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 intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:

Hebrews 12:18-21

Explanation:

When the author says “ye” he is speaking to the original reader.  The context would tell us that these were jews who have been given evidence of what God has done both in the Old Testament and the New Testament, and have been given a defense of faith in what God has done.  He sets up a metaphor- a spiritual illustration of a truth from their history, by comparing two mountains.  The first one is Mount Sinai, and the second found in vers 22 is Mount Sion.  

In referring to Mount Sinai he told these readers that they are not come unto the mount.  How do we know that the mountain is Sinai?  He is quoting from and referring to Exodus 19.  This “mount that might be touched” is referring to Mount Sinai.  In Exodus 19 God gives specific instruction about what His people are not to do while He is giving Moses the law on the mountain.

10 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes,

11 And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.

12 And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death:

13 There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.

14 And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.

15 And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives.

The author of Hebrews also says what happened there.  He describes it exactly the way that verses Exodus 19:16-19 described it.

16 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.

17 And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.

18 And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.

19 And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.

Exodus 19:10-19

What happened in Exodus 19 and 20 is that God gave the law to His people.

1 And God spake all these words, saying,

2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Exodus 20:1-3

The author of Hebrews then is saying that these Hebrews are not left at the mount of Sinai.  They are not left where all they have is the law.  The difficulty with the law is that you cannot keep the law.  If you break any part of the law you’ve broken the whole thing. 

The law does bring terror, because there is a lack of ability to keep the law.

Application:

I do have a relationship with the law in that God does want me to keep it.  I don’t always keep it.  I mess up.  I am flawed.  I sin.  I need God’s grace to cover me because I mess up so badly.

I also know that I am loved despite my performance and that God is gracious to me. He has blessed me so much, and I owe him my life, my strength, and my all.

Response:

God thank you for today. I pray that you will help me to live for you well. Amen