Heb 12:22-24 | TNotes | STEP | 12:22 No: There is a strong contrast between the old and the new covenant. Believers have now come to wonderful Mount Zion , which is closely associated with Jerusalem and represents God’s dwelling place. • heavenly Jerusalem: See study note on 8:5. • The new covenant constitutes a relationship with God by which we experience his presence with joy, peace, and fellowship.

12:22 ^a No: There is a strong contrast between the old and the new covenant. Believers have now come to wonderful Mount Zion, which is closely associated with Jerusalem and represents God’s dwelling place.

• heavenly Jerusalem: See study note on 8:5.

• The new covenant constitutes a relationship with God by which we experience his presence with joy, peace, and fellowship.
12:23 ^b The word translated assembly is usually translated “church”; it speaks of God’s assembled people.

• God’s firstborn children refers to people who are members of the new covenant (cp. 1:6 ^c; 2:10-13 ^d).

• The concept that God’s people have their names . . . written in heaven speaks of God’s special attention to his people (see also Exod 32:32 ^e; Ps 69:28 ^f; Isa 4:3 ^g; Dan 12:1 ^h; Luke 10:20 ⁱ; Phil 4:3 ^j; Rev 3:5 ^k).

• For God’s children, God as judge is the vindicator of his people (cp. Pss 9:8 ^l; 58:11 ^m; 94:2 ⁿ; Isa 11:4 ^o; Jer 22:16 ^p).

• Those who have already died have now been made perfect by the sacrifice of Christ (Heb 10:14 ^q).
12:24 ^r Jesus is the mediator of the new covenant (8:7-13 ^s; 9:11-14 ^t; 10:15-18 ^u). His sprinkled blood, used as the sacrifice for sins, speaks of forgiveness.

• The blood of Abel cried out to God from the ground, demanding vengeance for his murder by Cain (Gen 4:10 ^v). By contrast, Jesus’ blood cries out that the price for sins has been paid for those in the new covenant (Heb 10:16-18 ^w).