In Hebrews 12 the apostle made a final appeal to the Hebrew Christians to hold fast, to not make a tragic mistake and return to Judaism. He urged them to take care that they not fall short of the grace of God, that they watch lest there be a root of bitterness which springing up would bring about defilement to them who permitted such. They were to watch lest there be among them a fornicator or a profane person like Esau who for a mess of pottage, sold his birthright. The writer told them that when later Esau sought to receive that birthright he had traded away, it was too late: there was no change of mind for him. These Hebrew Christians had a far greater birthright they could bargain away, and which would bring even more tragic consequences for them than that which Esau suffered were they to do so: their birthright; sons of God, redeemed by the blood of God’s Son (Summary of Hebrews 12:5-17).
Then the author reminded them they had “not come to a mount which might be touched which burned with fire and unto blackness and darkness and tempest; as well as the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, which voice they that heard entreated Moses that no more words should be spoken unto them …” Such was so fearful a sight and sound that even Moses declared, “I exceedingly fear and tremble” (Hebrews 12:21). The sight was fearsome and the warning even more so: “If even a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned” (Hebrews 12:20).
But it was not to such a mount these Hebrew Christians had come. The writer continued, “But ye are come to Mt. Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable hosts of angels, 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 just men made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better than that of Abel” (Hebrews 12:22-24). What an impressive company it was to which these came, and when they came they received “a kingdom that cannot be shaken” (Hebrews 12:28).
While we have come to Mt. Zion, the heavenly city, a host of angels, the church, to God, and the spirits of just men made perfect, we have also come to Jesus who is the mediator of a new covenant. We have come to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of Abel. Some translations may supply the words “better things than the blood of Abel.” And, while the words “the blood” is not found in most translations, we believe that even if the two words were not part of the original text, the two are implied. The Bible mentions that Abel “still speaks” to us today (Hebrews 11:4), yet his blood also speaks for when God confronted Cain with the death of his brother. God said, “What is this which thou hast done? The blood of Abel thy brother crieth from the ground?” (Genesis 4:16). Abel, by offering his sacrifice through faith, proved himself pleasing to God; yet the blood of Jesus speaketh better than what? Abel testifying that one may be righteous by offering his service to God through faith, or his blood crying for justice while the blood of Jesus speaks of mercy? To me, the latter thought seems to be the thought the writer intended to convey.
The writer then urged, “See that ye refuse not him that speaketh” (Hebrews 12:25). Those who came to the mount that could be touched (but died if they did) were terrified by the voice which spoke and begged Moses to speak to God and then to them, and that is what Moses did. And, although they promised they would do what that voice bade them, their subsequent behavior through the centuries proved they did not do what they said they would do.
The urging of the apostle warns that if those who refused to hear the voice of him who spoke on earth did not escape from that voice when they failed to hear, how do those of us who hear the voice which spoke from heaven think we can escape if we refuse to hear that voice? The writer reminded us that that voice has promised, “Yet once more will I make to tremble not the earth only but also the heaven” (Hebrews 12:26; Haggai 2:6). When that “trembling” (shaking) occurs, then all things which have been made will be removed. Thank God we have “received a kingdom which cannot be shaken. Therefore, let us have grace that we may offer service well pleasing to God with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:28-29).
Jim McDonald