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Hebrews 12

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

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.

What does Hebrews 12:22 mean?

Explanation

Hebrews 12:22 contrasts the experience of the Israelites at Mount Sinai with the believer's approach to spiritual "Mount Zion." While Mount Sinai was marked by fear and physical danger due to the presence of God and the giving of the Law, Mount Zion represents a welcoming and joyful assembly.

This verse paints a picture of the New Covenant relationship where believers come to the “heavenly Jerusalem,” which signifies the spiritual realm or heaven itself.

The verse serves to comfort and encourage believers by reminding them of their ultimate destination and the company of heaven that is awaiting them, composed of God himself, countless angels, and the spirits of righteous people made perfect.

Top Rated Hebrews Books

Historical Context

The Epistle to the Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians, likely before the destruction of the Jerusalem temple in AD 70.

The book’s primary aim is to show the supremacy of Christ and the New Covenant over the Old Covenant.

The historical context distinguishes between the Law given to Moses at Mount Sinai and the grace and redemption offered through Jesus Christ.

The "heavenly Jerusalem" refers to a spiritual inheritance that is in contrast to the physical city of Jerusalem that was central to the Jewish faith.

Theological Insights

The verse offers theological insights on several fronts:

Supersessionism: This view holds that the New Covenant replaces the Old Covenant, and the church inherits the promises made to Israel, with “Mount Zion” symbolizing the ultimate promise of God's presence.
Eschatology: The verse refers to ultimate realities, including the end times and the believer's final destination in the presence of God.
Angels: The mention of "an innumerable company of angels" touches on the role of angels in heavenly worship and demonstrates the grand and celestial nature of the believer's final home.

Practical Applications

Encouragement in Trials: Knowing the glorious future can provide hope and encouragement when facing difficulties.
Faithful Living: Believers are called to live in a manner worthy of their heavenly calling.
Worship and Communion: Awareness of this spiritual reality inspires deeper worship, recognizing that believers join with a heavenly chorus even now.
Unity of Believers: The idea of gathering together with all saints encourages unity among Christians.

Cross-References

Revelation 21:2: "And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband."
Galatians 4:26: "But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all."
Hebrews 12:18-21: The passage describes the terrifying encounter at Mount Sinai and contrasts it with Mount Zion.

Language Study

The key terms in this verse include:

Mount Sion (Zion): Often used symbolically for the City of God or the heavenly kingdom.
City of the living God: Indicates a dwelling place characterized by the presence and permanence of God.
Heavenly Jerusalem: A term signifying the spiritual city or abode of God as distinct from the earthly Jerusalem.
Innumerable: From the Greek "murias," which can mean countless or too many to count, emphasizing the vastness.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In ancient cultures, mountains were often seen as sacred spaces where gods dwelt.

Mount Zion in Judaism is the holy hill where the temple was built.

By comparing Mount Zion to the spiritual realm, Hebrews aligns with the tradition of seeing mountains as gateways to the divine, yet it redirects the focus from a physical location to a spiritual one.

Scientific Perspectives

This verse does not directly relate to scientific perspectives as it uses metaphorical language to communicate spiritual reality.

However, the mention of an "innumerable company of angels" has been a point of discussion in both the philosophy of religion and theoretical physics, considering the existence of other dimensions and beings.

Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary: Henry sees this verse as presenting the glorious state of the New Testament Church.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary: This source emphasizes the contrast between the terror at Sinai and the joyful gathering at spiritual Zion.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible: Barnes interprets this verse as a description of the final glorious condition of the followers of the Redeemer.

Hebrews 12

Hebrews 12

What does Hebrews 12:22 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Hebrews Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Hebrews 12:22 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Hebrews Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?