He shows the superiority of the New Testament in this as well. For the Old Testament, not having anything as great as the New, was something terrifying, so that according to it not even a beast could touch the mountain (Exod. 19:12), that is, any of those animals that the people had. But the New Testament, possessing all perfection, contains nothing fearful; on the contrary, everything in it is merciful.
Heb. 12:21. that Moses also said: "I am in fear and trembling." (Cf. Deut. 9:19)
If the great Moses, who entered the cloud, felt this way, then how much more so the people?
Heb. 12:22. But you have come
You did not draw near, but stood afar off; yet you have approached. Do you not see the superiority?
Heb. 12:22. To Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, to the heavenly Jerusalem
Instead of Sinai, we have the spiritual mountain Zion and the spiritual city Jerusalem, that is, heaven itself, and not the wilderness, as they had.
Heb. 12:22. And to myriads of Angels,
Heb. 12:23. To the festal assembly
Instead of a people, we have myriads of angels; instead of fear, joy, which is what is signified by the word "celebrating." For where there is a celebration, there is joy. And so, this celebration takes place among the angels.
Heb. 12:23. And to the church of the firstborn, who are written in heaven,
He calls the firstborn those believers who are dedicated to God, sanctified, whose names are in the book of life, just as the Lord said to His disciples: "your names are written in heaven" (Lk. 10:20). And since God is the Father of all, all people are His sons; but the firstborn among them are those who have believed and are especially worthy of adoption. Or all believers in general are called sons; but the firstborn are those who have pleased God and who, for their word and their life, were deemed worthy to be messengers of God.
Heb. 12:23. and to God, the Judge of all,
Here he also frightens them. For He is the Judge of all, not of the Jews only, but of all believers. Therefore, fear this. He shows along with this also their advantage over those of the Old Testament, that those could not endure even the words alone and did not dare to approach even the mountain — but you have approached the Judge Himself, that is, Christ. "For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son" (John 5:22).
Heb. 12:23. and to the spirits of the righteous who have attained perfection,
That is, to souls that have proven glorious and perfect before God, evidently by virtue of faith, as he clearly showed: and you will be united with them, if you imitate them.
Heb. 12:24. and to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant,
Not to the servant Moses, but to our Lord Jesus.
Heb. 12:24. And to the Blood of sprinkling,
That is, of purification. For the Blood of Christ, having sprinkled us, purified and sanctified us.
Heb. 12:24. Speaking better than Abel's.
Did the blood of Abel speak? Yes. For it is said: "the voice of your brother's blood cries out to Me" (Gen. 4:10). Or what was said above, that same thing it speaks even now, known and celebrated by all. But the Blood of Christ utters a brighter and clearer voice, crying out by its very deed that It has sanctified all. But it also speaks in another way: where there is no pure thought, it awakens and urges one to speak out. For "the Spirit Himself intercedes... with groanings that cannot be uttered" (Rom. 8:26). And Saint Cyril of Jerusalem understood it further in this way: that the blood of Abel cried out against murder, but the Blood of Christ intercedes for us before His Father.
Heb. 12:25. See that you do not turn away from Him who speaks.
"Do not turn away" through unbelief in His promises and despair. Who then is "the one speaking," if not Christ? For if His Blood speaks, then how much more He Himself.
Heb. 12:25. If those who did not listen to the one who spoke on earth did not escape punishment,