Chp.85 - The King Of Glory Commands Us To Love, Not Hate Our Enemies
"For it is a ridiculous thing to see the sun, and the moon, and the other stars, continually keeping the same course, and bringing round the different seasons; . . . yet that he who founds his discourse on the prophetic Scriptures should leave them and abstain from constantly referring to the same Scriptures, because it is thought he can bring forth something better than Scripture. The passage, then, by which I proved that God reveals that there are both angels and hosts in heaven is this: ‘Praise the Lord from the heavens: praise Him in the highest. Praise Him, all His angels: praise Him, all His hosts.’ ”1 Justin Martyr. (1885). Dialogue of Justin with Trypho, a Jew. In A. Roberts, J. Donaldson, & A. C. Coxe (Eds.), The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus (Vol. 1, pp. 241–242). Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company.
Justin continues his argument that the King of glory is Jesus Christ, against those who teach that Psalm 24 applies to some, if not all, of the kings of Israel. It is blasphemous to equate the kings of Israel to this King, because the qualification for this office is absolute perfection. Therefore, this King is to be searched out for by every generation of kings who are of the heritage of Jacob. It was the glory of Jacob to seek the face of this LORD, who is the King of all glory (Gen.32:28). And so, those in the high places are to purify their hands and cleanse their hearts from idolatry in the strength and glory of this Supreme Sovereign, who is over all the hosts. The king who receives this salvation has the blessing and righteousness of the LORD to do good for this kingdom. Therefore, the heads of the gates and the everlasting doors are to be lifted up to receive their King of all kings, and host His throne to the glory and honor of His holy Name. For the victory of the battle is in His perfect strength. And this victory is as sure as the consistency of the sun, moon, and stars that continually hold their course. So, we have, according to Justin, in the Scriptures, something greater than the reality of time and the seasons. In this, the LORD is to be praised from the heavens, in the highest places in Christ, with all the angels and with all the other hosts. Is there anything greater than this Word; this body of evidence which contains the witness of the LORD?
"And I said, “Listen, my friends, to the Scripture which induces me to act thus. Jesus commanded [us] to love even [our] enemies, as was predicted by Isaiah in many passages, in which also is contained the mystery of our own regeneration, as well, in fact, as the regeneration of all who expect that Christ will appear in Jerusalem, and by their works endeavour earnestly to please Him. These are the words spoken by Isaiah: ‘Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at His word. Say, our brethren, to them that hate you and detest you, that the name of the Lord has been glorified. He has appeared to your joy, and they shall be ashamed. A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple,2 a voice of the Lord who rendereth recompense to the proud." Justin Martyr. (1885). Dialogue of Justin with Trypho, a Jew. In A. Roberts, J. Donaldson, & A. C. Coxe (Eds.), The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus (Vol. 1, p. 242). Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company. Justin says these Scriptures are the motivation of his love for his enemies. Justin, who is supposed to be a Samaritan, says these truths are what cause him to love his racist persecutors. Justin desires to see the glory of Jerusalem restored as much as the purest Jew. Therefore, it (his love) is based on this Word and on this LORD that Christ will appear again in Jerusalem apart from sin (Heb.9:28). In this, Trypho the Jew, is called a brother, for the sake of the heritage of the fathers who had previously believed. This Jesus, called Christ, has appeared for this, even our, joy, but those who oppose Him shall be ashamed. And from the joy of this city, called Jerusalem, from this eternal temple of souls, the voice of the LORD of hosts will render vengeance to the proud and lofty of heart at the celebration of His coming. But those humbled at the sound of this Name are commanded to come to this city and nurse at the breasts of her love, and be delighted in the entrance of His beauty and glory to rule all nations in perfect justice and make an end to all wars, bringing peace to the borders that hate the truth and the restraints of His love. The heads of all these gates will not refuse the glory of this King of all kings; every knee will bow and every tongue will confess the supremacy of this King, who is our LORD and salvation (Isa.45:23;Rom.14:11). Justin expresses this love, not by withholding the truth, but by freely giving the truth, and entrusting the LORD with the effects and fruitfulness of it. For it is the LORD that opens and shuts the womb, and therefore Zion will be fruitful again, but not without labor pains. Those who mourn for her now shall be lifted and rejoice in her restoration, all, even the Gentiles, who love His appearing. This is the fulfillment of the commandment to love one's neighbor as oneself and to love even your enemy. In this, New Covenant love does no harm and the enemies of the LORD are only those who cause confusion and distort the minds of the simple. And so the LORD will make the crooked paths straight and remove that which deceives and blinds the minds of the ignorant. Love does not conceal that which reveals, and so the Lord Jesus Christ is the revelation. Will this King of glory come unto your nation to rule with a rod of iron, or will this King reward your nation with peace and prosperity? Ready or not, this King is coming, and only those who have oil in their lamps will be rewarded. Matthew 25:1–13 (NKJV) 1 “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6 “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. 11 “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
