”Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Hebrews 13:8New International Version (NIV)
Hebrews 13:8 Devotional (Daily Bible Verse)
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever
Hebrews 13:8 says that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Meaning that Jesus never changes. In fact, He has never changed.
Moreso, the words of Hebrews 13:7, that is, “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you; Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith”, serve as the context of Hebrews chapter 13 verse 8. And therefore, the author of Hebrews was concerned that his readers would be “carried away by all kinds of strange teachings” (Hebrews 13:9), including returning to Judaism. That is, verse 8 is the grounds for not following the false teachers recorded in verse 9.
Consequently, he exhorted them to “Remember their leaders, who spoke the word of God to them” (Hebrews 13:7). And even though these men had died, Jesus Christ, whom they preached, is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Jesus Christ does not change
Therefore, godly teachers will come and go, but Jesus Christ remains the same forever. Because, sometimes, people may become so attached to some godly man or his teaching that they are devastated when that man leaves or dies.
But the author of Hebrews is concerned about the center of the sound doctrine that they teach, which is Jesus (1 Corinthians 2:2). And He is the One who doesn’t change. That is, the teachers of sound doctrine do and will continue to change, but the subject of sound doctrine, Jesus, will not.
Furthermore, everything around you will change constantly, but the sound doctrine that is based on the person and work of the unchanging Jesus Christ will not change. Jesus Christ is the complete and final revelation of God which can never be superseded or supplemented by something better – He is the better covenant and priest.
Jesus Christ is the antidote to false teachings
Additionally, Jesus is the antidote to the constant danger of false teaching. He who does not change, and His sacrifice for our sins, is the perpetual antidote to false teaching. And because Jesus is eternal, Christian doctrine is not meant to change with the times.
After all, He is “the way, and the truth, and the life; and no one goes to the Father but through Him” (John 14:6). No wonder the apostle Peter preached that “there is salvation in anyone else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
Prayer/Blessing
Lord Jesus, I am thankful that You are eternal, and therefore, You do not change. I can therefore rely on Your words and work. And this is my thanksgiving in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Daily Bible Reading
Psalms 1-9 (see How to Read the Bible in One Year or How to Read the Bible (for Beginners))
