Read Hebrews 12:22-24. What does Paul describe here?

Hebrews affirms that we have come to Mount Zion and participate in a great celebration. “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering” (Hebrews 12:22, ESV).

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We have come through faith in the person of our representative, Jesus. In this celebration we find an innumerable host of angels, God Himself, and Jesus, who is the center of the celebration. We come as part of the “assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven” (Hebrews 12:23, ESV). Our names are enrolled in the books of heaven, where God’s professed people are listed (Exodus 32:32, Psalm 56:8, Daniel 12:1, Malachi 3:16, Luke 10:20, Revelation 13:8, Revelation 17:8).

We are the “firstborn” because we share the inheritance of the Firstborn par excellence, Jesus (Hebrews 1:6). Thus, we have come not as guests but as citizens (compare with Philippians 3:20). We are also described as “the spirits of the righteous made perfect” (Hebrews 12:23, ESV). This expression is a figure of speech in which a dimension of our human nature stands for the whole. It is analogous to the expression “the Father of spirits” in Hebrews 12:9, which refers to God as the Father of us all, human beings who are spiritual in nature.

The festal gathering celebrates the inauguration of Jesus’ kingly rule, priestly ministry, and the inauguration of the new covenant. In Hebrews, Mount Zion is the place where all these events take place. Three of the psalms in Hebrews 1:5-14 describe the enthronement of the Son and have Mount Zion as the place where it occurred (Psalm 2:6, ; Psalm 110:1, ; Psalm 102:21-27).

Mount Zion is also the place where the Son was appointed “priest forever” (Hebrews 5:6), a quotation of Psalm 110:4. According to Psalm 110, the appointment of the Son as High Priest occurs at Mount Zion, as well (Psalm 110:2). Finally, Hebrews argues that the inauguration of Jesus’ priesthood also marks the inauguration of the new covenant (Hebrews 7:11-22). Thus, Mount Zion is also the place where the new covenant was ratified. Hebrews 12:22-24 describes, then, the festal gathering that occurred in heaven when Jesus ascended.

<–Sabbath Monday–>

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Sabbath Afternoon

Read for This Week’s Study: Hebrews 12:18–29; Exodus 32:32; Daniel 7:9-10, , Daniel 7:13-22; Haggai 2:6–9, Haggai 2:20-22; Psalm 15:5; Psalm 16:8; Hebrews 13:15-16.

Memory Text: “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear” (Hebrews 12:28, NKJV).

Hebrews 12:18-29, the passage for this week, is the climax of the letter, and it sums up its main concern by repeating the idea with which it started: God has spoken to us in the person of His Son, and we need to pay careful attention (Hebrews 1:1-2; Hebrews 12:25) to Him. The description of Jesus in Hebrews 12:22-24 epitomizes the letter’s assertions about Him: Jesus is the Mediator of the new covenant, and His blood provides salvation for believers. His priestly and royal ministry in our behalf is a cause for celebration for the heavenly hosts. And finally, Hebrews 12:25-29 contains the last and climactic exhortation: God’s judgment is coming. It will bring destruction to His enemies, but vindication and a kingdom to His people (Hebrews 12:28-29).

The ending reaffirms the importance of Jesus’ achievements at the cross and directs believers to the consummation of Jesus’ victory at the Second Coming. Paul used imagery from Daniel chapter 7 to remind the readers that Jesus has received a kingdom from God, the Judge (Daniel 7:9-14), and is going to share His kingdom with believers, “the saints of the Most High,” who will possess it forever and ever (Daniel 7:18).

Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, March 19.

Sunday–>

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