Did you know that in both the Old and New Testaments God hates sin and will punish it. So many people look at all the bloodshed in the OT and contrast this with the love of Christ in the NT and conclude that God’s character has changed. But does God really change? While Jesus was certainly loving and kind He also hated sin. This can be seen when He overturned the moneychanger’s tables. But what really showed me that Jesus was just as hard on sin as the God of the OT was, can be seen when we read Matthew (11:20-24):
20 Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent: 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.”
Jesus says that Capernaum would suffer even greater than the wicked city of Sodom! This idea that Jesus was soft on sin is totally wrong. He also spent a great deal of time talking about Hell and warning people to repent of sin so they wouldn’t have to go there. God’s character and nature hasn’t changed from OT to NT – some people just view God incorrectly!