The Glorious Company

Topic: Resources
Passage: Hebrews 12:16–24

May 27, 2020

Commentary

In these few verses the writer encourages his readers to depend on the Lord as he urges them to look by faith in two directions:

  1. Look back – Here we see the bad example of Esau (vv. 16-17). Esau was a person who lived for the world and not for God. He came in from the field hungry and sold his birthright to Jacob for a share of the food which he was preparing. He was more concerned about money than in his own birthright, and so he  sold it to Jacob. (Sound familiar in today’s world?)  He was a congenial sort of fellow, a good hunter, and a man who loved his father. He would  have  made a fine neighbor, but he had no time for God. The story of Esau shows us that mistakes and sins often have lasting consequences (Gen. 25:29-34). Even repentance and forgiveness does not always eliminate sin’s consequences. How often do we make decisions based on what we want now, rather than on what we need in the long run?
  2. Look up – A contrast is made between the giving of the law at Mount Sinai and the blessings of the church in heavenly Mount Zion (vv. 18-24). Mount Sinai represents the Old Covenant of law while Mount Zion represents the New Covenant of grace.  What a contrast between how the people are terrified in their approach to God at Mount Sinai and their joyful approach at Mount Zion! What a difference Jesus makes!  Before Jesus came God often seemed threatening, but after He came and lived and died, the God who seemed very far and distant was brought near and the way opened to His presence.

Application

With the resources available to me through Christ there is no reason for me to fail. With all He has available to me, who can defeat me? I can’t depend on myself, but I can depend on Him.

Hebrews 12:16– 24 (NET)

16 And see to it that no one becomes an immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that later when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no opportunity for repentance, although he sought the blessing with tears. 18 For you have not come to something that can be touched, to a burning fire and darkness and gloom and a whirlwind 19 and the blast of a trumpet and a voice uttering words such that those who heard begged to hear no more. 20 For they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.” 21 In fact, the scene was so terrifying that Moses said, “I shudder with fear.” 22 But you have come to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the assembly 23 and congregation of the firstborn, who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous, who have been made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks of something better than Abel’s does.