Hebrews 12:18-29 NKJV
18 For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest, 19 and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore. 20 (For they could not endure what was commanded: “And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned or shot with an arrow.” 21 And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.”)
22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.
25 See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, 26 whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” 27 Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. 29 For our God is a consuming fire.
Today we read about two mountains. The first is Mount Sinai where God gave the law to Moses. The external signs that accompanied the giving of the law—the fire, blackness and darkness and tempest—signify the effect the law has on sinners. It does not free them from condemnation. It brings condemnation upon sinners because they have not fulfilled it from the heart. After God gave the Ten Commandment, Israel said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die” (Ex 20:19). Even Moses, Israel’s mediator with God, trembled and was afraid.
The second mountain is Mount Zion, but it is not the earthly Jerusalem. Mount Zion is the heavenly Jerusalem. In this Jerusalem dwells the living God, His angels, and the saints whose names are written in heaven, who were righteous by faith while on earth, but whose spirits have been made perfect in heavenly rest. Even though it is the same God who dwells on Mount Zion as appeared at Mount Sinai, the saints do not experience the fear and dread of His wrath. Why not? Because of Jesus the Mediator of the New Testament and to the blood of sprinkling—His own blood shed on the cross—that speaks better things than Abel’s blood. Abel’s blood cried out to God for vengeance upon Cain for his sin. Christ’s blood cries out to God for the for the forgiveness and pardon of all who take refuge in Christ by faith.
Since we have come to Mount Zion—the heavenly Jerusalem, which is Christ’s church—and since this is the only kingdom which will not be shaken and destroyed on the Last Day, “Let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably and with reverence and godly fear.” This is not the servile fear which the law brings. It is reverence and godly fear which humbly confesses our sins, joyfully hears the forgiveness and pardon Jesus’ blood speaks, and serves God in willing obedience.
Let us pray: When our sins terrify us, O Lord, grant that we flee to Mount Zion to hear Your gospel and find pardon and peace from Your blood, and a joyful spirit to serve you in reverence and godly fear. Amen.