The Word - Sharper Than any Two-Edged Sword

Do you remember the Ginsu knife infomercials? This miracle knife could supposedly cut through pretty much anything. Who knows if it actually worked, but the message from the ad was clear: this knife is sharp and durable.

Well, Scripture tells us in Hebrews 4:12 that the Word of God is "sharper than any two-edged sword".

Interestingly, the Greek word translated "sharper" -- tomos -- appears just once in Scripture. Strong's Concordance says this word is more comprehensive and decisive than another word used in Scripture (kopto, which, in essence, means to cut, strike, smite, or chop). Whereas kopto "implies repeated blows, like hacking", tomos, implies "as if by a single stroke".  In other words, the Word of God can cut through immediately and fully--just one stroke needed.

And it cuts deeper than anything else--not to destroy but to expose and sift and discern between soul and spirit and the deepest intents and thoughts of our heart...but more on that in an upcoming post.

The idea of the Word as sharp shouldn't surprise us. Scripture also tells us in Ephesians 6:18 that the Word of God is the sword of the Spirit.

In Revelation 1:12-16, we read John's description of Jesus--the Son of man, the Alpha and Omega:

Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. (emphasis added)

When we're talking about the Word of God, we're not talking about mere sayings, statements, letters on a page, or niceties. We're talking about something powerful, alive, effective, active, dynamic. At our peril do we treat it lightly or deem it less than it is. It is the Word of God, the person of Jesus, the logos, which, implanted in us, has the power to save our souls (James 1:21).