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A discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart

Text: Hebrews 4:12

SOME THINK THAT THEY CAN HIDE FROM GOD

From the earliest times, man has been hiding from God. Here are some classic examples:-

1. Adam and Eve tried to hide themselves from the presence of God (Cf. Genesis 3:8).

2. Jeroboam’s wife was told to disguise herself from the blind prophet Ahijah (Cf. 1 Kings 14:1-6)

All human efforts at attempting to hide from God would end up in complete failure! God’s omniscience would immediately see through a person to the core of his soul.

THE WORD OF GOD AS A DISCERNER OF HEARTS

Let us ponder this last phrase that was written to describe the Word of God.

1. A discerner (“kritikos”)

a) It is able to critically discern.

b) It possesses this special ability to discern things accurately and objectively.

2. Discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart

a) The personal human “thought” cannot be discerned by another person.

b) The same may be said about the “intents” of an individual; it cannot be discerned by others.

c) The human heart

i) It represents the innermost core of the person in this text.

ii) “Thoughts” and “intents” are associated with the heart.

iii) The heart generates these “thoughts and intents”.

d) The word of God as a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart

i) This is a powerful statement of the power of God’s word.

ii) It is also an accurate description of the actual power of God’s word.