Instead, You Have Come to Mount Zion, to the City of the Living God
Hebrews 12:18-24 Christian Standard Bible
18 For you have not come to what could be touched, to a blazing fire, to darkness, gloom, and storm, 19 to the blast of a trumpet, and the sound of words. Those who heard it begged that not another word be spoken to them, 20 for they could not bear what was commanded: If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned. 21 The appearance was so terrifying that Moses said, I am trembling with fear. 22 Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God (the heavenly Jerusalem), to myriads of angels, a festive gathering, 23 to the assembly of the firstborn whose names have been written in heaven, to a Judge, who is God of all, to the spirits of righteous people made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which says better things than the blood of Abel.
Throughout the letter of Hebrews, the author under the inspiration and direction of The Holy Spirit has been showing the supremacy of Jesus Christ over the Old Covenant. Our bibles are broken up into the Old Testament and New Testament. The word testament is another word for covenant. We must remember that Jesus said He did not come to destroy the law but to fulfill it. Paul wrote this concerning the law But we know that the law is good, if anyone makes use of it lawfully, 9 knowing this, that the law is not given for a righteous person but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and totally worldly, for the one who kills his father and the one who kills his mother, for murderers, 10 sexually immoral people, homosexuals, kidnappers, liars, perjurers, and ⌊whatever⌋ else is opposed to sound teaching, 11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God that I was entrusted with (1 Timothy 1:8-11)[1].
The purpose of the law is to reveal what sin is. The law acted as a guide and tutor for the nation of Israel until the Messiah came. It is a foolish thing to look at Jesus Christ, begin to follow Him and have a desire to return to the demands of the law. We must remember that we are called to live, walk, and be filled with The Holy Spirit. Our lives are to be guided by the work and person of The Holy Spirit. Regardless of the opposition we face and hardship on this earth, our greatest reward is living a life committed to Jesus Christ and someday seeing Him face to face.
For you have not come to what could be touched, to a blazing fire, to darkness, gloom, and storm, to the blast of a trumpet, and the sound of words. Those who heard it begged that not another word be spoken to them, for they could not bear what was commanded. This points to the events on Mount Sinai where Moses was given the law of God by God. It was here as Moses descended the mounting that the people would receive the law of God and God would establish a covenant with them in which their lives and nation would be governed by the covenant He created and establish. It set them apart as a people unto The Living God. All these things described points to truly how awesome God is. When mere people stand in the presence of the Living God it is utterly terrifying. When we look at the experience of Isaiah in the courts of Heaven here is what he said Woe is me for I am ruined because I am a man of unclean lips and live among a people of unclean lips, and because my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Armies (Isaiah 6:5)[2]. The word ruined in the Hebrew means destroy; be destroyed, to pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life.[3] Isaiah standing as a sinful man in the presence of the Living God was terrifying. But things have greatly changed on this side of the cross. Because of Jesus Christ we can approach the throne of grace with confidence.
If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned. The appearance was so terrifying that Moses said, I am trembling with fear. As the writer of Hebrews continues it shows us the awesomeness of God and His holiness. It says even an animal touches the mountain; it must be stoned. The appearance was so terrifying that Moses said, I am trembling with fear. When we think about the grace and mercy under Jesus Christ, it shows us how truly foolish it is to even consider abandoning Jesus. We cannot keep the law. No matter how hard we try or how good we are, because of the sin nature in us, we will fail in our own strength. But because of Jesus Christ we can approach the throne of grace with confidence. What we find in Jesus Christ is the grace of God lavished on us when we surrender to His Lordship. Our sins are nailed to the cross. Under the law sacrifices must be performed over and over without sin being fully dealt with and washed away. Under the New Covenant our sins are completely washed away and the righteousness found in Jesus is applied to us.
Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God (the heavenly Jerusalem). Through Jesus Christ our covenant is not now based on the law or drawing near to an earthly temple. Everything that took place under the Old Covenant was but a shadow that pointed to the actual temple and heavenly city. Under Jesus Christ our citizenship is in Heaven. We are no longer bound by the law. The Mount Zion we long for is not in earthly Jerusalem. It is in Heaven. One day we will spend all eternity with Almighty God in His kingdom. Until that day may we diligently seek Him. May we desire to have our hearts and minds become one with Him. May we not abandon Jesus Christ, but may we abide and draw ever nearer.
To myriads of angels, a festive gathering, 23 to the assembly of the firstborn whose names have been written in heaven, to a Judge, who is God of all, to the spirits of righteous people made perfect. The word myraids is the Greek word murias, and it means ten-thousand; by extens. a “myriad” or indefinite number:—ten thousand[4]. What awaits us in God’s kingdom is far greater than we can comprehend. There is nothing on this earth that compares to the greatness of God. There is nothing on this earth worth seeking after that is greater than knowing Jesus Christ.
The word festive is the Greek word panēguris and it means a mass-meeting, i.e. (fig.) universal companionship:—general assembly.[5] As believers in Christ we are not alone. Some day we will be gathered to all those who have come before us. On this earth we can feel as if we are surrounded on every side by the enemy. We can believe we are outgunned and outmanned. But the writer of Hebrews is showing us the key to overcoming. It is fixing our eyes on Jesus. It is focusing our hearts on the future promises of God. We cannot conceive in our minds and hearts the greatness of Heaven, but daily we must choose to draw near to Jesus.
Our names have been written in Heaven. God Almighty is the judge. All will stand before Jesus Christ someday. For the believer it will not be a judgement based on salvation. It will be a judgement in which the faithfulness of a person’s life is examined, and rewards will be handed out. But for the unbeliever they will stand before the white throne judgement (Revelation 20:11-15). God is the one who will judge all people.
The word righteous is the Greek word dikaios and it means just, correct, righteous, innocent. The characteristic of following God’s law.[6] The only way we are justified and declared innocent in the eyes of Almighty God is through the blood of Jesus Christ. Every benefit we have is because of what Jesus has done. He lived a sinless life. He took the full measure of our punishment and death. What we deserve is the wrath of God. What we get in its place when we trust Jesus Christ is the grace and mercy of God. This is truly the great exchange.
24 And to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which says better things than the blood of Abel. Jesus is our mediator. There is no other mediator between God and man than Jesus Christ. He is the only way that we can draw near and find access to God. Our ability to know God intimately is because of Jesus Christ alone.
Through Jesus Christ a new and living way has been made. The word covenant is the Greek word diathēkē and it means covenant. An agreement creating obligations between the parties making the agreement.[7] All of the obligations have been met by Jesus Christ. Ultimately, we are saved by God. It is impossible for a spiritual dead person to respond to God’s grace and the message of the gospel without the work of the Holy Spirit. Through Jesus we not only have a new covenant, but we have a greater covenant. Based on faith alone in Jesus Christ finished work. It is faith in Jesus Christ that gains us access to the blood of Christ. When we come to Jesus, we are washed clean. It is as if we have never sinned.
Abel was killed by his brother Cain. Able was not without sin because he was born of Adam. But from scripture what we see in Able is a heart that desired to honor and serve the Lord because of the sacrifice he brought. His sacrifice was received because it was brought by faith and it was the very best of what he had. But the blood of Christ is even greater. That is what this entire letter is about the supremacy of Jesus Christ. When we understand the greatness of Jesus, we will not desire anything else. We will desire to draw near and sit at His feet. We will desire to grow in great intimacy.
Prayer
Father thank you for offering us salvation. Thank you for your Son Jesus. Jesus thank you for who you are and all you have done. Thank you that you love us and you have a plan. Thank you that you provide forgiveness and grace we don’t deserve. Thank you for loving us and meeting us where we are. In the mighty name of Jesus, Amen!
[1] W. Hall Harris III et al., eds., The Lexham English Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012), 1 Ti 1:8–11.
[2] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Is 6:5.
[3] Rick Brannan, ed., Lexham Research Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible, Lexham Research Lexicons (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2020).
[4] James Strong, A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009), 49.
[5] James Strong, A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009), 54.
[6] Jeremiah K. Garrett, “Justice,” ed. Douglas Mangum et al., Lexham Theological Wordbook, Lexham Bible Reference Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014).
[7] Kyle R. Hughes, “Circumcision,” ed. Douglas Mangum et al., Lexham Theological Wordbook, Lexham Bible Reference Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014).
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