"But ye are come unto mount Sion"?

[levi86]

Can someone help me understand Hebrews 12?

16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,

19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:

20 (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:

21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake

**22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, **

24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

How have we come to mount Sion? Is it an image of the Church on earth, or is it an image of the church in heaven? Is it a future image of heaven after the Judgment, or is it an image of heaven today. Is Paul giving a description of what happens after death???

I really have no idea what this chapter is referring to; any help would be much appreciated.

God bless
Levi

 

[NotWorthy]

Maybe this will help? From the New American Bible Commentary:

[15-17] Esau serves as an example in two ways: his profane attitude illustrates the danger of apostasy, and his inability to secure a blessing afterward illustrates the impossibility of repenting after falling away (see Hebrews 6:4-6).

[18-29] As a final appeal for adherence to Christian teaching, the two covenants, of Moses and of Christ, are compared. The Mosaic covenant, the author argues, is shown to have originated in fear of God and threats of divine punishment (Hebrews 12:18-21). The covenant in Christ gives us direct access to God (Hebrews 12:22), makes us members of the Christian community, God’s children, a sanctified people (Hebrews 12:23), who have Jesus as mediator to speak for us (Hebrews 12:24). Not to heed the voice of the risen Christ is a graver sin than the rejection of the word of Moses (Hebrews 12:25-26). Though Christians fall away, God’s kingdom in Christ will remain and his justice will punish those guilty of deserting it (Hebrews 12:28-29).

[18] This remarkably beautiful passage contrasts two great assemblies of people: that of the Israelites gathered at Mount Sinai for the sealing of the old covenant and the promulgation of the Mosaic law, and that of the followers of Jesus gathered at Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, the assembly of the new covenant. This latter scene, marked by the presence of countless angels and of Jesus with his redeeming blood, is reminiscent of the celestial liturgies of the Book of Revelation.

[23] The assembly of the firstborn enrolled in heaven: this expression may refer to the angels of Hebrews 12:22, or to the heroes of the Old Testament (see Hebrews 11), or to the entire assembly of the new covenant.

[24] Speaks more eloquently: the blood of Abel, the first human blood to be shed, is contrasted with that of Jesus. Abel’s blood cried out from the earth for vengeance, but the blood of Jesus has opened the way for everyone, providing cleansing and access to God (Hebrews 10:19).

Good Luck!

Notworthy

 

[anawim]

Perhaps on a symoblic point, Mt. Zion was the location of both the Last Supper and Pentecost.

It was also the burial site of King David.