I would agree, but I'm not sure how you're understanding it.
There are two covenants that Paul identifies by allegory. The covenant of law that pertains to the flesh and the covenant of promise, that (all though not stated) pertains to the spirit.
Gal 4:22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
Gal 4:23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
Gal 4:24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
Is this how you understand it also?
Under which covenant are we told not to love? I don't mean to harp on this, I'm trying to understand what other Christians actually believe and why they do so.
There are several Covenants.
But Paul is talking about the one that matters and that is the Abrahamic Covenant.
The points to consider concerning the covenant promise God made to Hagar are these:
Hagar and her son Ishmael were cast out at the word of Sarah and God agreed with the decision. Gen. 21:10-12.
God told also Abraham that He would make of Ishmael a great nation. Gen. 21:13, 18.
The reason for the allegory was to make distinction between Isaac and Ishmael as both were sons of Abraham and Paul's instruction to his "Jewish" brethren in Asia Minor (Galatians was a circular letter) was that the promise went through Isaac.
But it was the Mosaic Covenant that God made when He gave His Law to the twelve tribes of the children of Jacob/Israel in the Book of Holiness (Leviticus) in which God commanded the tribes to love among themselves and to not mingle with the Gentile nations which surround them nor learn their ways (Lev. 19:17-18.)
17 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. 18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.
Lev. 19:17–18.
God placed the tribes around the Tabernacle as it pleased Him. Three tribes to the north, three tribes to the east, three tribes to the west, and three tribes to the south. From the air it was the shape of a cross.
A brother was a member of the same tribe.
A neighbor was a member of a tribe situated next to another tribe.
Children of thy people was a member of any tribe.
As you may well know Jesus didn't come to change the Law and He didn't. In Matthew 5 Jesus teaches the "Jews" in the original command of God in the Law given that they were the descendants of both northern and southern tribes from the past that became enemies against each other and warred several times against each other in their history. Jesus is taking God's people back to original command and upholding it and called upon His tribal brethren and neighbor (Jesus was from the tribe of Judah) to love each other as commanded by God. The whole context of Matthew 5:43-48 has Israel as His subject and not the Romans or any other Gentiles not in Covenant with God.
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.
46
For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47
And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
48
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Mt 5:43–48.
The idea of the kingdom was becoming stronger than before especially since Jesus was said to be Israel's Messiah and King prophesied to sit on the throne of David. Even upon Jesus' ascension from the Mount of Olives His disciples asked Him about the restoration of the Kingdom to Israel:
3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them
forty days, and
speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: Acts 1:3.
6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying,
Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? Acts 1:6.
And since Jesus' coming is the fulfillment of many prophecies in the Old Testament and that Paul's teaching that if we are Christ's through deliverance and salvation, we are also the seed of Abraham and heirs according to the promise:
29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Gal. 3:29.
This also includes being part of the Mosaic Covenant (Born-again "Jews" and born-again Gentiles.) And the connection is made through the Promise of Holy Spirit. The Law is type and shadow of the Holy Spirit. It was
He whom God Promised to put in our inward parts as per Jeremiah 31:
31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD,
That I will make a new covenant
With the
house of Israel (Northern Kingdom), and with the
house of Judah (Southern Kingdom.)
32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers
In the day that I took them by the hand
To bring them out of the land of Egypt;
Which my covenant they brake,
Although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel (both Kingdoms);
After those days, saith the LORD,
I will put my law in their inward parts,
And write it in their hearts;
And will be their God,
And they shall be my people.
34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying,
Know the LORD:
For they shall all know me,
From the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD:
For I will forgive their iniquity,
And I will remember their sin no more.
Jer. 31:31–34.
Now I ask you, do we see the same Jesus?
