In Hebrews 12:25 Paul begins by warning his readers: “See that you refuse not him that speaks…” The verb is in the present tense, showing, whoever is speaking, that one was speaking to the first century AD readers of Paul’s epistle, even as they read it. Who was speaking? The preceding verse tells us that Jesus, the Mediator of the New Covenant, is speaking, and he is doing so through his blood (Hebrews 12:24). He offers mercy and forgiveness, rather than seeking vengeance, which is an allegory of the two covenants. The Old Covenant sought vengeance against sinners, but the New Covenant offers the sinner clemency and forgiveness.
Paul also draws a contrast between the two speakers. In Hebrews 12:24 the allegory pointed to Jesus and Abel, both of whom spoke through their shed blood. However, I believe Hebrews 12:25 changes the speakers to “he who spoke on earth” and “he who speaks from heaven.” Then Paul adds, concerning he who spoke on earth: “Whose voice then shook the earth…” If the Lord is meant here, then wouldn’t the speakers be the same on both sides of the comparison? I think he who spoke on earth refers to Moses, through whose voice the earth was shaken by God. Moses was the mediator of the Old Covenant, while Jesus is the Mediator of the New Covenant. indeed, Moses predicted that one like himself would come to Israel, and they would have no choice but to listen to him (Deuteronomy 18:15-19).
The picture we need to see here is that heaven and earth met inside the House (the Tabernacle), and the two were separated by the veil. The symbols of the Old Covenant, i.e. the tables of stone and Aaron’s rod, were placed inside the Ark of the Covenant or the Mercy Seat, which were inside the Most Holy Place (heaven, where the Presence of God dwelt). When Moses spoke the word of God all the earth shook, in that the then new worldview was presented to mankind. Everything in the world was judged by this new worldview.
On the other hand, when “he (Jesus) who speaks from heaven” utters his voice both **heaven** (the Most Holy Place) and the earth shake. Paul went on to say that this, “signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain” (Hebrews 12:26-27; cp Haggai 2:6-9). In other words, the physical things in heaven (the Most Holy Place), which can be shaken are removed, and what is left cannot be removed. So, the Old Covenant (the Ark and its contents) would be removed from Heaven (the Most Holy Place), so that the blood of Jesus, that which cannot be removed, remains. Mercy and forgiveness remain, while vengeance was removed.
At this point Paul mentioned two groups of people. First, there was the group of folks to whom Paul wrote (the Jews in Palestine). Secondly, he referred back to the rebels in the wilderness who, although they left Egypt (bondage), they refused to trust the Lord to give them what he promised (Numbers 14:1-11). At the time of the rebellion in the wilderness, the Lord was about to bring the children of Israel into the Promised Land. Likewise, at the time of Paul’s writing to the Jews in Palestine, he was a prisoner in Rome, and the Lord was about to return (Hebrews 8:23) to not only vindicate those who placed their trust in him, but to bless them, as he had promised to do (cp. Matthew 16:27-28). The consequences are obvious. To reject what Jesus offers is to reject one’s inheritance, which has been deposited in Jesus (cp. Ephesians 1:3, 11). Paul calls upon his readers to stand firm in the One whom they have trusted.
Therefore, Paul says, that since his readers had been given a Kingdom that cannot be moved or destroyed, it makes more sense to continue in the grace of God (cp. Hebrews 4:16) and serve him, because their inheritance is sure (Hebrews 12:28). It wasn’t something that can be taken from them, if they stood fast in Christ. Our God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29); therefore, it makes sense to serve him as though what we do would last. If we endure, so will our reward (; cp. 1Corinthians 3:11-15).
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