Hebrews 12:26 - Printer Friendly

ESV: At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”

NIV: At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, 'Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.'

NASB: And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, 'YET ONCE MORE I WILL SHAKE NOT ONLY THE EARTH, BUT ALSO THE HEAVEN.'

CSB: His voice shook the earth at that time, but now he has promised, Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.

NLT: When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: 'Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.'

KJV: Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

NKJV: whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.”

After comparing the ominous start of the old covenant (Exodus 19:9–20) to the welcoming nature of the new covenant (Hebrews 12:18–24), the writer has issued another warning about the danger of falling away from the truth. Verse 25 made a statement similar to the words of Hebrews 2:2–4 and 10:26–31. In short, there will always be consequences for deviating from the truth; the better we know the truth, the harsher we can expect those penalties to be.

The prior verses compared the earthly scene at Sinai to the heavenly scene awaiting all Christian believers. Here, the writer once again invokes the way God spoke when He gave the old covenant at Mount Sinai. Psalm 68:8 recalls this event as one where the ground shook at His words. The following statement, beginning with "Yet once more…" is a quotation from Haggai 2:6, where God offers a long-term prophecy of His eventual remaking of all of creation (Revelation 21:1). This continues the same theme as the entire letter: that God will replace something temporary with something eternal. Just as the old covenant was replaced by the new, the old creation will be replaced by the new heavens and the new earth.

Hebrews 12:18–29 summarizes the lessons given through chapters 11 and 12. Those living under the new covenant have the advantage of looking to Christ, rather than to the law. The Old Testament was given through ominous signs, dire messages, fire, and sacrifice; it involved material things in a material world. God presented Himself as unapproachable, symbolic of His holiness. The New Covenant offers something better, and something beyond rituals and earthly needs. Also symbolically, Christ gives us an ability to approach God which the old covenant could not grant. While prior things can be changed and destroyed, the destiny offered to believers in Christ cannot. That is the ''kingdom that cannot be shaken,'' and our worship for God ought to reflect reverence as a result.

Chapter 11 explained the victories of some of the Old Testament's greatest heroes. It also explained their sufferings and persecution. This chapter uses those examples as a ''cloud of witnesses'' to prove that God does not abandon us when we suffer. In many cases, He uses those experiences to ''train'' us, as if we were athletes, to make us stronger. In other cases, it's the same kind of discipline that a child receives from a loving father. Unlike the old covenant, which rightly inspired fear and dread, the new covenant offers us peace. As with any other matter of truth or falsehood, we should cling to what's true, so that we can be part of ''a kingdom that cannot be shaken.''

Hebrews chapter 12 builds on the example of the heroes of the faith mentioned in chapter 11. The main point of this lesson is that these figures endured suffering and hardship, yet held to their faith in God, which allowed them to achieve victory. Chapter 12, in particular, points out that earthly hardship is not a sign of God's displeasure, or abandonment. Rather, it's part of living in a fallen, godless world. And, in many cases, it's a form of ''training'' the Lord uses to mold us into more powerful instruments. This, as with other passages in Hebrews, leads into another explanation of why we should take these ideas seriously, and sets up a few final practical lessons in chapter 13.

The book of Hebrews is meant to challenge, encourage, and empower Christian believers. According to this letter, Jesus Christ is superior to all other prophets and all other claims to truth. Since God has given us Christ, we ought to listen to what He says and not move backwards. The consequences of ignoring God are dire. Hebrews is important for drawing on many portions of the Old Testament in making a case that Christ is the ultimate and perfect expression of God's plan for mankind. This book presents some tough ideas about the Christian faith, a fact the author makes specific note of.