12:18-29 These verses contain the fifth and final warning passage of Hebrews. (See 2:1-4.) In each of these
passages a particular area of danger is revealed. Like the second warning (3:7-4:13), the fifth begins by
exhibiting Israel's failures and disobedience while journeying to the Promised Land. In the second, Israel's sin was
unbelief concerning God's promise to care for them. In the fifth, their sin is refusal to hear God's warning at Sinai.
Verses 25-27 contain the heart of this warning. the danger lies in refusing to hear the warning of Him who speaks
from heaven, for if those at Mount Sinai did not escape God's wrath much more shall not we escape. One may
escape God's warnings now, but once more at Christ's second coming, God will shake the earth and no one will
escape (Isaiah 3:1-8; Joel 3:14-16; Matthew 24:27-30; Revelation 16:16-21).
12:23 The general assembly translate one Greek word (paneguris) which is used only here in the New Testament.
It refers to a festal assembly and probably describes either the assembly of the angels that precedes it or the
church that follows, rather than setting forth a third group.
Hebrews chapter 13
13:2 One incentive the author uses to encourage love and hospitality is that some have entertained angels
unawares. For example, Abraham (Genesis 18:1-3) and Lot (Genesis 19:1, 2) were unaware that their guests
were angels at the time they received them. Care must be taken so as not to read too much into this statement.
The verse says that "some have entertained" (aorist tense). The use of the present tense, meaning that some do
entertain angels, would provide grounds for expecting this still to happen. But such is not the teaching. We
should, nonetheless, show hospitality to the needy, for it will benefit us as well as them when it is done as to the
lord (Matthew 25:35-40).
13:10-14 We have an altar: Does the author mean "we Christians" or "we Jews"? In light of the following verses,
"we Jews" provides the clearer thought. The argument of verse 11 is that there were times within the Jewish ritual
when even the priests could not eat of the sacrifice (e.g., the Day of Atonement). Rather, the flesh was taken
outside the camp and burned (Leviticus 16:27). So now also, as the believer's sin offering Christ has been
separated from the camp of Levitical worship. Those who have turned to Him for redemption must also join Him
outside the camp. For here have we no continuing city may be a foreboding of Jerusalem's imminent destruction.
Even if there were no prophetic intent within the author's statement, God is about to remove the temptation for
Jewish Christians to return to the sacrificial ritual of the Jerusalem temple. This occurred in A.D. 70 when Titus,
the Roman, destroyed the temple and Jerusalem.
13:24 They of Italy: The preposition (Greek apo) might be better translated "from" Italy. It can equally refer to
those who were presently in Italy (Acts 10:23 or 17:13) or to those who were formerly from Italy (Acts 21:27). The
phrase identifies only their origin; they were Italians. It is reasonable, therefore, to conclude that either the writer
or the recipients were living in Italy.