Hebrews 12:18-29 - handout

How do we worship, walk, work and witness better in 2026?

Run the race that is set before us,

Look to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith,

Cherish the refinement of our life,

Guard the contents of our character,

Look for the majesty and glory of Jesus Christ to be revealed in us and through us.

The hill of obligation

Hebrews 12:18–21 ESV

18 For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest 19 and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. 20 For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” 21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.”

Hebrews is written to Jewish Christians that would have memorized the Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) at a young age. Every year they would celebrate the Passover and remember the exodus from Egypt. Every year, they would scroll through ancient history and memorialize the important highlights. Mount Sinai was one of those places. On top of Mount Sinai is where God met with Moses and wrote the Ten Commandments with his finger. It’s also the place that Israel released its rebellion as a nation and formed a golden calf to worship.

The original reader would have stopped at these verses, and remembered Exodus 19:10–20 - “the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments and be ready for the third day. For on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. And you shall set limits for the people all around, saying, ‘Take care not to go up into the mountain or touch the edge of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death. No hand shall touch him, but he shall be stoned or shot; whether beast or man, he shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.” So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people; and they washed their garments. And he said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman.” On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled. Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain. Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the Lord had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled greatly. And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in thunder. The Lord came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. And the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.

Israel devoted three days to get ready for church. The preparation process was the highest priority, because Israel wasn’t allowed to go where God was without death being the result. “Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death.”

There was so much fear throughout Israel, they (Exodus 20:19) said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.”

Human commentary prioritized over God’s Word is a recipe for disaster.

Eventually, Israel got tired of waiting. Exodus 32 tells us they convinced Aaron to form a golden calf and create their own god. Moses came down from Sinai, shattered the Ten Commandments and fasted for 40 days and 40 nights. Deuteronomy 9:19 says Moses was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure that the Lord bore against Israel, so that he was ready to destroy them.

Rules, judgment, fear and death were all part of the hill of obligation, but those things do not cultivate running an ideal race.

The readers of Hebrews should be encouraged with verse 18 - you have not come.

The hill of adoration

Hebrews 12:22–24 ESV

22 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, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn (post resurrection Christians), and to the Father (the judge of all), and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect (Old Testament saints), 24 and to Jesus (the mediator of a new covenant), and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel (Genesis 4:10).

Mount Zion is a real place. Prior to Israel conquering Jerusalem, it was the home of the Jebusites. 2 Samuel 6 tells us after David acquired Jerusalem, “they brought the ark of the Lord and set it in its place, inside the tent that David had pitched for it. And David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.” From that time forward, Zion had been considered the earthly dwelling place of God.

Psalm 132:13–14 - “For the Lord has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling place: “This is my resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it.””

Isaiah 46:13 - “I bring near my righteousness; it is not far off, and my salvation will not delay; I will put salvation in Zion, for Israel my glory.””

Revelation 14:1 - “Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.”

Innumerable angels…

Galatians 3:19–20 - “Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one.”

Revelation 5:11–12 - “Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!””

Revelation 12:3–4 - “And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it.”

As you reflect on Hebrews 12:18–24, which hill more closely represents your current relationship with God—the hill of obligation or the hill of adoration? What experiences or seasons of life shaped that view?

The response of obedience

Hebrews 12:25–29 ESV

25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens” (Haggai 2:6). 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.

Look at verse 25. See that you do not refuse him who is speaking.

Look at verse 27. As we consider verse 25, also consider that created things are eventually shaken and removed, so that which is uncreated and unshakable can remain.

How does your view of God practically affect the way you worship, pray, or respond to conviction?

What are some ways you might subtly refuse God today—through distraction, delay, or prioritizing human commentary over Scripture?

What is one next step that will help you worship with awe-filled gratitude?