John Calvin Commentary Hebrews 12:18

"For ye are not come unto [a mount] that might be touched, and that burned with fire, and unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest," — Hebrews 12:18 (ASV)

For you are not come, etc. He now advances a new argument, for he proclaims the greatness of the grace made known by the Gospel, so that we may reverently receive it. Secondly, he commends to us its benevolent characteristics, so that he might allure us to love and desire it.

He adds weight to these two points by a comparison between the Law and the Gospel. For the higher the excellence of Christ’s kingdom than the dispensation of Moses, and the more glorious our calling than that of the ancient people, the more disgraceful and less excusable is our ingratitude, unless we embrace in a fitting manner the great favor offered to us and humbly adore the majesty of Christ, which is here revealed. Furthermore, since God does not present Himself to us clothed in terrors, as He formerly did to the Jews, but lovingly and kindly invites us to Himself, the sin of ingratitude will be thus doubled unless we willingly and earnestly respond to His gracious invitation.

Let us first remember then that the Gospel is here compared with the Law; and secondly, that there are two parts in this comparison, — that God’s glory displays itself more illustriously in the Gospel than in the Law, — and that His invitation is now full of love, but that formerly there was nothing but the greatest terrors.

Unto the mount that might be touched, etc. This passage is variously interpreted, but it seems to me that an earthly mountain is contrasted with the spiritual one. The words that follow show the same thing: that burned with fire, blackness, darkness, tempest, etc.; for these were signs God manifested to secure authority and reverence for His Law.

When considered in themselves, these signs were magnificent and truly celestial. However, when we come to the kingdom of Christ, the things God presents to us are far above all the heavens. Therefore, it follows that all the dignity of the Law now appears earthly: thus, Mount Sinai might have been touched by hands, but Mount Sion cannot be known except by the spirit.

All the things recorded in Exodus 19 were visible things, but those which we have in the kingdom of Christ are hidden from the physical senses.

If anyone should object and say that the meaning of all these things was spiritual, and that there are today external exercises of religion by which we are carried up to heaven, to this I answer that the Apostle speaks comparatively. No one can doubt that the Gospel, contrasted with the Law, excels in what is spiritual, but the Law in earthly symbols.