A Commentary of Hebrews 12:18-19, by John Owen.

Hebrews 12:18-19. For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, (or the fire that burned), nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, and the sound of the trumpet, and the voice of words, which (voice) they that heard entreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more.

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: 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.
~ Exodus 19:12-13

And ye came near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire unto the midst of heaven, with darkness, clouds, and thick darkness.
~ Deuteronomy 4:11

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
~ Romans 6:14

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
~ Romans 8:15

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
~ 2 Timothy 1:7

The principal design in hand is a description of that evangelical state whereinto the Hebrews were called, which they were come and entered into; for from thence the apostle infers his ensuing exhortation. But this their coming he expresseth negatively, to introduce a description of the church-state under the old testament, and the manner of the people’s entrance into it; whence he confirms both his argument and his exhortation: “Ye are not come.” And two things are included in that negative expression:

1. What their fathers did. They came, as we shall see, unto the things here mentioned. 2. What they were delivered from by their call unto the gospel. They were no more concerned in all that dread and terror. And the consideration of this deliverance was to be of moment with them, with respect unto their perseverance in the faith of the gospel; for this is the fundamental privilege which we receive thereby, namely, a deliverance from the terror and curse of the law.

And we may observe some few general things, in this proposal of the way of the people’s approach unto God at Sinai, before we open the several passages contained in the words; as,

1. The apostle in this comparison, between their coming of old into the legal church-state, and our admission into the state of the gospel, includes a supposition of the way and manner whereby they approached unto God in the giving of the law. This was by the sanctification of themselves, the washing of their clothes, (as an outward sign thereof,) with other reverential preparations, Exodus 19:10-11. Whence it will follow, that, the gospel church-state being so much more excellent than that of old, God himself being in it in a more glorious and excellent manner, we ought to endeavor a more eminent sanctification and preparation, in all our approaches unto God therein. And therefore he closeth his discourse with an exhortation thereunto: “Let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear,” verse 28. This therefore he teacheth us in the whole, namely, that the grace, love, and mercy of God, in the dispensation of the gospel, requires an internal sanctification and due preparation, with holy fear and reverence, in all our approaches unto him in his worship; answerable unto the type of it in the people’s preparation for the receiving of the law, and the fear that was wrought in them by the terror of God therein Our fear is of another kind than theirs was; yet ought it to be no less real and effectual in us, unto its proper end.

2. As unto the appearance of the divine Majesty here declared, we may observe, that all such apparitions were still suited unto the subject-matter, or what was to be declared of the mind of God in them. So he appeared unto Abraham in the shape of a man, Genesis 18:1-2; because he came to give the promise of the blessing Seed, and to give a representation of the future incarnation. In the like shape he appeared unto Jacob, Genesis 32:24; which was also a representation of the Son of God as incarnate, blessing the church. Unto Moses he appeared as a fire in a bush which was not consumed, Exodus 3:2-6; because he would let him know that the fire of affliction in the church should not consume it, because of his presence in it. “He dwelt in the bush.” Unto Joshua he appeared as an armed man, with his sword drawn in his hand, Joshua 5:13; to assure him of victory over all his enemies.

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