The scripture for today, December 18, is Hebrews 12:18ff as found in the New Testament of the Bible:
“You have not come to a mountain [Sinai] that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storms; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, because they could not bear what was commanded: ‘If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.’ The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, ‘I am trembling with fear.’ ““But you have come to Mount Zion , to the heavenly Jerusalem , the city of the living God.
You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the first-born, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a NEW COVENANT….”
The first paragraph refers to the mountain on which Moses received what was called the Law of Moses ~ not just 10 commandments, but over 600 ~ over a 40-day period. The second paragraph refers to a different mountain where the Temple was later built in Jerusalem.
Then it shows that Jesus took it beyond the physical so that the Christian Jerusalem has come out of heaven where angels and the living God dwell (Revelation 21).
Why would anyone want to dip into the old Law of Moses to get justification to do showy things in worship? And why would anyone want to rebuild the old Temple in Jerusalem when the new Jerusalem is in heaven?
Let us not think of what pleases us, but what pleases God.
#Jerusalem, #MountSinai, #MountZion, #LawOfMoses, #OldCovenant, #OldTestament, #Heaven, #Temple