Hebrews 4:13
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Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
creature--visible or invisible. in his sight--in God's sight (Heb 4:12). "God's wisdom, simply manifold, and uniformly multiform, with incomprehensible comprehension, comprehends all things incomprehensible." opened--literally, "thrown on the back so as to have the neck laid bare," as a victim with neck exposed for sacrifice. The Greek perfect tense implies that this is our continuous state in relation to God. "Show, O man, shame and fear towards thy God, for no veil, no twisting, bending, coloring, or disguise, can cover unbelief" (Greek, 'disobedience,' Heb 4:11). Let us, therefore, earnestly labor to enter the rest lest any fall through practical unbelief (Heb 4:11).
Open source ↗The apostle, having in the foregoing chapter set forth the sin and punishment of the ancient Jews, proceeds in this, I. To declare that our privileges by Christ under the gospel exceed the privileges of the Jewish church under Moses, as a reason why we should make a right improvement of them (Heb 4:1-4). II. He assigns the cause why the ancient Hebrews did not profit by their religious privileges (Heb 4:2). Then, II. Confirms the privileges of those who believe, and the misery of those who continue in unbelief (Heb 4:3-10). IV. Concludes with proper and powerful arguments and motives to faith and obedience.
Open source ↗4:13 To be naked and exposed speaks figuratively of being vulnerable, helpless, or unprotected. The guilty are not able to hide from God’s penetrating word of judgment (cp. Rev 3:17).
Open source ↗Cross-references
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Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
The eyes of the LORD are in every place, observing the evil and the good.
For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil.
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.”
I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.
For His eyes are on the ways of a man, and He sees his every step.
Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD— how much more the hearts of men!
on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Christ Jesus, as proclaimed by my gospel.
would not God have discovered, since He knows the secrets of the heart?