The Word of God and Its Critics - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2025

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
Hebrews 4:12-13

The Word of God and Its Critics
The features of the Word of God are brought before us in these verses. It is living and powerful. Like all living things it possesses amazing energy. Further it has extraordinary powers of penetration, for it can pierce its way between things most intimately connected, whether things spiritual or things material, in a way impossible to the sharpest two-edged sword. Again, it is a discerner of the deepest thoughts and motives of men.

It is a remarkable fact that the word translated discerner is the one from which we get our word critic. There are multitudes today who pose as critics of the Word of God, and their foolish criticism only betrays the fact that, far from being "living," they are in spiritual death; that, far from being "powerful," they are very weak, and that their supposed powers of penetration are practically non-existent. They have no real understanding of the Word which they criticize.

It is not man's business to criticize the Word of God, but to let the Word criticize him. Nothing tests us more than criticism. If we are proud and self-sufficient we bitterly resent it. Only if humble and walking in the fear of the Lord do we welcome the penetrating criticisms of the Word, and they are of the greatest possible help to us in pursuing our pilgrim way. Thereby we are enabled to see ourselves and scrutinize our own motives, and thus avoid a thousand snares.

F. B. Hole