Ep. 349. Hebrews 12-13 | Two Mountains

EPISODE 349

TWO MOUNTAINS: HEBREWS 12-13

I don't know how many times I said this throughout the year, but Hebrews Chapter Twelve is one of my favorite chapters. It starts with these all-important verses instructing the reader to fix their eyes on Jesus, "The founder and perfecter of our faith." Or "The author and finisher of our faith." The reason given for fixing their eyes on Jesus is so that when they considered how Christ was unfairly treated and how he endured hostility against himself from wicked men full of sin, the reader would then be bolstered to continue in their faith without growing "Weary or fainthearted." Jesus resisted sin and submitted himself in obedience to the Father, to the point of death on the cross. Jesus serves then as an example of suffering and obedience. We, too, can fix our eyes on Jesus so that we won't grow weary or fainthearted in our pursuit of the Father.

The second reason this chapter thrills me is due to the comparison of the two mountains. This text clearly contrasts the two covenants of law and grace. I think it is eclipsed in its clarity only by the one in 2 Corinthians 3. The author of Hebrews has already made it abundantly clear that there is a difference between the covenants of law and grace when he highlights that Jesus is the better high priest, that Jesus is the better sacrifice, that heaven is the better temple, and that the new covenant is enacted on better promises. We have already seen in this letter that the old covenant is weak, powerless, obsolete, and has faded away. The author here paints one final picture for us by comparing Mount Sinai with Mount Zion, similar to the comparison we saw Paul make at the close of Galatians 4. At Mount Sinai and under the covenant of law, death came. At Mount Zion and under the covenant of grace, there was life. You may also remember that when Moses descended from Sinai, and the people were worshipping the golden calf, about 3000 people died that day. But in Acts, on the day of Pentecost, when the Spirit was given, about 3000 people were saved. Throughout the whole Bible, the difference between these two covenants has been made clear to us.

Thanks be to God that we are not under law but under grace.

ADDITIONAL READING: Philippians2:5-11; Proverbs 3:11-12; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Romans 8:1; 1 John 4:18-22; Genesis 27: 30-41; Exodus 19:12-13; Haggai 2:6-7; Deuteronomy 31:8; Psalm 118:6