Hebrews 12:22-24? Just how important it is?
The "importance" of the passage is that the verses reveal the contrast between old covenant and new covenant. At the time Hebrews was written, the temple was still standing and there were some who held to the old covenant sacrificial system.
Hebrews 12:18 - 24 shows the contrast between Sinai (old covenant - earthly) and Zion (new covenant - heavenly):
From David Guzik's Commentary at Blue Letter Bible:
· Mount Sinai was marked by fear and terror – Mount Zion is a place of love and forgiveness.
· Mount Sinai is in the desert – Mount Zion is the city of the Living God
· Mount Sinai spoke of earthly things – Mount Zion speaks of heavenly things.
· At Mount Sinai, only Moses was allowed to draw near to God – at Mount Zion, an innumerable company, a general assembly is invited to draw near.
· Mount Sinai was characterized by guilty men in fear – Mount Zion features just men made perfect.
· At Mount Sinai, Moses was the mediator – at Mount Zion, Jesus is the mediator.
· Mount Sinai brings an Old Covenant, which was ratified by the blood of animals – Mount Zion brings a New Covenant, which is ratified by the blood of God’s precious Son.
· Mount Sinai was all about exclusion, keeping people away from the mountain – Mount Zion is all about invitation.
· Mount Sinai is all about Law – Mount Zion is all about grace.
And then once we understand the contrast, we are warned to not refuse the voice of Him Who calls and we are encouraged:
Hebrews 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear