Hebrews 12:18-29
Dear RTB’ers,
For a better understanding, we need to read Hebrews as if we are 1st-century Jewish Christians, especially those 1st-century Jewish Christians who might be considering going back to their old ways. That seems to be the group to whom the author is writing. Consider: For you have not come to …[Mount Sinai]…, But you have come to Mount Zion …, the heavenly Jerusalem, and … to Jesus, … and to [His shed] blood… (vv. 18-24, slightly edited). The author is asking his audience not to consider returning to temple worship and synagogue gatherings, but to look forward and upward to their new life in Jesus. He even offers them a warning, See that you do not refuse Him Who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth (God at Mount Sinai), much less will we escape if we reject Him who warns from heaven. (v. 25) Instead, …be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken. (v. 28a)
I doubt that any of us are thinking of going back to our “old ways”. But are we moving forward, daily even, to new ways? New prayer and praise, new Bible study, new evangelization, new service, new thankfulness? Therefore let us be grateful … and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship… (v. 28a)
Blessings!