Albert Barnes Commentary Hebrews 12:23

"to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect," — Hebrews 12:23 (ASV)

To the general assembly. (See Barnes on Hebrews 12:22).

And church of the firstborn. That is, you are united with the church of the firstborn. Those who were firstborn among the Hebrews enjoyed peculiar privileges, and especially pre-eminence of rank. (See Barnes on Colossians 1:15).

The reference here is, evidently, to those saints who had been distinguished for their piety and who may be supposed to be exalted to peculiar honours in heaven—such as the patriarchs, prophets, and martyrs.

The meaning is that by becoming Christians we have, in fact, become identified with that happy and honoured church, and this is a powerful motive to induce us to persevere.

It is a consideration that should make us adhere to our religion amid all temptations and persecutions: we are identified with the most eminently holy men who have lived, and we are to share their honours and their joys.

The Christian is united in feeling, in honour, and in destiny with the excellent of all the earth and of all times. He should therefore feel it an honour to be a Christian; he should yield to no temptation that would induce him to part from so excellent a fellowship.

Which are written in heaven. The marginal note is enrolled. This word was used by the Greeks to denote that one was enrolled as a citizen or entitled to the privileges of citizenship. Here it means that the names of the persons referred to were registered or enrolled among the inhabitants of the heavenly world. (See Barnes on Luke 10:20).

And to God the Judge of all. This refers to God, who will pronounce the final sentence on all mankind. The object of the reference here to God as Judge does not appear to be to contrast the condition of Christians with that of the Jews, as is the case in some of the circumstances alluded to, but to bring impressively before their minds the fact that they sustained a particularly close relationship with him from whom all were to receive their final allotment.

Since the destiny of all depended on him, they should be careful not to provoke his wrath. The apostle's design seems to be to give a rapid glance of what was in heaven, as disclosed by the eye of faith to the Christian, which should operate as a motive to induce him to persevere in his Christian course.

The thought that seems to have struck his mind regarding God was that he would do right to all. Therefore, they had everything to fear if they revolted from him, and everything to hope if they bore their trials with patience and persevered to the end.

And to the spirits of just men made perfect.

This refers not only to the more eminent saints—the "church of the firstborn"—but to all who were made perfect in heaven. They were not only united with imperfect Christians on earth but also with those who have become completely delivered from sin and admitted to the world of glory. This is a consideration which ought to influence the minds of all believers.

They are even now united with all the redeemed in heaven. They should live in such a way as not to be separated from them in the final day. Most Christians already have not a few of their most tenderly beloved friends among the redeemed—a father may be there, a mother, a sister, a smiling babe. It should be a powerful motive for us to live so as to be prepared to be reunited with them in heaven.