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Post by Admin on Oct 23, 2016 19:36:47 GMT -6
18 For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, 19 and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words which sound was such that those who heard begged that no further word be spoken to them. 20 For they could not bear the command, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it will be stoned.” 21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, “I am full of fear and trembling.” 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel. 25 See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven. 26 And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.” 27 This expression, “Yet once more,” denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; 29 for our God is a consuming fire.
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
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JB
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Dedicated TruthSeeker
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Post by JB on Oct 26, 2016 5:05:14 GMT -6
HEB 12:18 For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, 19 and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words which sound was such that those who heard begged that no further word be spoken to them. 20 For they could not bear the command, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it will be stoned.” 21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, “I am full of fear and trembling.”
As a reminder, some Jewish believers were on the verge of turning back. Throughout this letter, the writer has been showing how the way of Christ is superior to the old system. In these verses he describes the restrictive old system. That system of law didn’t bridge the gulf between man and God. It merely highlighted that gulf. Any system that depends upon man being righteous enough on his own to be in God’s presence can do nothing but fail. The words “You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind” come from descriptions of Mount Sinai in Exodus 19:12-19; 20:18-19. I encourage you to take a few moments to read that. The mountain, the fire, the darkness, the storms – all were this-worldly, all were designed to provoke fear, and all emphasized the distance between man and God. But Christianity isn’t founded upon earthy things as the old system was. The “Mount Zion” to which the church now has come is a bridge between man and God, between the earthly and the heavenly. It does not strike fear; it builds fellowship. It does not separate; it joins. It is not tangible; it is spiritual. [Note that Exodus 19:12 actually forbade Israelites from touching Mount Sinai. But it was still touchable/tangible/visible/this-worldly.]
HEB 12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.
When you contrast all of that with the untouchable, fiery, and stormy mountain that provoked fear, how could you ever want to go back?! Mount Sinai is a place between Egypt and Arabia where the Law was given, where mankind learned how unholy he was, and where people learned to fear God’s furious wrath. Mount Zion represents the place where God lives, where grace is given, where mankind learns that God through Christ’s blood forgave their unholiness, and where people learned to draw on God’s loving mercy. SIDE NOTE The translators of mot versions did a poor job in verses 24 with the wording “which speaks better than the blood of Abel.” The words “THE BLOOD OF” simply aren’t in the Greek text. Many put these words in italics or brackets to show that they aren’t part of the original. They were evidently inserted because they assumed the writer was contrasting Jesus’ shed blood with Abel’s blood that was shed by Cain. But the sentence literally translates “…and to the sprinkled blood which speaks better than Abel.” I believe the point, which is consistent with the context, is that although Abel’s sacrifice communicated clearly that blood was required for a sacrifice to be acceptable, Jesus made this truth a reality in Himself; His own blood, shed though the sacrifice of Himself, spoke this truth better than Abel did.]
HEB 12:25a See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking.
The one “who is speaking” referenced here is Jesus (look again at verse 24). Consistent with the whole message of this letter, the writer warns these readers to not refuse to listen to Jesus.
HEB 12:25b For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven.
If the Israelites refused Moses (who was on earth), they were cut off. How much more will we be cut off if we refuse Jesus (who is in Heaven)?
HEB 12:26 And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.”
The writer paraphrased Haggai 2: 6 here.
HEB 12:27 This expression, “Yet once more,” denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; 29 for our God is a consuming fire.
Through Christ we receive a kingdom that will always stand firm. Gratitude, rather than doubt or turning back, is the only reasonable and proper response. |
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