Hebrews 12

Jesus, Author and Finisher of our faith

Author and Finisher — the pioneer who starts our faith and the one who brings it to completion

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2–3

Keep your eyes on Jesus: He begins and completes our faith. For the joy ahead He endured the cross and its shame, and now sits at God's right hand, so we should not give up.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same title in Moroni 6:4 — Christ, who was the author and the finisher of their faith.
• fulfils Psalm 110:1 — Sit thou at my right hand.

Holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Hebrews 12:14

Only the holy will see the Lord. Latter-day revelation promises that the pure will see the Lord's face.

• the same event in D&C 93:1 — Every soul who forsaketh his sins ... shall see my face and know that I am.

Jehovah on Sinai

For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, Hebrews 12:18–21

At Sinai the LORD, Jehovah, descended in fire and spoke with a voice so terrible Israel begged Him to stop. Christians now come to Him through a gentler covenant.

• the same event in Exodus 19:16-19 — Thunder, fire, trumpet, and the LORD descending on Sinai.
• the same event in Exodus 20:19 — Let not God speak with us, lest we die.

The church of the Firstborn

Firstborn — Christ, the Firstborn of the Father, whose heirs share His birthright

To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, Hebrews 12:23

The church of the Firstborn is made up of those who become heirs with Christ, the Father's Firstborn, and are written in heaven.

How we know: a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• interpreted by D&C 93:21-22 — I am the Firstborn; those begotten through me are the church of the Firstborn.
• the same title in D&C 76:54 — They who are the church of the Firstborn.

Jesus, Mediator of the new covenant

And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. Hebrews 12:24

Abel's blood cried out from the ground for justice; Jesus's sprinkled blood speaks of mercy and forgiveness in the new covenant.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to Genesis 4:10 — The voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me.
• typified by Exodus 24:8 — Moses sprinkles the blood of the covenant.
• typified by Hebrews 11:4 — Abel being dead yet speaketh.

The voice that shook Sinai and will shake heaven

See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: Hebrews 12:25–27

The same One whose voice shook Sinai promises through Haggai to shake heaven and earth at the last day, leaving only His unshakable kingdom. Latter-day Saints know that voice as Jehovah, Jesus Christ.

• quotes Haggai 2:6-7 — Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth; the desire of all nations shall come.
• the same event in D&C 88:87-91 — The earth shall tremble and the heavens be shaken at His coming.

Our God is a consuming fire

For our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:29

Moses said this of the LORD thy God, Jehovah. His holy glory burns away what cannot abide it.

• quotes Deuteronomy 4:24 — The LORD thy God is a consuming fire.