Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
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Emotion Tone
Anger
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Disgust
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Fear
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Joy
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Sadness
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Language Tone
Analytical
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Confident
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Tentative
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Social Tone
Openness
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Conscientiousness
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Extraversion
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Agreeableness
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Emotional Range
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Tone of specific sentences
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Anger
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Having completed his exposition of Psalm 95 and Israel’s failure to enter rest, the writer brings this section of warning to a conclusion that is both sobering and comforting at the same time.
God’s *Word* is a solemn instrument of divine judgment, but His *throne *is both gracious and merciful.
!! God’s Word Discovers our Condition (Heb.
4:12-13)
The lesson he had just taught from the Old Testament Scriptures was not just a mere historical tale but a teaching which was powerfully relevant to his audience.[1]
Not only that, its penetrating power is greater than “/a two-edged sword/” in that it reaches the innermost being of a person.[2]
In fact, it is able to discriminate successfully between what is merely “soulish” or “natural” in man and what is essentially /spiritual /in man.[3]
It can therefore judge even the “/thoughts and intents of the heart/”.[4]
Let the readers not suppose that their true motives would go undetected – for */nothing is hidden from His sight/*.[5]
In saying this, the readers were reminded that they would someday stand before the /Judgment-Seat of Christ *to give account */to God for their lives.[6]
*If, at that time, their lives are seen to be marked by the kind of failure they have been warned against, the writer implies that they will suffer loss of reward*[7]*- namely, that of their /inheritance-rest/.*
!! Our Compassionate, Great High Priest (Heb.
4:14-16)
*But this need NOT be so.*
*On the contrary, there is every reason to /hold fast to the confession [of faith] which we make/*[8]* in light of the believers’ /great High Priest Who has passed through the heavens/.*[9]
This great High Priest [Jesus] had been where they were and had had been */tempted in every way /*as they were – yet, of course, /without sin/.[10]
Therefore, He can */sympathize with our weaknesses/*.[11]
With such a High Priest, it follows that believers should */come boldly to the throne of grace/*.[12]
There they can fully expect */to receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need/*.[13]
\\ ----
[1] “/The Word of God is *living* and *powerful*/” – Heb.
4:12a.
[2] Heb.
4:12b.
[3] Heb. 4:12c.
Even when these often contradictory inner elements are interwoven as closely as /joints and marrow/.
[4] Perhaps the readers might think that they were contemplating certain steps with “spiritual” motivations when, as God’s Word could show them, they were acting unfaithfully as did Israel of old.
[5] Heb.
4:13.
Indeed, everything is */“open and laid bare to His [God’s] eyes”/*/ /to Whom we must ultimately give an account.
[6] Heb. 4:13b and Rom.
14:10-12 and 2 Cor.
5:10.
[7] 1 Cor.
3:11-15.
[8] Heb.
4:14.
[9] Heb.
4:14a.
“The writer had previously mentioned the /priesthood /of Jesus (Heb.
3:1-6), but now he is preparing to undertake an extensive consideration of that truth.
But before doing so, he wished to suggest its practical relevance to his readers whom he exhorted to ‘/hold firmly to the faith/’.
They had to know that the priesthood of their Lord offered them all the resources they needed.”
[/The Bible Knowledge Commentary/]
[10] Heb.
4:15b.
Cf.
Heb.
7:26, 2 Cor.
5:21, 1 John 3:5.
[11] Heb. 4:15a.
Because Jesus was /sinless /and fully resisted temptation, He alone knows the full extent of temptation’s force.
Thus He has a far greater capacity for compassion than any sinner could have for a fellow sinner.
[12] Heb.
4:16a.
Cf.
Heb.
3:6, 10:19, 35 where the word /παρρησία/ /parresia = boldness, confidence, fearlessness /is also used.
“Such a conception of the presence of God into which beleaguered Christians may come at any time / /suggests both the sovereignty of the One they approach (/throne/) and His benevolence [/of grace/].”
[/The Bible Knowledge Commentary/]
[13] Heb. 4:16b.
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