Two Mountains

The writer returns to the main theme of the book: the better covenant. What we see in this section is a comparison between the two covenants. The intention of the writer is for the Hebrew Christians to recognize how much better the new covenant is so they will not return to the old one.

The covenants are linked to two separate mountains: Mount Sinai and Mount Zion.

Sinai represents the old covenant

Zion represents the new covenant

v. 18 “For you have not come” When they came to Christ they did not come to the Law. They left a system that failed to make them righteous for Christ who makes them righteous.

The two covenants are different. You can’t live in both the Old and New Covenants simultaneously. Those who had come to Christ needed to recognize that. It was either the Law or Christ that made them righteous.

Now we see a description of the Old Covenant.

Given to Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19 & 20).

It was a physical covenant “may be touched”. It could be seen with the eyes and experienced with the senses.

In that sense it is different from the new:

Spiritual

By faith

Future promise

The writer describes what the Israelites experienced when God gave the Law to Moses at Mount Sinai.

A blazing fire- According to Exodus 19:18 the mountain was engulfed in flames. It says the Lord descended on the mountain and it was “wrapped in smoke.”

Darkness and gloom enveloped the mountains. Deut. 4:11 says there was “darkness, clouds, thick darkness.”

A strong wind blew “tempest”.

v. 19 A trumpet blew (often a sound of war/calamity).

God’s voice was heard. This scared the people so much they did not want to hear the voice of God spoken to them anymore (Deut. 5:23-27).

The imagery given is one of judgment: fire, darkness, strong wind.

God’s Law condemns us.

God tells us His Law.

We have broken God’s Law.

We are guilty before God.

Romans 3:20 says:

For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

v. 20 They were even commanded not to touch the mountain. If they or even an animal touched it they were to be stoned to death or shot with a dart (Exodus 19:12-13).

In the Old Covenant God put distance between Himself and the people. The lesson to be learned was sin has separated us from God.

God gave the Law to show His people how sinful they were. To try and approach God through the Law was an insult to Him. It was to declare oneself righteous through works.

v. 21 Even Moses trembled with fear. He was the one the law was given to. He was allowed to go on the mountain. God spoke directly to him.

If God’s chosen servant trembled at the Law how could anyone else not tremble at it?

If the Hebrew Christians returned to the Old Covenant this was what they had to look forward to. Fear would be their only option. They would do no better than Moses did.

v. 22 Now we move from Sinai to Zion. Zion was originally a fortress captured by David (2 Samuel 5:6-9). Jerusalem, located in Zion, became the capital of the nation. It later became descriptive of a larger area that included Jerusalem.

Here Mount Zion refers to the heavenly city where the people of God dwell. We have seen the description of Mount Sinai. Now let’s look at the description of Mount Zion.

1) It is the city of the living God. Heaven has already been described this way.

Abraham looked for a city whose builder and maker is God 11:10

Those who died in faith were looking for a better country (11:16). God has prepared them a city.

Built by God

2) It is the heavenly Jerusalem. Believers belong in a place. That place is the heavenly Jerusalem. John spoke of this in Revelation 21:2

And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

People ask me if I want to go to Israel. I honestly don’t have a desire to. I’m going to Jerusalem one of these days. The heavenly one. The better one. The real deal.

3) It contains innumerable angels in festal gathering.

Revelation 5:11 says you can’t count the angels there. Angels in heaven celebrate your salvation. They celebrate what Christ has accomplished on the cross.

v. 23

4) It contains the assembly of the firstborn.

“firstborn” refers to rank. To the Jewish people it means the firstborn son received a double portion of inheritance. As believers we are all treated as firstborn. The inheritance God has for us is immeasurable.

Notice the church is “enrolled in heaven”.

Certainty- We have our place already. I am not in heaven yet, but my name is. I’m enrolled. In that regard I’m already “in”.

Security- We will always have our place in heaven.

5) It contains God, the Judge of all.

You might wonder how that is inviting. Sinai was just described as the mountain of judgment. The reasons is simple. Those in Christ have had their cases settled. There is no condemnation….

We see God as Judge but no longer as a threat. It is not God who changes when we are saved. Those who are saved are changed. We see God through the eyes of a pardoned sinner. The Judge we stand before is the One who has already pardoned us.

6) The spirits of the righteous made perfect. These are the members of the body of Christ who have died before us. The church on earth is mentioned in verses 23. The church in heaven is mentioned here. Zion is where our family who died before us has gone. We are going to them!

v. 24

7) It contains Jesus. He is the Mediator of the New Covenant. Christ has brought God and man together. If this were the only thing Zion contained it would be worth spending an eternity there.

8) It contains the sprinkled blood. This is a reference to the sacrificial system of the old covenant I which the blood of an animal was sprinkled on the altar on the day of Atonement (Leviticus 16). The blood of Jesus is the sacrifice for our sins. It is because of the blood that you and I can go to heaven.

The writer says this blood “speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.”

Abel was murdered by his brother. Genesis 4:10 says:

And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground.

Abel’s blood cried out for justice. Jesus blood cries out for mercy. This is the difference between the two mountains.

Mount Sinai= justice. Justice means we pay for our sins.

Mount Zion= Mercy. Jesus paid for our sins.

If the Hebrew believers returned to Sinai they would have to deal with their own sins.

In approaching Zion their sins are forgiven.

Listen Christians, Calvary is our mountain. There is no better place to go.

You may not be tempted to return to the Old covenant, but you may be tempted to go back to the old ways.

What does that old life have for you?

Look at all God has offered you in Christ.

A city built by God

Beautiful angelic beings

Security

Brothers and sister who have gone on before

Jesus himself

A Judge who pardons

Mercy