Page 506 - Demo

12:18 Throughout Hebrews, the author has contrasted the old and new covenants. Here the author contrasts the revelation of God at Mount Sinai in Exodus 19 with the “city of the living God.” There, the mountain was veiled in darkness, while the people were lled with fear. But the new Jerusalem is all joy and celebration.
12:29 “Our God is a consuming re.” God is love, gentleness, and peace; God is also power and might. Which images of God comfort us? Which images of God trouble us?
494
i. [12:15] Dt 29:18 (17 LXX).
j. [12:16] Gn 25:33.
k. [12:17] Gn 27:34–38.
l. [12:18] Ex 19:12–14; Dt 4:11;
5:22–23.
m. [12:19] Ex 19:16, 19;
20:18–19.
n. [12:20] Ex 19:12–13.
o. [12:21] Dt 9:19.
p. [12:22] Gal 4:26; Rev 21:2.
q. [12:23] Lk 10:20; Rev 5:11.
r. [12:24] 7:22; 8:6; 9:15 / 11:4;
Gn 4:10.
s. [12:25] Ex 20:19.
t. [12:26] Ex 19:18; Jgs 5:4–5;
Ps 68:9; Hg 2:6.
u. [12:27] Is 66:22; Mt 24:35;
Mk 13:31; Lk 21:33.
v. [12:28] Dn 7:14, 18 / Rom
1:9.
w. [12:29] Dt 4:24; Is 33:14.
HEBREWS 
that no one be deprived of the grace of God, that no bitter root spring up and cause trouble, through which many may become de led,i 16that no one be an immoral or profane person like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal.j 17For you know that later, when he wanted to inherit his father’s blessing, he was rejected because he found no opportunity to change his mind, even though he sought the blessing with tears.k
18* You have not approached that which could be touched*l and a blazing re and gloomy darkness and storm 19and a trumpet blast and a voice speaking words such that those who heard begged that no message be further addressed to them,m 20for they could not bear to hear the command: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.”n 21Indeed, so fearful was the spectacle that Moses said, “I am terri ed and trembling.”o 22No, you have approached Mount Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and countless angels in festal gathering,p 23and the assembly of the rstborn enrolled in heaven,* and God the judge of all, and the spirits of the just made perfect,q 24and Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and the sprinkled blood that speaks more eloquently* than that of Abel.r
25See that you do not reject the one who speaks. For if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much more in our case if we turn away from the one who warns from heaven.s 26His voice shook the earth at that time, but now he has promised, “I will once more shake not only earth but heaven.”t 27That
phrase, “once more,” points to [the] removal of shaken, created things, so that what is unshaken may remain.u 28Therefore, we who are receiving the unshakable kingdom should have gratitude, with which we should o er worship pleasing to God in reverence and awe.v 29For our God is a consuming re.w
The Law given to Moses, by Gustave Doré
(1866)
* [12:18–29] As a nal appeal for adherence to Christian teaching, the two covenants, of Moses and of Christ, are compared. The Mosaic covenant, the author argues, is shown to have originated in fear of God and threats of divine punishment (Heb 12:18–21). The covenant in Christ gives us direct access to God (Heb 12:22), makes us members of the Christian community, God’s children, a sancti ed people (Heb 12:23), who have Jesus as mediator to speak for us (Heb 12:24). Not to heed the voice of the risen Christ is a graver sin than the rejection of the word of Moses (Heb 12:25–26). Though Christians fall away, God’s kingdom in Christ will remain and his justice will punish those guilty of deserting it (Heb 12:28–29).
* [12:18] This remarkably beautiful passage contrasts two great assemblies of people: that of the Israelites gathered at Mount Sinai for the sealing of the old covenant and the promulgation of the Mosaic law, and that of the followers of Jesus gathered at Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, the assembly of the new covenant. This latter scene, marked by the presence of countless angels and of Jesus with his redeeming blood, is reminiscent of the celestial liturgies of the Book of Revelation.
* [12:23] The assembly of the rstborn enrolled in heaven: this expression may refer to the angels of Heb 12:22, or to the heroes of the Old Testament (see Heb 11), or to the entire assembly of the new covenant.
* [12:24] Speaks more eloquently: the blood of Abel, the rst human blood to be shed, is contrasted with that of Jesus. Abel’s blood cried out from the earth for vengeance, but the blood of Jesus has opened the way for everyone, providing cleansing and access to God (Heb 10:19).