Collierville First Baptist Church

Session #31—Hebrews 12:18-24

The book of Hebrews makes frequent comparisons between the old covenant

and the new covenant to demonstrate the vast superiority of the privileges and

benefits believers enjoy in the new covenant. Tonight we come to another one of

those powerful comparisons. This time the symbolism involves two mountains.

Mount Sinai is something like Jacob’s stew, while Mount Zion is like Esau’s

birthright. The birthright and its blessings were vastly better, but these were

future and thus “unseen.”

The revelation of God to Israel at Mount Sinai was seen, heard, smelled (the

smoke), and felt (the earthquakes). The law that was given set forth God’s

conditions for Israel’s enjoyment of an earthly kingdom. Judaism clung to Sinai,

Moses, and the Old Covenant because it seemed to offer a more immediate and

more visible kingdom.

Mount Zion, on the other hand, represents a spiritual city (“the heavenly

Jerusalem”) and thus a spiritual kingdom. Mount Zion represents all that

Christians hope for in the next life and that for which they are willing to make

great sacrifices in this life. Just as Esau had to make a choice between a bowl of

stew and God’s promised blessings, so the Jewish readers had to choose between

a present, earthly, Jewish kingdom (Mount Sinai) with its earthly temple, or God’s

promised eternal kingdom (Mount Zion).

This passage provides a fascinating and frightening warning of

God’s judgment. Every human being will be judged by the law or by

grace, by his own works or by Christ’s work, by the provisions of

Mount Sinai or by the provisions of Mount Zion.

God has two sets of books. One set contains the names of those who have

rejected the Lord Jesus Christ. The other set records the names of those who

have received the Lord Jesus Christ by faith.

1October 30, 2024

CFBC… Wednesday Night Study

Hebrews 12:18–19a… 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.”

Vs. 18—The word for requires the reader to look backward. It grounds what the

author is about to say in what he has just finished saying in verses 12–17. Esau

was a man who lacked faith in God, and thus he made his choices based on what

he could see and smell and taste. The mention of Esau and his rejection in the

previous verse leads the writer to speak of the judgments of the Old Testament

(covenant) as opposed to the blessings of the New Testament (covenant).

Vs. 18b-19a— The Old Covenant was associated with Mount Sinai because that

is where God spoke to Moses when that covenant was instituted. It was a

covenant of law, of judgment, and of fear. It said, “Do this, or do not do that, or

you will be judged.” In some cases it said, “Do not do this, or you will die.”1

Sinai was a physical mountain, and therefore was able to be touched and seen.

The Old Covenant was the foundational covenant which supplied the elementary

principles of God’s nature, will, and standards. It was therefore given and was to

be obeyed.

2 In preparation for giving the law, the Lord God enacted some clear

expectations (Exodus 19:1-17). The people were…

▪ to consecrate themselves by washing their clothes (v. 10)

▪ to abstain from sexual relations (v. 15)

▪ to avoid even touching the mountain (v. 12)

It was a unique day in human history. The demonstration of God’s power was

through the physical means of thunder, lightning, thick clouds, loud trumpet

sounds, fire, smoke, and violent trembling of the earth (16–18). These

remarkable signs were designed to convince the people of the absolute

unapproachableness of God. No defiled sinner could come near and witness His

holiness and live. 3

Hebrews 12:19b-21… 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.”

The Jewish people gathered at Mt. Sinai were gripped with fear and sheer terror

(Exodus 20:18-21). Moses assured them that if they had the proper fear of God

and if they obeyed Him they would have no reason to be terrified. All of this was

intended to give them a desire to avoid sin at all costs!

The God of Sinai is truly a God to be feared, a God of judgment and of

punishment. The writer of Hebrews is saying to his readers, “If you go back to

Judaism, you are going back to a covenant of law, fear, judgment, and death.”4

2 Corinthians 3:7–8… But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved on

stones, came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently

at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was, 8

how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory?

John MacArthur stated…

At Sinai, sinful and unforgiven man stands before an infinitely holy and

perfectly just God. Guilty, vile, and undeserving of forgiveness, he has

nothing to expect from Sinai but God’s condemnation. The symbols of

Sinai are darkness, fire, trembling, and trumpets of judgment. For an

unforgiven sinner, “It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the

living God” (Heb. 10:31). There is good reason to fear at the foot of Sinai.

The purpose of the Law was to bring the people face to face with their

own sinfulness and to show them their need for the Savior. 5

Even Moses, to whom God had spoken through the fiery bush and through whom

He had challenged Pharaoh, could not stand at Sinai without fear.

Galatians 3:10… For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a

curse; for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS

WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM.”

Partial obedience will not cut it with the one true God who is infinitely holy! That

brings us to another mountain, Mount Zion.

Hebrews 12:22–24… 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 David conquered the Jebusites and placed the ark on Mount Zion, this

mountain was considered to be the earthly dwelling place of God.

Psalm 132:13–14… For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His

habitation. 14 “This is My resting place forever; Here I will dwell, for I

have desired it.”

When Solomon moved the ark to the Temple, which was built on nearby Mt.

Moriah, the name Zion was extended to include that area as well. Before long,

Zion became synonymous with Jerusalem, and Jerusalem was therefore the city

of God.

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▪ Sinai symbolizes law and Zion symbolizes grace.

▪ Sinai confronts with commandments, judgment, and condemnation. Zion

presents forgiveness, atonement, and salvation.

▪ Sinai was forbidding and terrifying. Zion is inviting and gracious.

▪ Sinai was covered by clouds and darkness; Zion is the city of light.

▪ Sinai stands for judgment and death; Zion for forgiveness and life.

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The kingdom of God is inaugurated (already) though not consummated (not yet).

In other words, Christians can experience, in part, the fulfillment of God’s

promises even as they await the complete experience of those promises in the

new creation. This is the tension we feel between this age and the age to come.

In coming to Mount Zion—that is, by becoming a Christian—we receive seven

blessings…

1. The City of God

This is heaven, the city Abraham was looking for (Hebrews 11:10, 14-17). From

the moment we are born again, heaven is our home (Philippians 3:20-21).

Colossians 3:2… Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that

are on earth.

Romans 8:17–18… and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow

heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be

glorified with Him. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present

time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed

to us.

The heavenly Jerusalem excels its earthly counterpart, for sin and death are

banished eternally in heaven; the city has no need of sun or moon, “for the glory

of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp” (Rev. 21:1-7, 23). The living God

lives among his people forever.8

2. Myriads of Angels

“Myriads” refers to a great, indefinite number. Picture this massive number of

angels in festive clothing gathered in worship around the throne of God

(Revelation 4-5).

Daniel 7:9–10… “I kept looking Until thrones were set up, And the

Ancient of Days took His seat; His vesture was like white snow And the

hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was ablaze with flames, Its

wheels were a burning fire. 10 “A river of fire was flowing And coming

out from before Him; Thousands upon thousands were attending Him,

And myriads upon myriads were standing before Him; The court sat, And

the books were opened.”

3. The General Assembly and Church of the First-born

In one sense, the author is referring to the examples of faith in Hebrews 11,

those who trusted Christ even before his incarnation. The author tells Jewish

believers then—along with believers today—that they are united in faith with

those who have gone before them, with the firstborn enrolled in heaven (“You

have come”). We have already joined with the congregation of the firstborn who

are enrolled in heaven. This is the church eternal and the church universal.

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The first-born is able to lay claim to the inheritance. Christ is therefore the heir,

and we are coheirs with him (Rom. 8:17). We value our birthright, whereas Esau

despised it (Heb. 12:16). We are first-born because of Christ who makes us holy,

and we who are made holy belong to the same family (Heb. 2:11).

4. God, the Judge of All

Imagine the day in which all human beings in the history of humanity will be

judged. For those who are judged because of their sin and their rejection of the

Lord Jesus Christ the day of judgment will be a day of unmitigated horror. Eternal

hell stands on the other side of that day.

Revelation 20:11–15… Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat

upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place

was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small,

standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book

was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from

the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. 13

And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave

up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of

them according to their deeds. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown

into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if

anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown

into the lake of fire.

For those who have turned to Jesus Christ in repentance and faith, the day of

judgment will be a day of unmitigated glory. Eternity with the infinitely righteous,

gracious, and merciful God stands on the other side of that day. The author of

Hebrews talks about this day as if we’re already there. We’re already standing

before his throne.10

5. The Spirits of the Righteous Made Perfect

This refers to all who come to Mount Zion. There will be no one who is imperfect

or unrighteous in heaven. Our righteousness and perfection are derived

completely from the imputed righteousness of Christ. His perfection is our

perfection. His righteousness is our righteousness. There is no human

righteousness in Zion. There is only Christ’s righteousness.11 We will not be

inferior to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Elijah, Peter, James, John, etc. Glory to

God!

6. Jesus, the Mediator of a New Covenant

In earlier chapters the writer explained the covenant (7:22; 8:6, 8–12; 9:4, 15–17,

20; 10:16, 29); once more he reminds the readers that Jesus is the mediator of a

new covenant. He purposely uses the name Jesus (His redemptive name—

Matthew 1:21). As mediator of the new covenant…

▪ Jesus calls the believer to joyful and thankful obedience

▪ He removes the burden of guilt and cleanses the sinner’s conscience

▪ He grants him the gift of eternal life

▪ He functions as intercessor on behalf of His people.12

7. The Sprinkled Blood

When Moses confirmed the first covenant at Mount Sinai, he sprinkled blood on

the altar, the scroll, the people, and even the tabernacle (Exod. 24:6–8; Heb.

9:17–22). Sprinkled blood signified forgiveness of sin. Jesus inaugurated the new

covenant by shedding his blood once for all at Golgotha. Because of that

sprinkled blood, believers enter the presence of God as forgiven sinners (Heb.

10:22; 1 Peter 1:2).

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The comparison between the blood of Abel and the blood of Christ sets up quite

the contrast. Abel’s blood is the blood of a martyr that called for revenge. The

blood of Jesus is the blood of the Lamb of God who “takes away the sin of the

world” (John 1:29).