The giving of the New Covenant and the things associated with that covenant are more impressive because they are the heavenly realities. These realities include the heavenly city and heavenly beings (i.e, angels and believers). Everything about this vision encourages us to come boldly into God"s presence (cf. Hebrews 4:16). [source][source][source]
The phrase "the general assembly and church of the first-born"-the Greek construction suggests one group-probably refers to all those believers who had died but will receive their full inheritance because they followed the Lord faithfully and did not apostatize. [1] Another view is that it refers to all the saints on earth and in heaven. [2] Still other interpreters believe all Christians on earth are in view. [3] Others believe all Christians already in heaven are. [4][source]
"To come to the "church of the firstborn" means to be called to the privilege of being a firstborn son. All Christians are called to be part of that assembly and by birth have a right to be there. However, they may forfeit that right and never achieve their calling. That is the thrust of all the warnings of the book of Hebrews." [5][source]
The firstborn was the son who received the greatest amount of inheritance. This is evidently another reference to Christ"s companions ( Hebrews 1:9; Hebrews 3:12) who are partakers of His glory ( Hebrews 3:14; Hebrews 6:4; Hebrews 12:8), namely, those who faithfully persevere in their faith. [6] Their names are on a heavenly roll as those who died cleaving to the Lord (cf. Exodus 32:33; Psalm 69:28; Isaiah 4:3; Daniel 12:1; Luke 10:20; Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:5; Revelation 13:8; Revelation 20:12). [source][source][source]
"The spirits of righteous men made perfect" evidently refers to all the glorified redeemed, faithful and unfaithful, whom Christ"s sacrifice perfects eventually (glorifies; cf. Hebrews 10:10; Hebrews 10:14; Hebrews 11:40). [source][source][source]
Jesus" blood is better than Abel"s because Jesus" blood did not cry out for justice and retribution as Abel"s did (cf. Hebrews 11:4; Genesis 4:10). [7] It satisfied God"s demands and secured God"s acceptance of New Covenant believers (cf. Hebrews 9:12; Hebrews 9:26; Hebrews 10:10; Hebrews 10:14; Hebrews 10:19). It cried out to God for mercy and pardon for those for whom Jesus shed it. [source][source][source]
"It must be acknowledged that the reference to Abel in Hebrews 12:24 b is unexpected, because it does not belong to the developed comparison between Sinai and Zion. It may have been suggested by the reference in Hebrews 12:23 b to the presence of pneumasi dikaion, "the spirits of righteous persons," in the heavenly city, since the writer had specified in Hebrews 11:4 that Abel was attested by God as dikaios, "righteous." It may also have been the writer"s intention to evoke the whole history of redemption, from the righteous Abel to the redemptive sacrifice of Jesus, mediator of the new covenant ..." [8][source]
This sevenfold comparison ( Hebrews 12:18-24) should motivate us to remain faithful and thereby realize the superior blessings of the New Covenant. [source][source][source]
Mt. Sinai, a mountain that may be touchedMt. Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly JerusalemBlazing fireMyriads of angelsDarknessThe general assembly and church of the firstbornGloomGod, the Judge of allWhirlwindThe spirits of righteous men made perfectThe blast of a trumpetJesus, the mediator of a new covenantThe sound of wordsThe sprinkled blood that is better than Abel"s[source]