Lesson 4965

 (Lesson 4965) (09-04-25) Hebrews 12:18-29 

   “For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.” 

 

   Today’s lesson contrasts the old covenant at Mount Sinai with the new covenant in Christ. Whereas the Jews under the law came to Sinai, a mountain of fear, fire, darkness, and judgment, a place that even made Moses tremble. Believers now come to Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant, whose shed blood speaks all that is required. The passage warns not to refuse God’s voice, for if those who rejected Him at Sinai did not escape His wrath, much more will His judgment fall on those who reject Him now? In short, this passage shows that through faith in Christ believers have access to grace and an unshakable and eternal kingdom in heaven. ~