This might provide you with a clearer picture of what is going on in this reading from Hebrews. Â Warning: It requires a lot of digging around in the Old Testament, which is not a bad thing!
Hebrews 12:18-29
The whole idea here is to make the Jewish Christians realize how much better they have it, since the Messiah has ushered in the new kingdom. Â The author begins by contrasting what the Jewish Christians had (and didnât have) before and after the coming of Jesus, the Messiah.
18You have not come to something that can be touched, a blazing fire, and darkness, and gloom, and a tempest, 19and the sound of a trumpet, and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that not another word be spoken to them. 20(For they could not endure the order that was given, âIf even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned to death.â 21Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, âI tremble with fear.â)
The author is referring to the story that takes place during the wanderings in the wilderness of Moses and Godâs chosen people. The thing that cannot be touched (but can be seen) is Mt. Sinai. (See Exodus 19:7-25.) He then compares it to what they now have, with Jesus and the fulfillment of prophecy.
 22But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,Â
The temple in Jerusalem was the only place on earth where one could experience Godâs presence. âHeavenly Jerusalemâ is the replacement for the temple in Jerusalem. (See Hebrews 11:16, Revelation 21:2 and Galatians 4:26.) The idea here is that the temple in Jerusalem was temporary, and has been replaced by the heavenly Jerusalem because of the coming of the Messiah.
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24and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.25See that you do not refuse the one who is speaking; for if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject the one who warns from heaven!Â
The first verse compares the blood of Able (Genesis 4:8-16) with Jesusâ lifesaving blood. One condemns, the other saves. The rest reminds us to heed the saving word of Jesus.
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26At that time his voice shook the earth; but now he has promised, âYet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heaven.â 27This phrase, âYet once more,â indicates the removal of what is shakenâthat is, created thingsâso that what cannot be shaken may remain. 28aTherefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, âŠ
The reference here is to Haggai 2:6, in which God will shake heaven and earth. By contrast, because of Jesus ushering in the New Kingdom, our world will not be shaken.
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28b⊠let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe; 29for indeed our God is a consuming fire.
Our response is faithful worship to the God who sent the Messiah, who saves our souls.
THE TAKEAWAY
The whole idea here is to get the Jewish Christians to realize how much better they have it, since the Messiah has ushered in the new kingdom. It good for us to realize this too!