeated exhortation, and then with proper and powerful motives. I. Here we have a serious exhortation: Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, Heb. 4:11. Observe, 1. The end proposed?rest spiritual and eternal, the rest of grace here and glory hereafter?in Christ on earth, with Christ in heaven. 2. The way to this end prescribed?labour, diligent labour; this is the only way to rest; those who will not... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Hebrews 4:11-13

4:11-13 Let us then be eager to enter into that rest, lest we follow the example of the Israelites and fall into the same kind of disobedience. For the word of God is instinct with life; it is effective; it is sharper than a two-edged sword; it pierces right through to the very division of soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it scrutinizes the desires and intentions of the heart. No created thing can ever remain hidden from his sight; everything is naked to him and is compelled to meet the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is quick and powerful ,.... This is to be understood of Christ, the essential Word of God; for the Word of God was a known name of the Messiah among the Jews; See Gill on John 1:1 and therefore the apostle makes use of it when writing to them: and the words are introduced as a reason why care should be taken, that men fall not off from the Gospel, because Christ, the author, sum, and substance of it, is the living God, omnipotent and omniscient; for not a thing, but a... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is quick, and powerful - Commentators are greatly divided concerning the meaning of the phrase Ὁ λογος τον Θεου , the word of God; some supposing the whole of Divine revelation to be intended; others, the doctrine of the Gospel faithfully preached; others, the mind of God or the Divine intellect; and others, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is thus denominated in John 1:1 , etc., and Revelation 19:13 ; the only places in which he is thus incontestably characterized in... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 4:12

Verse 12 12.For the word of God is quick, or living, etc. What he says here of the efficacy or power of the word, he says it, that they might know, that it could not be despised with impunity, as though he had said, “Whenever the Lord addresses us by his word, he deals seriously with us, in order that he may touch all our inmost thoughts and feelings; and so there is no part of our soul which ought not to be roused.” (71) But before we proceed further, we must inquire whether the Apostle... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 4:11-13

Success. I. THE EXHORTATION TO EARNEST ENDEAVOR TO AVOID FAILURE AND SECURE SUCCESS . The believers to whom these words were addressed were halting between two opinions. The question was whether they should go back to the synagogue and the temple, and thus evade trial, or go forward in the brave and successful profession of Jesus Christ, and each should say, "Let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." No other subjects could approach... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 4:12

Characteristics of the sacred Scriptures. "For the Word of God is quick and powerful," etc. We take "the Word of God" here as meaning the sacred Scriptures, and the text as presenting to our notice several characteristics of them. I. THE VITALITY OF GOD 'S WORD . "The Word of God is quick," or, "living." Sometimes the written Word is spoken of as a "dead letter;" but with at least equal propriety it may be spoken of as a "living Word." "The Word of God, which liveth and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 4:12

Characteristics of the Word of God. What is the connection with the context? Is it not this that the Word of God, living and abiding forever ( 1 Peter 1:23 ), stands in its constant living relation to every generation of men? So far as we are essentially in the position of that generation which came out of Egypt, so far as we have Divine promises before us the conditions of which we may neglect, so far are we the objects of the same Word of God. Essentially the same Divine visitation,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 4:12-13

The power of the Divine Word. The writer urges here that if the Word of God condemned the unbelieving Jews in the Sinaitic desert, it will judge and condemn us also, should we prove unfaithful. The original reference is, of course, not to the written Word; but, in applying the passage to ourselves, we can think only of the promises and warnings of Holy Scripture. I. A DESCRIPTION OF THE WORD OF GOD . ( Hebrews 4:12 ) The representation is very vivid and impressive. The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 4:12-16

The Word of God discovering, the great High Priest delivering from, the apostate's sin. This completes the argument in this section ( Hebrews 3:1-19 . and 4) on the sin of apostasy. Having brought his readers face to face with the awful peril of departure from the Son of God, we might suppose the writer had reached the limit of the subject. But not so; he goes on to say that this sin and doom may be true of some whose defection is hidden in the heart. But he cannot relinquish the subject... read more

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