Hebrews 12:22-24

The mercy of the new. Hebrews 12:22-24.

Text

Hebrews 12:22-24

Hebrews 12:22 but ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable hosts of angels, Hebrews 12:23 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 just men made perfect, Hebrews 12:24 and to Jesus the Mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better than that of Abel.

Paraphrase

Hebrews 12:22 But ye shall come to a place which I call Mount Zion, because there God will appear to you, not in the terribleness of His Greatness as on Sinai, but in the beauties of His goodness; and instead of being brought to any earthly city to worship, ye shall be brought to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and in your worship shall associate with ten thousands of angels;

Hebrews 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the Firstborn, brought from the different parts of the universe to worship God. These are enrolled in heaven as citizens. And, instead of standing afar off, as your fathers did at Sinai, ye shall come near to God the supreme Ruler of the whole universe, and to the spirits of just men made perfect by their union with their glorified bodies, and their introduction into heaven.

Hebrews 12:24 And to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to His blood, which is the true blood of sprinkling typified by the Levitical sprinklings, and which, by crying for mercy to penitents, speaketh better things than the blood of Abel, which cried for vengeance on his murderer.

Comment

But ye are come into Mount Zion

Ye are come unto Mount Zion is in contrast to Mount Sinai.

a.

They had a mount that they had to avoid.

b.

We have a mount that we can approach.

c.

McKnight: But ye shall come, making it future. Mount Zion.

a.

Mount Zion stands for grace, and not a literal mountain.

b.

Mount Zion is a part of the hill of Jerusalem, and being the seat of both the royal and sacerdotal authority it was properly called the holy hill of Zion. Psalms 2:6.

c.

No Gentile ever came before Mount Zion, except as he came as a Jewish proselyte or to plunder or to destroy.

and unto the city of the living God the heavenly Jerusalem

Zion is spoken of as being the habitation of God. Psalms 132:13, This is the celestial city that Abraham looked for. Hebrews 11:10. This city is described in Revelation 21:22. I understand it to be the Jerusalem above as Paul taught in Galatians 4:26.

We are come unto it, but our bodies not yet redeemed. We have not seen the new city except by faith.

and to innumerable hosts of angels

The throne of God seems to have great numbers of angels present. See Revelation 5:11; the number was thousands of thousands. It is to such a place of praise that we shall some day come; not to praise the angels, but the object of the angels-' praise.

to the general assembly

Milligan says: Here it denotes the joyful and multitudinous assembly of angels around the throne of God, who there forever celebrate His praises. See Revelation 5:11; Revelation 7:11-12.

a.

This makes it a festive assembly of angels.

b.

This rules out that our assembly on earth is meant.

If all thus far is future, then let us assume that the general assembly will someday be held, when Christ gathers His faithful from the ends of the earth.

church of the Firstborn

We, of course, have come to the church already, being members of it; but is this what he meant?

a.

McKnight says this refers only to those pious Israelites of all ages who by faith deserve to be called God's firstborn.

b.

Milligan says it refers to the church on earth.

1.

He quotes James 1:18 to show we are first fruits.

2.

All its members are honored with this title, he says.

c.

Calvin says it refers to the patriarchs and renowned saints of the earthly church.

d.

Newell says Israel is the firstborn of earth, but the church is the first fruits of heaven.

I prefer to allow the church to mean the called out that will someday be called into the great assembly. This is church future, not church present.

Christ wears the title Firstborn, Romans 8:29, and the church is His.

who are enrolled in heaven

God does the writing, for we can-'t climb or fly to the book to do the writing. It is a source of joy to have the privilege of having our name there. Luke 10:20 and Philippians 4:3.

Some prefer to have their names in social registers, so-called churches, lodges, etc., than on the church of the firstborn.

and to God the Judge of all

Who does judge? This is a big subject.

a.

God will judge the sinners.

1.

Hebrews 13:4: God will judge adulterers.

2.

Romans 2:16: God will judge the secrets of men.

b.

The saints will likewise do some judging.

1.

1 Corinthians 6:2: will judge the world.

2.

1 Corinthians 6:3: will judge the angels.

3.

Compare Revelation 20:4.

The problem of judgment is God'S. It will be just how He planned it.

a.

We have come to Him already, and He no longer is our Judge but our. Saviour.

b.

In a sense He is our Judge, so let this inspire fear on our part to do His will.

and to the spirit of just men made perfect

This refers to our heavenly position, Are there any spirits made perfect there now?

a.

What God does with a spirit after death is His business, and I am confident that it is fair and just, But I do not know.

b.

I agree with 1 John 3:2: It is not yet manifested.

1.

John says, What we shall be.

2.

I add my own ignorance, When it shall be.

and to Jesus the Mediator of a new covenant

What covenant is this?

a.

Newell says this is not the better covenant of Chapter Eight, but the new covenant with Israel which lies in the future with Israel.

b.

Here Newell is in error.

1.

The characteristics of the covenant are the same; they must be the same.

2.

Jesus only spoke of one covenant, on the night of His betrayal, and He calls it a new covenant. Luke 22:19-20.

3.

In Hebrews 13:20 the covenant is spoken of as an eternal covenant, and surely he means the same covenant as in Chapter Eight.

4.

In Hebrews 8:7 he speaks of the old being replaced by the second, but does not mention a third covenant.

The covenant is the one by which the blood of Jesus will save all men, and to Whom He acts as Mediator.

and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better than that of Abel

Abel's sacrifice speaks, according to Hebrews 11:4.

a.

Abel's sacrifice by faith spoke, saying that it pays to be obedient. In a sense, it is a warning.

b.

Abel's sacrifice is not meant here, but his blood.

What does Abel's blood speak?

a.

Genesis 4:10-11 says, Brother's blood crieth.

b.

The blood of Abel called for judgment.

What does this blood speak that is greater?

a.

Newell says it speaks of judgment past forever and of eternal peace.

b.

The popular idea is that the blood of Abel speaks a call for mercy.

c.

Milligan: Abel's blood speaks well, but Christ's speaks better.

d.

If the following verses are considered, we might say this blood speaks a greater warningrefuse not. Hebrews 12:25.

No one questions that the blood is that of Christ.

a.

Christ's blood speaks better because it avails pardon for sin.

b.

His blood cries out, The atonement is made.

Study Questions

2656.

Contrast the Christian's mountain with Moses-' mountain.

2657.

Is our mountain figurative or literal?

2658.

What is the name of our mountain?

2659.

What was the location of Mount Zion?

2660.

What did it represent?

2661.

What else does the Christian have a right to approach?

2662.

Compare other verses that speak of Zion. Cf. Psalms 132:13; Hebrews 11:10; Revelation 21:22; Galatians 4:26.

2663.

Is this verse to be interpreted as past tense, present, or future?

2664.

How do we see the city? Like Abraham? Hebrews 11:10.

2665.

When does the heavenly Jerusalem take place, according to Revelation?

2666.

If this is present, how may we explain that we are in the midst of angels?

2667.

How numerous are God's angels? Revelation 5:11.

2668.

Does it say into Mount Zion or unto?

2669.

How many are 12 legions of angels?

2670.

Is this general assembly that of angels or men?

2671.

Is it an earthly assembly?

2672.

What is the description of the church here?

2673.

What is meant by Firstborn?

2674.

Is this the church on earth?

2675.

If all of the other expressions refer to future experiences, can we assume that the church on earth is referred to here?

2676.

Does Christ wear the title Firstborn? Romans 8:29.

2677.

Who all will be in His church?

2678.

Who enrolls men in heaven?

2679.

Compare Luke 10:20 and Philippians 4:3.

2680.

If God writes our name, what can we do to cause God to write it there?

2681.

Do men seem to prefer other registers?

2682.

If God is Judge, do we come to Him?

2683.

Will the Christian come to Him?

2684.

Do we come to Him to be judged? Do we come to Him as Judge or Savior?

2685.

Will Christians do any judging?

2686.

Compare 1 Corinthians 6:2-3; Revelation 20:4.

2687.

What is meant by spirits?

2688.

Could this refer to our heavenly position or to our state now as Christians?

2689.

If we have already come to Mount Zion, the new Jerusalem, how may we explain, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, in Hebrews 12:23 when we know none are perfect?

2690.

If none are perfect on earth now, can we interpret this whole message as present action?

2691.

Is this covenant the one of which we are a part?

2692.

How many new covenants are there? Is there one for Jews and one for Gentiles?

2693.

Is the one in Chapter Eight the same here and in Hebrews 13:20?

2694.

How many covenants did Jesus teach? Cf. Luke 22:19-20.

2695.

What is the purpose of the covenant? To save from sin or to get Jews back to Jerusalem?

2696.

What did Abel's blood sacrifice speak?

2697.

What adjectives are used to describe the covenant?

2698.

What is meant by, we are come to the blood of sprinkling?

2699.

Whose blood is sprinkled?

2700.

Why is the word sprinkled used?

2701.

Could it be figurative that Christ is our Passover?

2702.

Is Abel's blood, or Abel's sacrifice, referred to here?

2703.

If his sacrifice is meant, what does it speak?

2704.

From where did Abel's blood speak?

2705.

Could it be that Abel speaks, and not his blood or sacrifice?

2706.

Which could do a better job of speaking, Abel's blood or Abel's sacrifice?