“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 ESV
Reflection: When Jesus said, “love your enemies”, did he introduce something new?
Because of our physical lives and minds being so very finite and limited, we have a very difficult time wrapping our minds around the idea of something “eternal”, including something that is never changing. That God existed before time, and will always exist, and that He never changes. So let’s challenge our understanding a bit today. Let me ask you – Did Jesus introduce anything new in the sermon on the Mount, such as the in the beatitudes? Or are these eternal truths, always been there, just not previously fully understood by man? Think of the command when he said “love your enemies”. Was that new? Let’s read what he actually said in context. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matthew 5:43-45 ESV. Notice that he is referring back to the character of the Father, that was always there. Because, we know that God doesn’t change. To “love” our enemies wasn’t a new idea introduced by Jesus, it was just explained, or revealed. We also see how Jesus treated his enemies, such as the Pharisees and teachers of the law. He was, as John wrote, full of grace and truth.
Let’s not be confused: The God of the Old Testament is the same God of the New Testament! “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 ESV
That also goes for the law. Jesus said “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” Matthew 5:17 ESV. He lived a perfect life, fulfilling the law, which also means the law has never changed and is still “in effect”. Because the law is perfect and describes God’s heart. What has changed is God’s revelation of grace through faith in Christ. That we have a way to the Father through Christ. The mystery of Christ, of God’s eternal plan for salvation, was revealed “in the fullness of time”. Paul writes “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.” Ephesians 1:7-10 ESV, and later, “When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”Ephesians 3:4-6 ESV. A plan through Christ established before time, for us, done long before the revealing of that plan. Before Christ came to reveal it, and fulfill it.
The disciples struggled with reconciling what they understood of God of the Old Testament and what Jesus said, to which Jesus responded “Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.” John 14:8-11 ESV. That includes his statement about “love your enemies”. There is no difference between the Father and the Son.
Now, let’s really challenge our thinking even further. Is the new covenant established in Jesus blood therefore retroactive? Meaning, does it apply to the time before Christ, or just after? This one is pretty interesting to consider. But, perhaps it is simpler to process if we don’t include time. If we think “outside of time”. The new covenant supersedes the old; therefore the old is gone. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV. So what does that mean for those who lived before the revealing of Christ? How can they be in Christ? David knew long before Christ came, that animal sacrifices never pleased God, only a broken and repentant heart. That blood sacrifice pointed to sin leading to death, and pointing ultimately to Jesus blood sacrifice for sin “For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” Psalm 51:16-17 ESV. David didn’t know how God would deal ultimately with his sin, but he still came to God, confessing his sin with a repentant heart, trusting that God would find a way. We do the same today, even as we don’t fully comprehend the mystery of Christ.
Ok, a lot here to think about. But perhaps the key point today is that God is never changing – he is the same yesterday, today and forever. That there is no difference between the God of the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament.