Hebrews 13:8
8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Nothing is permanent in this world. Even good and faithful church leaders will one day be gone. This could have been implied in the last phrase of the preceding verse, when the writer mentioned “the end of their conversation” (v. 7). In this fast-changing world, nothing seems dependable and permanent. Leaders come, and leaders go. One Leader, however, is unchangeable – Jesus Christ.
First, note that the writer uses both names, “Jesus” and “Christ”. The name “Jesus” embraces the work of God’s Son on earth as our Saviour. He has come to save His people from their sins. The name “Christ” is the official title that expresses the divinity of the Son. The double name occurs only three times in Hebrews (10:10; 13:8, 21).
Not only Christ’s divinity, but also His changelessness, is emphasised here – “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” In the beginning of this epistle, the author has already explained this truth of Christ. “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: they shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; and as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail” (1:8-12).
Christ is essentially divine. There might have been changes of position and circumstances in our Lord’s life on earth, but He is God for ever! Of His divine attributes, He is unchanging. He is perfect and blessed in His righteousness and faithfulness, love and mercy, goodness and forbearance, etc. In His Word, Christ is unchanging. His words are true for ever. Of His offices, He is also unchangeable.
On the contrary, we are ever changing in many respects. Our outward appearances, our health, our economic condition, our abilities – all these change. But He is sublimely unchangeable, eternally and infinitely perfect. Through the changing scenes of our lives, He remains unchanged as our compassionate and loving divine Saviour.