Page 22 - November 2025 - Truth & Tidings

The Privilege to Be place of His holy sanctuary, rest and habi-
Appreciated (12:18-24) tation among His people (11:10,16; cf. Zec
8:3; Rev 21:1-23). Sinai was attended by a
Commencing with “for” (or “because”), band of angels for the giving of the Law
verses 18-24 provide the reason for the and its fearful judgments (cf. 2:2; Act 7:53;
foregoing exhortations and imperatives. Gal 3:19), whereas Zion hosts a festive
The section is punctuated by the conjunc- gathering of “an innumerable company
tion “but” (v22), which marks the stark of angels.” At Sinai, Jehovah’s firstborn
contrast between the position of those son and “church in the wilderness” stood
who heard the voice of God at Sinai and preeminent above all the nations of earth
the infinitely superior position, privilege in favour, rank and honour (Exo 4:22;
and prospects of sons of God who come Deu 7:6; Act 7:38; cf. Isa 60:12), and is thus
under the sound of God’s Word today. typical of “the church of the firstborn”
The verb “ye are come unto” (v22) is in ones (plural) registered in heaven (cf. Rev
the perfect tense (i.e., “you have come 22:19) – above all else in heaven and on
to”). This means that the Hebrews (and earth, filled with all the fulness of God,
we too), by virtue of new birth and union and to the praise of His glory throughout
with Christ, are reckoned to have entered eternity (Eph 1:10-14; 3:21).
the heavenly scene already (cf. Eph 1:20; We have come to “God, the judge of
2:6). The writer’s argument is not so much all.” From this truth stem two aspects
the distinctions between the Old and New that, if kept before the mind, will impel
Covenants (although these are appreciable us to serve with “reverence and godly
from the text), but that the One who spoke fear.” Firstly, “we must all appear before
to Israel at Sinai is speaking to us from the judgment seat of Christ” (2Co 5:10-
heaven today (cf. 1:1-2). 11). Secondly, privilege is granted to the
At Sinai, God manifested His greatness faithful to share in Christ’s authority to
and holiness with awesome and terrifying judge, reign and rule over all things (Luk
wonders (Exo 19:16-19; 20:18-23; Deu 5:22- 12:42-44; 1Co 6:2-3; Rev 2:26-27; 3:21; 20:6).
26). The people were filled with dreadful We take “spirits of just men made perfect”
fear and forbidden to draw near. The to mean OT saints presently perfected
scene was so terrifying that even Moses in their spiritual state, yet still awaiting
said, “I am exceedingly afraid and full of their bodily resurrection and promised
trembling” (v21 JND). There, God spoke inheritance (cf. 11:40; Luk 14:14). Jesus
to them with “the sound of a trumpet, stands infinitely superior to Moses as the
and the voice of words,” and they “heard Mediator of a New Covenant since He is
… the word … spoken to them” and that eternal, is in heaven, has put away sin,
“which was commanded” (vv19-20). Not provides for the forgiveness of sins, and
being able to “endure” the command- has purged our conscience (7:22-24; 8:1-6;
ments given, the people “intreated” (or 9:14-15). His “blood of sprinkling” speaks
“refused,” v25) “that the word should not better than that of Abel, for it speaks from
be spoken to them any more” (vv19-20). heaven and not earth (9:12; 11:4; Gen 4:10),
But! The child of God has come to Zion, is the basis for ratifying and enacting the
God’s eternal dwelling place (cf. Psa New Covenant (9:16-22), and avails re-
132:13-14; Joh 14:2). As “the city of the liv- demption, forgiveness, justification, peace
ing God, the heavenly Jerusalem,” it is the and open access to His presence (Eph 1:7;

342 TRUTH kTidings November 2025