Charles Ellicott Commentary Hebrews 12:28

"Wherefore, receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have grace, whereby we may offer service well-pleasing to God with reverence and awe:" — Hebrews 12:28 (ASV)

Receiving a kingdom.—These words clearly contain a reference to Daniel 7:18, The saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom. Nor can it reasonably be doubted that the closing verses of Haggai 2 are also in the writer’s mind; after Hebrews 12:21, which repeats the words of Hebrews 12:6 (quoted above), the prophet declares the overthrow of earthly kingdoms and continues the Messianic promise to His servant Zerubbabel. Christ has made His people kings; and when heaven and earth have passed away, they will be found heirs of a kingdom that cannot be shaken (Hebrews 2:5–9).

Let us have grace.—Many translate the last word as thankfulness, but the ordinary translation is preferable. There is for us the throne of grace to which we may draw near and find grace (Hebrews 4:16). The characteristic of our Christian state is that we have grace, and have not “fallen back from the grace of God” (Hebrews 12:15). Let us continue in this state and thus be enabled to offer our priestly service to God (Hebrews 9:14; Hebrews 13:15).

Acceptably.—Literally, well-pleasing. (Hebrews 13:16).

With reverence and godly fear.—According to the true reading of the Greek, the meaning is with reverent fear and awe. The former word is that which occupies so important a place in Hebrews 5:7 (See Note). The tone of the whole chapter—we might rather say, the whole Epistle—is presented in this combination of grace and acceptable service with awe and reverent fear. The last thought connects closely with the following verse.