Hebrews 12:25 - Exposition

See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not, refusing him that spake (rather, warned ; the word here used is not λαλοῦντα , as before, but χρηματίζοντα, expressive of a Divine admonition or warning. In the passive it is translated "warned of God," "admonished of God," Matthew 2:12 , Matthew 2:22 ; Hebrews 8:5 ; Hebrews 11:7 ; of. Acts 10:22 , ἐχρηματίσθη ὑπὸ ἀγγέλου ἁγίου ) on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh (or, warneth ) from heaven. Here the warning begins. "Him that speaketh ( τὸν λαλοῦντα )," is suggested by λαλοῦντι in the preceding verse. But the subject is changed: it is God, not the "blood of sprinkling," that is now regarded as speaking to us from heaven. It was God also that warned on earth; not, as some take it, Moses, whom the word χρηματίζοντα does not suit: of him it is said, κεκρημάτισται ( Hebrews 8:5 ). The allusion is to the voice heard from the earthly Sinai, which the people entreated ( supra , Hebrews 12:19 , παρητήσαντο — the same word as is used here) should be heard no more. But they escaped not the hearing of that voice, or the consequences of disregarding its warning (cf. Hebrews 2:2 ; Hebrews 3:10 ).