I am taking my time to establish from the scripture of truth the difference between the character of Jesus Christ and that of the God that historic Israel knew and worshipped. I need to establish this difference before I unmask the identity of the God who had a major influence over historic Israel.
In article six, I will begin to show you clearly from the book of Genesis the identity of darkness and the operations of light.
I chose the number 6 to begin this exposition because it is the prophetic number of man and human existence was trapped in between the God conflict until Jesus Christ revealed the character of God and exposed the identity of satan.
In Jesus’ teaching on forgiveness, as seen in the book of Matthew chapter five, we see how he disassociated himself from the God the Children of Israel had come to know.
Matthew 5 (KJV)
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³⁸ Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
³⁹ But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
The statement “An eye for an eye” is the direct words of the Lord God to Moses as seen in Exodus 21:24, Leviticus 24:20, and Deuteronomy 19:21. On careful observation, you would notice that Jesus didn’t mention God while quoting that verse: instead he said, “You have heard that it had been said.”
He used this same remark in five other places in that chapter where he introduced a way of life that is different from the ones the Lord God had instructed the children of Israel to observe.
This pattern of communication shows that Jesus was deliberating avoiding using the word “God” with reference to those laws.
Jesus could have said, “You have heard that God said. . .” but he opened his statement like that because he knew that he wasn’t the one who made that statement in the first place – do not forget that Jesus is God in flesh.
And so, reporting that law as one given by God would be him affirming that he gave the law and thus put himself in a position where he cannot instruct differently so he is not found to be contradicting himself.
Jesus used a subtle approach in his teachings and parables to reveal the true God and expose the false God. He couldn’t speak plainly for obvious reasons – the people, including his disciples, wouldn’t accept his teaching, and his death would have been brought closer on charges of blasphemy.
One may argue that the chapter in the book Exodus where Jesus lifted his opening statement had other laws that protected the interest of the people of Israel.
There were indeed laws in that chapter that protected the interest of the people of Israel, but I want you to keep this truth in your heart: darkness has morals; do not be deceived into thinking that his morality indicates that he is light.
The pagan nations around the time of historic Israel also had laws that benefitted mankind even though they were given to idol worship. Even the traditional religions in your country, despite their worship of idols, have moral laws that protect the interests of the indigenous people of the land.
Let us take a look at the law that Jesus corrected.
Matthew 5 (KJV)
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³⁸ Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
³⁹ But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
The God that the children of Israel knew encouraged recompensing evil with evil, but Jesus discouraged them from doing so, but to rather indulge those who sought to do them harm.
In a later discourse, Jesus corrected another law given to the children of Israel by the Lord God.
Matthew 5 (KJV)
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⁴³ Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
⁴⁴ But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
⁴⁵ That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
Did you notice how he started his statement with the iconic opener “You have heard that it has been said. . .”
The God who Israel knew instructed them to love their neighbors and hate their enemies, but Jesus, who is God, instructed them to love their enemies and, by that, become imitators of their Father who is in heaven.
It is noteworthy that Jesus informs them that the Father of light causes his sun to shine on the good and evil and also causes his rain to fall on the just and unjust. This is in clear contrast to the prominent God of the Children of Israel, who even holds back his blessings from them when they disobey his commandments, and he sends calamities on them.
The truth is not far from scripture that Jesus Christ is a different God from the God that the children of Israel worshipped.
Light is here!
Dr. Destiny Kingston
ChurchGrowth360 International