Again, the whole Book of Hebrews is directed to Jews who were battling the spiritual warfare of coming out of Judaism with all of its law and demands and "works religion," and stepping into Paul's Gospel of Grace. Now, of course, Paul doesn't reveal himself because the Jews hated him, and so he wasn't about to show his card. But, nevertheless, we're convinced that Paul is the writer of this epistle. He uses several Pauline statements, as well as what Peter says in his little epistle "remember what the Apostle Paul has written unto you." And we know that Peter is addressing Jews so that sort of puts the frosting on the cake that Paul is writing to Jewish people who are fighting this battle of overcoming the draw back into Judaism. Consequently, all the way up through Hebrews (and I've been pointing it out whenever it comes along, that yes, the past in the Old Testament and Law and the Four Gospels was good, but) pure grace under Paul's teachings is so much better. So as we begin Paul is going to make a reference to Mt. Sinai in verse 18.


Hebrews 12:18-19

"For ye are not come unto the mount (that is, Mt. Sinai back there when God was on the mount. with thunder and fire and all of that) 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 not be spoken to them any more:" In other words, the Law as I've said over and over even in the Four Gospel accounts, was what? Severe! The Law had no room for argument. If someone was taken in adultery, what did the Law demand? Instant death! No trial by jury and 15 years of appeals. The Law was severe. And here, too, when God came down on Mt. Sinai, it wasn't with love and mercy and grace. It was with power and might and it scared the Israelites to death. And then the warning was, "Don't even touch the mountain lest you die. Don't let an animal touch it. If he does you're to put him to death." So this is what we have to understand.


Now it's interesting, as I've said before back in Romans and other areas where Paul writes, that he divides these things into groups of seven. Now there are seven visible things concerning Mt. Sinai, and I'm sure that Paul didn't sit down and think before he started - I think he probably dictated most of his letters. And I don't think Paul sat down and racked his brain and said, "Now, how can I put up seven points?" Now you know, a lot of preachers make a big deal over a three-point sermon. And that's all well and good. But my, they'll spend hours putting together a three-point sermon. I don't think Paul did that. Paul didn't have to sit back and say, "Well now, how can I put all this in groups of seven." I don't think it even entered his mind. But the Scripture says that he, like all other writers of Scripture, were moved by the Holy Spirit.