For they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.”for they could not stand that which was commanded, “If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned”.(For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:for they could not endure that which was enjoined, If even a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned;
3 sermons cite this verse
… Hebrews so manifestly exalts Jesus. And in this final chapel, we come to Hebrews chapter 12, verses 18 to 24. And in it, we have the final use of the word better. Kraton. Verse 24. Jesus' sprinkled blood speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. So what word did Abel's blood speak? Well, in Genesis 4, God comes to Cain and says, What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground. And now you are accursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. so I take it that Abel's blood cries out for justice for righteous retribution for a curse on the one who murdered him and Jesus blood Hebrew says speaks a better word not curse but blessing not condemnation but sanctification not justice but divine mercy before getting into the rest of the passage uh it's an important reminder about the repeated line of comparison in the epistle to the hebrews that it's not bad versus good but it's good and then better. …
we're going to come into his presence now. This blazing fire. And when he spoke, the people back then is like, please don't speak anymore. I can't take this voice. And I'm literally going to speak to him right now. Would you come with me into his presence? Oh God, are you kidding me? That we are in your presence right now, speaking to you because your word says we can come with confidence through the blood of Jesus. as millions of angels are just celebrating you right now. And you, this blazing fire, our judge, our savior. And God, all we are asking for is you. Can we have more of you? Would you open our eyes to who you are? God, may we truly experience you. by the power of your Holy Spirit, please, please, please make something real happen. for your glory. In Jesus' name, Amen. I want to read a couple verses that I think are very important for you to understand, very important to this generation. …
This is the only one, the absolutely solitary way to God, for God never appointed another—that is to say, He has never appointed a way through ceremonies, nor a way through frames of feeling, nor a way through good works. What is the picture of the way to Heaven by good works, Why, it is Mount Sinai all on a blaze, like Etna smoking and heaving like a great volcano! And where are the people that want to get to Heaven by good works? There they are, down in the valley! There is a great ring set round the mountain. Why don't they come up? In the first place, they do not want to come up, for the mountain is altogether on a smoke! Even Moses said, "I do exceedingly fear and quake." In the next place, they cannot come up, for there are boundaries set about the mountain—"and if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart." You cannot get nearer to God than that on the footing of works, for Mount Sinai is the symbol of works! Look to the flames that Moses saw, and shrink, and tremble, and despair! You cannot get to God that way! …