Heb 12:18-29 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Heb 12:18-24: 12:18-24 This passage contrasts the old covenant with the new. The old covenant, represented by Mount Sinai (12:18-21 ), is depicted as impersonal, intimidating, and unapproachable; it booms, flashes, and terrifies. The new covenant, represented by Mount Zion (12:22-24 ), is depicted as relational, welcoming, and celebratory. 12:18 The descriptions of Mount Sinai come directly from God’s encounter with Israel at that mountain (see Exod 19:16-22 ; 20:18-21 ; Deut 4:11-12 ; 5:23-27 ). The images communicate separation from a holy God.

Summary for Heb 12:18-24: 12:18-24 ^a This passage contrasts the old covenant with the new. The old covenant, represented by Mount Sinai (12:18-21 ^b), is depicted as impersonal, intimidating, and unapproachable; it booms, flashes, and terrifies. The new covenant, represented by Mount Zion (12:22-24 ^c), is depicted as relational, welcoming, and celebratory. 12:18 ^d The descriptions of Mount Sinai come directly from God’s encounter with Israel at that mountain (see Exod 19:16-22 ^e; 20:18-21 ^f; Deut 4:11-12 ^g; 5:23-27 ^h). The images communicate separation from a holy God.
12:19 ⁱ The awesome trumpet blast and a voice terrified the people (see Exod 19:16 ^j, 19 ^k; 20:18 ^l; Deut 4:12 ^m) so that they begged God to stop speaking (Exod 20:19 ⁿ).
12:22 ^o 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 ^p 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 ^q; 2:10-13 ^r).

• 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 ^s; Ps 69:28 ^t; Isa 4:3 ^u; Dan 12:1 ^v; Luke 10:20 ^w; Phil 4:3 ^x; Rev 3:5 ^y).

• For God’s children, God as judge is the vindicator of his people (cp. Pss 9:8 ^z; 58:11 ^aa; 94:2 ^ab; Isa 11:4 ^ac; Jer 22:16 ^ad).

• Those who have already died have now been made perfect by the sacrifice of Christ (Heb 10:14 ^ae).
12:24 ^af Jesus is the mediator of the new covenant (8:7-13 ^ag; 9:11-14 ^ah; 10:15-18 ^ai). 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 ^aj). By contrast, Jesus’ blood cries out that the price for sins has been paid for those in the new covenant (Heb 10:16-18 ^ak).
Summary for Heb 12:25-29: 12:25-29 ^al As the final warning in the book (see 2:1-4 ^am; 4:12-13 ^an; 6:4-8 ^ao; 10:26-31 ^ap), this passage plays off the image of God speaking in 12:18-24 ^aq. 12:25 ^ar God is the One who is speaking his revealed word in his Son, Jesus (1:1-3 ^as). The author argues from lesser to greater (see study note on 9:14): Moses’ warning the people under the old covenant is the lesser situation, and God’s warning us from heaven is the greater situation. If people did not escape judgment when they were warned by Moses, those who reject the message of the Son of God will certainly not escape punishment.
Summary for Heb 12:26-27: 12:26-27 ^at shook the earth: Exod 19:18 ^au; Judg 5:5 ^av; Pss 68:8 ^aw; 77:18 ^ax.

• “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also”: Quoting Hag 2:6 ^ay, the author emphasizes that all of creation will be shaken and removed at the judgment at the end of the age (1 Cor 7:31 ^az; 2 Pet 3:10 ^ba, 12 ^bb; Rev 21:1 ^bc).
Summary for Heb 12:28-29: 12:28-29 ^bd God deserves holy fear and awe.

• our God is a devouring fire: This quotation from Deut 4:24 ^be speaks at once of God’s awesome power and of his right to judge.