18 You have not come to a physical mountain, to a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom, and whirlwind, as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai. 19 For they heard an awesome trumpet blast and a voice so terrible that they begged God to stop speaking. 20 They staggered back under God’s command: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” 21 Moses himself was so frightened at the sight that he said, “I am terrified and trembling.”
22 No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. 23 You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect. 24 You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel.
Hebrews 12: 18-24 (NLT)
The Old – Judgement
The purpose of this passage is to show that the old covenant based on the law brought terror, judgement but the new covenant is different, it’s superior. The author starts by showing that the old was based on fear, a holy fear. Even the giving of the law was so frightening they asked that God would not communicate with them directly but rather, through Moses. Deut 9:19 tells us that even Moses, who held the highest intimacy with Jehovah, also trembled with fear. (Clarke’s commentary). See Exodus 19-20 for the full account.
The New – Forgiveness
In v22 he reviews the new covenant. They (we) have “come to” (using eyes of faith) Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem where God dwells. Surely we have reverent fear yet we come with joy and thanksgiving. Heaven is an amazing sight with countless numbers of angels gathered singing and worshipping. There are believers (like mentioned in Chapter 11) who’ve died and been cleansed of sin already there, signing in worship and praise to the Lord God. We’ve come to Jesus, the focus of this book, nay the whole Book, mediating this new covenant relationship between man and God. We’ve come to forgiveness by His blood, which is “infinitely more acceptable with God; it was shed for the whole human race, and cleanses all who believe from all unrighteousness.” (Clarke) (Heb 9:13-14)
Encouragement
The author continues his encouragement: “Though still fighting the good fight on earth, still, in respect to your destiny, and present life of faith which substantiates things hoped for, ye are already members of the heavenly citizenship.”(JFB commentary) Press on church!
