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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Hebrews 12:25 - 12:29
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Heb_12:25-29
25See 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. 26And 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." 27This 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. 28Therefore, 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; 29for our God is a consuming fire.
Heb_12:25 "See to it" This is a present active imperative. This is a different Greek word than the one used in Heb_12:15. This same warning is found in Heb_3:12. After being enlightened by the superiority of the new covenant in Christ, it is crucial that one respond appropriately. There is danger (for both the unbeliever and the believer) in knowing truth and not acting on it.
▣ "that you do not refuse Him" This is one of the two main warnings. The other being, "do not shrink back." This is an aorist middle (deponent) subjunctive. We must make a volitional decision. What will you do with Jesus, the author and finisher of the faith?
▣ "if" This is a first class conditional sentence which is assumed to be true from the author's point of view or for his literary purposes. Again, the awesome responsibility of rejecting a superior covenant and person is the focus of the comment.
Heb_12:26 "His voice shook the earth" This is a reference to the giving of the law on Mt. Sinai mentioned earlier in this chapter (cf. Exo_19:18-19), but it is a paraphrase from the Septuagint of Hag_2:6. This prophecy speaks of a new shaking of the heavens and earth connected to the new post-exilic temple (cf. Hag_2:6-9). The new temple will receive glory. The new temple will be better than the first. The new temple will bring peace. These descriptions foreshadow the new covenant in Jesus.
Heb_12:27 "Yet once more" This world is passing away. I do think God is going to recreate it (cf. 2Pe_3:10) much like it is, but without the curse of Gen_3:14; Gen_3:17; Zec_14:11; Rev_22:3. The Bible starts with God, man, and the animals (cf. Isa_11:6-9) in a garden setting (cf. Genesis 1-2) and it also ends the same way (cf. Revelation 21-22).
Heb_12:28 "a kingdom which cannot be shaken" This refers to the spiritual nature of the new covenant. It is the last and permanent covenant between God and His people.
▣ "let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe" This describes the appropriate response of the new covenant believers: a life of service because of gratitude for the matchless grace of the Triune God (cf. Heb_13:15; Heb_13:21; Rom_12:1-2). We were saved to serve, to serve the family of faith (cf. 1Co_12:7; Eph_4:12).
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Heb_12:29 "a consuming fire" This may be a reference to Mt. Sinai (cf. Deu_4:24). We dare not forget to Whom it is we are responding (cf. Heb_10:31). Fire can cleanse and purify or totally destroy. He will be our heavenly Father or He will be our Judge from heaven. What we do and continue to do with Jesus is the determiner. Believe! Hang in there!
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