Bible Questions and Answers

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Can you explain Hebrews 12 verse 23?

Hebrews 12:18-24 For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest, 19 and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore. 20 (For they could not endure what was commanded: "And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned or shot with an arrow." 21 And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, "I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.") 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.

The writer to the Hebrews is contrasting the New Covenant in Christ with the Old Covenant made at Sinai. "Mount Zion, city of the living God, heavenly Jerusalem", are descriptive of the congregation of believers in Christ. Revelation 3:12; Revelation 21:2

"innumerable company of angels" refers to the angels who minister to the heirs of salvation. Hebrews 1:14

"the general assembly and church of the firstborn" are the 'church' of Jesus Christ who is the firstborn from the dead. Romans 8:29;Colossians 1:18

"who are registered in heaven" means their names are written in heaven. Luke 10:20

"to God the Judge of all" All will be judged by God through Jesus Christ. Romans 2:16

"to the spirits of just men made perfect" Spirit is the way that we think, in Christ we must be born again of the spirit, that is, change the way we think to the way that Christ thinks. Romans 8:9

  • "Just men" When we think like Christ we can be described as ‘just’. Hebrews 10:38
  • "made perfect" Made complete by the sacrifice of Christ. Hebrews 10:14

I hope you find this helpful.

God bless,
Glenn