Hebrews 12:18 Commentary and Bible Study

This brings us into an almost rhapsodic passage with remarkable contrasts and comparisons. The writer is giving reasons why we must live holy lives, and admonish one another (verses 14-15). He is encouraging his readers by reminding them of the terms of the new covenant which are so much more comforting and strengthening than the terms of the old covenant made on Sinai. The great comparison or contrast running through these wonderful verses is this: we stand before God either on the basis of the law or of grace. If we are to stand on the basis of law, that is his holy law, the Ten Commandments, then we must keep them, and satisfy his holiness and his righteous demands. That is terrifying. The law was given in great splendour, but such terrifying splendour, on Mount Sinai. The people had to stand afar off and it made them quake with fear. That is the basis on which we must please God, if we will not have his mercy, and his free forgiveness, and the grace of God that comes to us through Jesus Christ.This contrast has been there throughout the epistle. Even those people who were present at Mount Sinai when the law was given, had two things put before them. In effect they were told, it is hopeless to think you can satisfy God’s righteous demands through the law – you are unholy, you are sinful, you cannot live a perfect life. In recognition of that impossibility, the giving of the law was accompanied by thunders and lightnings and earthquake, because the demands of the law should frighten us. The law shows us the holiness and the glory of God and our unfitness to approach him. The law does not tolerate failure. But there is another way we may approach God. We may hear his voice of mercy, his kind voice of free forgiveness that tells us about Christ, who has satisfied all the demands of the law for us. This contrast is ever before human beings. If we ignore God, we come under the law. If we feel we are good enough, we come under the law, and we should be frightened by its thundering.Sinai, the giving of the law to Moses, was for the people a magnificent scene, but a scene which struck terror into the hearts of those who were present. You have not come to that physical, material Mount Sinai. You have come to a different presentation by God of his grace and his mercy. That was physical and material, but you have come to a spiritual message, a message of pardon and forgiveness. You can have transformation within your hearts; you can have that invisible, wonderful quality of spiritual life and communion with God given to you. Sinai burned with fire, blackness, darkness, tempest. The mount was all smoke, mystery, terror. But the message of the gospel is clear, no mystery about it, so clear, so kind. The mountain of Sinai repelled, frightened. The people stood afar off and did not, could not possibly draw near. But with the gospel, the very sound of the gospel is, ‘Come and have your sins forgiven. Come and have mercy from God. Come and have new life and walk with him.’ The two messages are so different.Of course the people in olden times also had the gospel message. Do not be misled by the crude notion that the Jewish people were saved by their works, whereas in the New Testament we are saved freely. Any Israelite who was saved was saved by grace alone also. The two systems were ever there, side by side. If you will not have the kindness and mercy of God, you will be judged by his law, or else you can come to him, and seek free pardon and forgiveness through the Messiah, who was to come. Mount Sinai repelled; the gospel draws.