Like a sword, the word of God is only powerful when it’s applied to a specific point, or along a specific line. Like a scalpel, its purpose is not to stimulate you generally, but to heal you precisely. It has to cut away something.
Like a sword, the word of God is only powerful when it’s applied to a specific point, or along a specific line. Like a scalpel, its purpose is not to stimulate you generally, but to heal you precisely. It has to cut away something.
You know, I’m getting nervous about twisting the “sword” metaphor so far as to make it a scalpel. Obviously, scripture has been known to work that way, but I don’t think surgery was the thing the writer of Hebrews had primarily in mind. First and foremost, a sword is a tool of combat, meant to kill, not to heal, and we are the enemies of God.
You’re right, of course, about Hebrews. But your comment is interesting. Are you saying that God’s Word is doing combat with us? Well, if it’s a sword, it has to do combat with someone. Let judgment begin in the house of God, as the Scriptures say.