Outline and Structural Analysis
vv. 18-21: Sinai
vv. 22-24: Zion, Heavenly Jerusalem
vv. 25-26: Warning with passage from Haggai 2:6.
v. 27: Explanation
of Haggai 2:6
vv. 28-29: Exhortation
There is an
inclusio with pyri and pyr in vv. 18 and 29, respectively
(Attridge 373, Vanhoye 209). In the Greek, the section consists of five
sentences (vv. 18-21; vv. 22-24; vv. 25-26; v. 27; vv. 28-29), with vv. 25-26
in the middle, suggesting that the warning about not refusing him who is
speaking combined with the quote from Haggai is central to the section. In vv.
18-21, the author gives a description of the institution of the Old Covenant at
Sinai, which is contrasted with the New Covenant characterized by Zion, the
heavenly Jerusalem in vv. 22-24. This contrast sets the stage for our author to
present a warning to his audience, reinforced by the Haggai quote (vv. 25-26).
Next, in v. 27 is a brief explanation of the Haggai quote followed by an
exhortation in vv. 28-29.
