See the Bible Through Jewish Eyes �� BIBLE STUDY WITH DR. RICH FREEMAN
Hebrews 12:25-29
A FINAL WARNING AGAINST APOSTASY
Hebrews 12:18–24 focused on the contrast between
Mount Sinai and Mount Zion. The writer concludes
chapter 12 with a warning section, beginning in
verse 25: “See to it that you do not refuse Him who
is speaking.” “Him who is speaking” refers to God,
who was warning the Jewish believers of His day not
to turn away from their faith in
Messiah Jesus.
“For if those did not escape when
they refused him who warned
them on earth, much less will we
escape who turn away from Him
who warns from heaven” (v. 25).
The author reminds his Hebrew
readers that their ancestors
had previously rejected God’s
warnings “from earth” at Mount
Sinai. In essence, those living
under the Law did not escape
the consequences of disobeying
the Law. Just as God held the
Israelites accountable to keep the
word He had spoken to them, He
also holds believers accountable
now for the revelation given to
them “from heaven.”
Describing the giving of the Law
at Mount Sinai, he writes in verse
26, “And His voice shook the earth
then.” Quoting Haggai 2:6, he then
anticipates the coming Messianic
age: “Yet once more I will shake
not only the earth, but also the
heaven.” The shaking of the earth
on Mount Sinai symbolized the
future, final shaking of the earth and heaven at the
coming Messianic Kingdom. Haggai’s prediction
of the coming Messianic age—associated with the
second shaking of the earth and heaven—signifies
that the old Mosaic order, which was established
with a shaking of the earth at Mount Sinai, would
eventually be done away with.
The writer of Hebrews clearly anticipated a final,
future judgment of God, one in which He will shake
the heavens and the earth prior to the Messiah’s
second coming. He also wrote that all things that
are shakeable and temporary will be removed: “This
expression, ‘Yet once more,’ denotes the removing
of those things which can be shaken, as of created
things, so that those things which cannot be shaken
6 The Chosen People | DECEMBER 2019
may remain” (v. 27). Only those things which are
unshakable, permanent, and eternal will remain.
The author wrote during the time when Rome
would soon destroy the Temple in Jerusalem in
AD 70. Since keeping the Mosaic Covenant was
Temple-dependent, he told the Hebrew believers
that the existing Mosaic order
was a temporary arrangement
that ultimately would be shaken
and replaced with a permanent,
eternal, and unshakable
arrangement may be instituted.
He was implying that if his Jewish
readers attempted to find refuge
from persecution and affliction,
they would be returning to that
which ultimately would cease.
They would find no permanent
peace or rest in a temporary
system about to be judged and
shaken by God.
The writer states his conclusion
in verse 28, “Therefore, since we
receive a kingdom which cannot
be shaken, let us show gratitude.”
He reminded Jewish believers
who were suffering because of
their identification with Messiah
Jesus that they have the promise
of “a kingdom which cannot be
shaken,” one that is permanent
and eternal. This reality should
cause them to “show gratitude,”
literally to “have grace.”
The author harkened back to Hebrews 4:16, where
he reminded them they have access to the throne of
grace where they “may receive mercy and find grace
to help in time of need.” In light of that grace, they
can now “offer to God an acceptable service with
reverence and awe” (12:28).
Why was it so critical for these Jewish believers
to respond in this way? Because “our God is a
consuming fire” (v. 29), the author wrote, quoting
Deuteronomy 4:24. If these Jewish believers
refused to return to God’s grace, they would subject
themselves to God’s consuming judgment of 70 AD
and eternal judgment. Refusing to offer God His due
praise, offered by faith through Jesus the Messiah,
results in divine judgment.
Dr. Rich Freeman, D. Min.
serves as the Vice President
for Church Ministries and
Conferences with Chosen
People Ministries and
lives in South Florida
with his wife, Julia.
HEBREWS 12:25-29 NASB
25 See to it that you do not refuse
Him who is speaking. For
if those did not escape when
they refused him who warned
them on earth, much less will
we escape who turn away from
Him who warns from heaven.
26 And His voice shook the earth
then, but now He has promised,
saying, “Yet once more
I will shake not only the earth,
but also the heaven.” 27 This
expression, “Yet once more,”
denotes the removing of those
things which can be shaken, as
of created things, so that those
things which cannot be shaken
may remain. 28 Therefore, since
we receive a kingdom which
cannot be shaken, let us show
gratitude, by which we may
offer to God an acceptable service
with reverence and awe; 29
for our God is a consuming fire.