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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Heb_12:18-24
18For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, 19and 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. 20For they could not bear the command, "If even a beast touches the mountain, it will be stoned." 21And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, "I am full of fear and trembling." 22But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, 23to 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, 24and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.
Heb_12:18-21 This section is a description of the giving of the Mosaic Law on Mt. Sinai (cf. Exo_19:16-25; Deu_4:11-14).
▣ "to darkness and gloom" This is possibly an allusion to Deu_5:22.
Heb_12:19 "blast of a trumpet" God's voice sounded like a trumpet (cf. Exo_19:16; Exo_19:19; Exo_20:18)
▣ "who heard begged that no further word be spoken to them" YHWH's awesome power on Mt. Sinai frightened the people (cf. Exo_20:19; Deu_5:22-27; Deu_18:16).
Heb_12:20 "if even a beast touches the mountain, it will be stoned" This is a third class conditional sentence. It is another allusion to the awesome holiness of God descending on Mt. Sinai (cf. Exo_19:12-13).
Heb_12:21 "I am full of fear and trembling" This is a quote from Deu_9:19 which refers to Aaron's golden calf. Rabbinical hermeneutics used this phrase for Moses' fear of God at Mt. Sinai.
Heb_12:22 "But you have come" This is a strong contrast. These believing readers are not trusting in a Sinaitic covenant, but in a new covenant, a heavenly Jerusalem, a new Mt. Zion, a new city. In Gal_4:21-31 Paul uses the same type of analogy using two OT mountains (Mt. Sinai versus Mt. Zion).
▣ "Mount Zion" The author is comparing the first covenant at Mt. Sinai to the new covenant with the new heavenly city (cf. Heb_11:10; Heb_11:16; Heb_13:14; Rev_3:12; Rev_21:2; Rev_21:10).
▣ "of the living God" This is a play on the covenant name for God, YHWH, which is a form of the Hebrew verb "to be." YHWH is the ever-living, only-living One. In the OT He swears by Himself, "the living God." See Special Topic: Names for Deity at Heb_2:7.
Heb_12:23 "church of the firstborn" Because of Exo_4:22 some commentators understand the references to OT Israelites, but context demands that it be understood as all the people of faith (cf. Heb_11:40). The "first born" is a reference to Christ, "the first born"
1. of many brothers (the image of God, Rom_8:29)
2. of all creation (the image of God, Col_1:15)
3. of the dead (Col_1:18 and 1Co_15:20; 1Co_15:23 [first fruits])
Look at all the ways the new covenant is designated in this paragraph.
1. Mt. Zion
2. the city of the living God
3. the heavenly Jerusalem
4. myriads of angels
For "church" see Special Topic at Heb_2:12. For "firstborn" see Special Topic at Heb_1:6.
▣ "enrolled" The Bible speaks of two books of God (cf. Dan_7:10 and Rev_20:12). One is the book of life (cf. Exo_32:32; Psa_69:28; Dan_12:1; Luk_10:20; Php_4:3; Rev_3:5; Rev_17:8; Rev_20:12; Rev_20:15; Rev_21:27). The other is the book of remembrances (cf. Psa_56:8; Psa_139:16; Isa_65:6; Mal_3:16). The first is for believers, the second for both (cf. Rev_14:13). These are metaphors for the memory of God. See hyperlink.
▣ "to God, the Judge of all" The OT regularly depicts God as Judge (cf. Gen_18:25; Psa_50:6; Psa_96:13; Psa_98:9; Isa_2:4; Isa_51:5; Jer_11:20; Lam_3:59; Eze_7:3; Eze_7:27). The coming Messiah is also depicted as Judge (cf. Isa_11:3-4; Isa_16:5). The Father has placed all judgment in the Son's hands (cf. Joh_5:22-23; Joh_5:27; Joh_9:39; Act_10:42; Act_17:31; 2Ti_4:1; 1Pe_4:5).
▣ "to the spirit of the righteous made perfect" This is a perfect passive participle, implying "made perfect by God and the results continue." Because of Heb_11:40 this may refer to the OT saints of chapter 11 and all believers before Christ's coming.
For "perfect" see note at Heb_10:1.
Heb_12:24 "Jesus the Mediator" Jesus, the high priest and sacrifice (1) stands before the Father for us and (2) brings a better covenant (cf. Heb_7:22; Heb_8:6; Heb_8:9-10; Heb_9:15; Jer_31:31-34; Eze_36:22-36).
▣ "to the sprinkled blood" This was the way OT covenants were inaugurated (cf. Heb_9:19; Heb_10:22; 1Pe_1:2).
▣ "better" See full note at Heb_7:7.
▣ "blood of Abel" Abel's blood cried out for vengeance; Jesus' blood cries for mercy, forgiveness, and love.