You Have Come to Mount ZionYou Have Come to Mount ZionHebrews 12:22Hebrews 12:22

Background• The recipients of this epistle were in danger losing

Christ (2:1-3; 3:12-13; 4:11; 5:11; 6:4-8,12; 10:25; 12:15; 13:9)

• The author used several approaches to encourage his readers not to fall away (13:22)

• One approach the author used was to focus on the privileges and blessings that Christians had over the Jews of the OT: an argument from the lesser to the great (12:18-29)

• What do Christians have that others do not? Consider eight Christian privileges!

You Have Come to Mount Zion• Mount Zion is first a reference to the physical mount

of Jerusalem (2 Sam. 5:6-9; Isa. 2:2-3; Joel 2:32; etc.)

• Mount Zion is also a reference to the spiritual house of God ruled by Christ now and in heaven (Psa. 2:6; Mt. 21:5; Isa. 28:16; Rom. 9:33; 1 Pet. 2:6)

• The Jews had a physical mountain to avoid (Ex. 19:18-19; Deut. 4:11; 5:22ff), but Christians have a heavenly city to approach (Psa. 132:13; Gal. 4:25-26; Heb. 11:10; 13:14; Rev. 3:12; 14:1; 21:1-3)

Myriads of Angels• The Jews and been given the law through angels

(Deut. 33:2; Acts 7:53; Gal. 3:19; Heb. 2:2)

• Christians have angels that minister to them (Heb. 2:13-14), to judge for them (Jude 14), and to praise God with them (Dan. 7:10; Rev. 5:11)

Church of the Firstborn• The Jews had a physical nation and annual

assemblies, but Christians have a church (called out) assembly and spiritual family (Mt. 16:18; Acts 20:28)

• The Jews were born into a nation, but Christians are born again into the body of Christ (Jn. 3:3-5)

• The Jews had a physical lineage, but Christians have their names enrolled in heaven (Lk. 10:20; Phil. 4:3; Rev. 3:5; 13:8; 17:8; 20:12,15; 21:27)

God the Judge of All• God will judge all mankind through Jesus Christ

(Acts 17:30-31; see Psa. 9:8; 96:13; 98:9)

• Christians need to remember that they will one day stand before the “Judge of all” (Heb. 4:13; 10:30-31; Rom. 2:1-16)

– His judgment is justified

– His judgment is fixed

– His judgment is impartial

– His judgment is universal

– His judgment is total

Spirits of Just Men Made Perfect• The Jews were incomplete without Jesus Christ

• Christians can be just (righteous) and perfect (complete) in Jesus Christ (Heb. 10:14; 13:21; Col. 1:28)

Jesus the Mediator of a New Covenant• The Jewish system of the Old Covenant was done

away (7:15,18; 8:7-8,13; 9:15; 10:9) when Jesus died on the cross (Jer. 31:31; Eph. 2:14; Col. 3:14)

• The Christian system of the New Covenant contains better things (hope – 7:19; promises – 8:6; sacrifice – 9:23; possession – 10:34; country – 11:16; resurrection – 11:35; blood – 12:24)

• The new covenant gives life (2 Cor. 3:6) and is remembered each first day of the week (Lk. 22:20; 1 Cor. 11:25)

Sprinkling of Blood• The Jews had much blood shed under the OT, but

that blood could not forgive sins; only remind of sins (10:1-4)

• Christians have the blood of Jesus that forgives (9:12-14; 10:19-22) through obedience (1 Pet. 1:2)

• The blood of Abel cries out for judgment (Gen. 4:10-11), but the blood of Christ cries out for reconciliation and peace (Col. 1:20)

A Kingdom Which Cannot Be Shaken• The Jews had a kingdom that was shaken more than

once (2 Kings 17; 2 Kings 25; Daniel 11; Matthew 24)

• Christians have an everlasting kingdom that will never fall (Dan. 2:44; Mt. 16:18; Jn. 18:36)

What Must Christians Do?• Hear God: let us keep listening to God and his

warning (12:25; see 1:1-2; 2:3)

• Appreciate God: let us continue having thankfulness toward God (12:28; see 13:9)

• Worship God: let us continue offering service well-pleasing to God with reverence and awe (12:28; see 5:7; 10:24-25; 11:7)