Sermon on the Mount E28 In his third teaching on money, Jesus issues a warning about elevating wealth to the position of God in our lives. To describe wealth, Jesus uses the word mammon, which can be translated as the thing in which you trust. What happens when we put our trust in our wealth? What does Jesus mean by unrighteous wealth? And what can it look like to be free from the love of money? In this uncut episode, join Tim and Jon in a long-form dialogue exploring the Parable of the Shrewd M...
Jul 08, 2024•43 min•Ep 421•Transcript available on Metacast Sermon on the Mount E28 In his third teaching on money, Jesus issues a warning about elevating wealth to the position of God in our lives. To describe wealth, Jesus uses the word mammon, which can be translated as the thing in which you trust. What happens when we put our trust in our wealth? And what can it look like to be free from the love of money? In this episode, Tim and Jon and special guests explore the power we give our possessions and the upside-down wisdom that sharing, not hoarding, ...
Jul 08, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep 420•Transcript available on Metacast Sermon on the Mount E27 Jesus continues addressing our relationship to money and possessions with a riddle about the eye being the lamp of the bodya reference to a common cultural metaphor in which having a bad eye meant someone was stingy. By saying that the eye is the lamp of the body, Jesus highlights how our relationship to our possessions reflects our true character. In this episode, Tim, Jon, and Michelle explore how generosity creates possibility, while clinging tightly to our stuff cause...
Jul 01, 2024•39 min•Ep 419•Transcript available on Metacast Sermon on the Mount E26 The third section of the Sermon on the Mount's main body opens with a call to examine how we think about our stuff. Jesus makes it clear that how we relate to our money and possessions reveals how we relate to God and neighbor. He urges his listeners to not store up their treasures here on Earth but in the sky. But what is sky treasure? In this episode, Tim, Jon, and Michelle explore the differences between our earthly values and the values of Gods Kingdom in the skies. W...
Jun 24, 2024•57 min•Ep 418•Transcript available on Metacast Sermon on the Mount Q+R 3 (E25) What does Jesus mean when he describes people entering the Kingdom of the skies? Are the promises in the Beatitudes possible now, or do we need to wait for the new creation? How did Jesus respond to other perspectives on how to treat our enemies? How do we reconcile Jesus teachings on creative nonviolence with violence in the Old Testament narratives? Why does Jesus tell his followers to be perfect when the Bible repeatedly mentions that all humans fail? In this e...
Jun 17, 2024•54 min•Ep 417•Transcript available on Metacast Sermon on the Mount E24 Many of us first learned the King James translation of the final, personal request in the Lords Prayer: Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. But does God actually lead us into temptation? In a motif that weaves throughout the Hebrew Bible, we see God allowing tests to strengthen his partnership with humans. When this motif picks up in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus is the one experiencing testing. In this episode, Tim, Jon, and Michelle explore the theme o...
Jun 10, 2024•57 min•Ep 416•Transcript available on Metacast Sermon on the Mount E23 The second half of the Lords prayer contains four requests on behalf of the person praying. The second personal request is for God to forgive us. But forgiveness is not just a transaction between individuals or between God and humans. Forgiveness plays a central role in the arrival of Gods Kingdom. In this episode, Jon, Tim, and Michelle explore what forgiveness is, what it isn't, and what it looks like to set each other free. View more resources on our website Timestamps...
Jun 03, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep 415•Transcript available on Metacast Sermon on the Mount E22 The first half of the Lords Prayer features three requests on behalf of God and his Kingdom: he is our Father in the skies, whose name we recognize as holy and whose way of life we want to see on the land. The second half of the Lords prayer focuses on four personal requests, where we seek to align our needs with Gods wisdom. In this episode, Jon and Tim discuss the first request of daily bread and its connections to stories and wisdom in the Hebrew Bible. View more resou...
May 27, 2024•44 min•Ep 414•Transcript available on Metacast Sermon on the Mount E21 Prayer is at the center of the center of the Sermon on the Mount. And its in this section of teaching that Jesus gives us a simple prayer that we can participate in. Its only 12 lines long, but it contains a universe of ideas that center us with God. In this episode, Jon and Tim discuss the first half of the prayer: Our Father who is in the skies, may your name be recognized as holy. May your Kingdom come and your will be done as it is in the skies so also on the land. Vi...
May 20, 2024•41 min•Ep 413•Transcript available on Metacast Sermon on the Mount E20 We are now halfway through studying Jesus' most famous sermon, which brings us to the Lords Prayer. Whats the significance of a prayer being right here at the center? And whats the purpose of regularly reciting a short prayer like this one? In this episode, Jon, Tim, and others kick off a five-part series on the Lords Prayer, exploring its structure, core ideas, and historical background. For more information about writing and sharing your own Lord's Prayer song, visit ou...
May 13, 2024•59 min•Ep 412•Transcript available on Metacast Sermon on the Mount Q+R 2 (E19) How do we reconcile Jesus words about the Law with other New Testament teachings? How is Gods justice with gehenna different from karma? And why does the BibleProject translation of the Sermon on the Mount refer to the Kingdom of Heaven as the Kingdom of the skies? In this episode, Tim and Jon respond to your questions on the first four case studies about righteousness (episodes 9-14) in the Sermon on the Mount series. Thank you to our audience for your incredible...
May 06, 2024•56 min•Ep 411•Transcript available on Metacast Sermon on the Mount E18 In Matthew 6, Jesus turns his attention to religious practices of his day, specifically generosity to the poor, prayer, and fasting. But Jesus gives a surprising warning about these practices: if you do religious practices to get praise from people, then you're missing the point. In this episode, Jon and Tim discuss these three religious practices and reflect on the pitfalls of making religious devotion about yourself. View more resources on our website Timestamps Chapter...
Apr 29, 2024•54 min•Ep 410•Transcript available on Metacast Sermon on the Mount E17 In Matthew 6, Jesus transitions from sharing a vision for righteousness that fulfills the Torah and Prophets to talking about how true righteousness impacts religious practices. Religious practiceslike prayer, serving the poor, or generosityare meant to align our hearts with God. But Jesus noticed that many people in his day were doing religious practices to promote their own name and status. He called this behavior hypocrisy, which meant something different to him that i...
Apr 22, 2024•31 min•Ep 409•Transcript available on Metacast Sermon on the Mount E16 In Matthew 5:43-48, Jesus shares his sixth and final case study based on the wisdom of the Torah, and it may be the most challenging one yet. The first three case studies focused on treating others as sacred image-bearers of God. The fourth and fifth case studies offered guidance on how to handle conflict. And in the final case study, Jesus concludes with wisdom on how to respond to people who not only dislike us but even desire our harm. In this episode, Jon and Tim disc...
Apr 15, 2024•52 min•Ep 408•Transcript available on Metacast Sermon on the Mount E15 In Matthew 5:38-42, Jesus offers wisdom from the Torah about retaliation, justice, and nonviolent resistance to injustice. He references a series of laws in Exodus 21, Leviticus 24, and Deuteronomy 19, all of which contain the familiar language of eye for eye, tooth for tooth. Jesus reveals the surprising wisdom within these laws, using real-life scenarios that would have been familiar to oppressed Israelites living under Roman occupation: turning the other cheek, giving ...
Apr 08, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep 407•Transcript available on Metacast Sermon on the Mount E14 In Matthew 5:33-48, Jesus offers three case studies about how people can work together in spite of conflict. The first case study focuses on the ancient practice of oath keeping. By the time of Jesus, ancient Israelites no longer spoke the divine name of Yahweh out of respect, but they would still swear oaths by things closely related to Godlike the sky, land, temple, etc. Some people used these oaths as a loophole because they felt less serious to break (I only swore by ...
Apr 01, 2024•46 min•Ep 406•Transcript available on Metacast Sermon on the Mount E13 In Matthew 5:31-32, Jesus offers a quote from the Torah about when it is lawful to divorce, and then he shares his perspective. But what is the context of these words, and how would Jesus original audience have heard them? Its easy for modern readers to miss, but Jesus is entering a longstanding debate concerning a passage about divorce in Deuteronomy 24and his take is surprising. In this episode, Jon, Tim, and special guest Jeannine Brown discuss the story surrounding di...
Mar 25, 2024•45 min•Ep 405•Transcript available on Metacast Sermon on the Mount E12 In Matthew 5:27-30, Jesus references the Torahs command to not commit adultery (Exod. 20:14), going on to say that any man who lusts (or goes on looking) at a woman commits adultery with her in his heart. So what is his solution to avoid lust? Cut off a hand and gouge out an eye! Whoawhat is Jesus talking about? In this episode, Jon, Tim, and special guest Lucy Peppiatt discuss the meaning and impact of lust, the Bibles original ideal for men and women, and Jesus counterc...
Mar 18, 2024•48 min•Ep 404•Transcript available on Metacast Why do we not find the Sermon on the Mount in the gospels of Mark or John? Why is blessed not a good translation of the word makarios ? And if Jesus says that mourning, powerlessness, and poverty are the key to the good life, should we pursue those things? In this episode, Tim and Jon respond to your questions from the first seven episodes of the Sermon on the Mount series. Thank you to our audience for your incredible questions! View more resources on our website Timestamps Why do we not find t...
Mar 11, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep 403•Transcript available on Metacast Sermon on the Mount E10 In Matthew 5:21-48, Jesus reveals the divine wisdom of Israels Old Testament laws through six case studies. In the first case study, he expounds on one of the Ten Commandments, Do not murder (Exod. 20:13). After acknowledging this command, Jesus takes it further by saying that anyone who is angry with his brother or publicly shames someone is also guilty of murder. What does he mean? In this episode, Jon and Tim discuss Matthew 5:21-32, exploring key conceptssuch as murde...
Mar 04, 2024•56 min•Ep 402•Transcript available on Metacast Sermon on the Mount E9 What did Jesus mean when he said he came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets? In Jesus day, the laws from the Torah were over a thousand years old. And the Jewish people under Roman occupation werent able to follow all of the laws perfectly, leading to countless interpretations of how the people could observe the Torah. So what made this rabbi from Nazareths approach to the law any different? In this episode, Jon and Tim discuss Matthew 5:17-20, unpacking its historical co...
Feb 26, 2024•47 min•Ep 401•Transcript available on Metacast Sermon on the Mount E8 Why does Jesus call his followers salt and light? In the Hebrew Bible, salt is a metaphor for Gods long-lasting covenant with Israel, connected to priestly sacrifices, ritual purity, and social bonds. And the Hebrew word for light, or , shares a wordplay with torah , meaning Gods wise instruction. Gods wisdom given in the Torah is a light for Israel that they are called to share with the nations. In this episode, Jon and Tim discuss the meanings of salt and light, showing ...
Feb 19, 2024•46 min•Ep 400•Transcript available on Metacast Sermon on the Mount E7 What will it cost us to live like Jesus in our world? In the third and final triad of the Beatitudes, Jesus declares that the good life belongs to the peacemakers. But making peace Jesus-style will mean conflict, pain, difficulty, and even persecution. In this episode, Tim, Jon, and others explore the cultural tensions surrounding Jesus, his audience, and the four ancient groups who tried to make peace and how Jesus teachings created conflict with all of these groups. View...
Feb 12, 2024•44 min•Ep 399•Transcript available on Metacast Sermon on the Mount E6 What does it look like to have our desires and actions completely aligned with Gods will? In the second triad of the Beatitudes, Jesus paints a picture of the kind of people God is forming in the Kingdom of the Skies. In this episode, Tim, Jon, and guests break down the biblical words for righteousness, justice, mercy, and purity throughout the Bible, leading up to Jesus words in the Sermon on the Mount. View more resources on our website Timestamps Chapter 1: Hungering an...
Feb 05, 2024•47 min•Ep 398•Transcript available on Metacast Sermon the Mount E5 What does it mean to be poor in spirit, mourning, and meek? Jesus uses these words in the opening of the Sermon on the Mount, and the guys examine them in biblical Greek and Hebrew, finding that a better translation may be powerless, grieving, and unimportant. These are the people that Jesus believes will have the good life. How can that be? In this episode, Jon, Tim, and guests explore the first triad of the Beatitudes, shedding light on how those at the bottom of society ar...
Jan 29, 2024•41 min•Ep 397•Transcript available on Metacast Sermon on the Mount E4 What does Jesus mean when he calls people blessed in the first section of the Sermon on the Mount? The Greek word translated as blessed is makarios , and its Hebrew equivalent is ashrey , which means the good life. But theres another Hebrew word for blessing, barukh, which refers to blessings from God. In this episode, Tim, Jon, and guests unpack what it means to be blessed according to Jesus counterintuitive message as he ushers in the kingdom of the skies. View more reso...
Jan 22, 2024•34 min•Ep 396•Transcript available on Metacast Sermon on the Mount E3 The Sermon on the Mount is one of five major speeches Jesus gives in the Gospel of Matthew, and there are many similarities between these speeches. What is Matthew doing in his gospel that is unique from the other gospels? And how does this shape his portrayal of Jesus? In this episode, Jon and Tim discuss how the Sermon on the Mount fits into the larger context of the Gospel of Matthew. View more resources on our website Timestamps Chapter 1: Jesus Five Speeches in Matthe...
Jan 15, 2024•41 min•Ep 395•Transcript available on Metacast Sermon on the Mount E2 As a Jewish rabbi, Jesus was immersed in the Hebrew Bible, or what Christians often call the Old Testament. The Hebrew Bible tells the story of God working with ancient Israel to bring about his Kingdom. And in the New Testament, Jesus claimed that Gods Kingdom was at long last arriving in him. In this episode, Tim and Jon walk through the three parts of the Hebrew Bible, showing how they connect to what Jesus teaches in the Sermon on the Mount. Plus, Michelle, Dan, and Aa...
Jan 08, 2024•44 min•Ep 394•Transcript available on Metacast Most of us have probably heard sayings from Jesus famous teaching, commonly called the Sermon on the Mount. It's only 100 verses, but the sermon has created an enduring legacy that has shaped countless lives throughout history. In this first episode of a yearlong series on the Sermon on the Mount, Tim and Jon introduce some new voices and share stories of influential people who were inspired by Jesus words. Then the team lays out the basic facts of the Sermon on the Mount and the different ways ...
Jan 01, 2024•56 min•Ep 391•Transcript available on Metacast In our final episode of 2023, Tim, Jon, and BibleProject CEO, Steve, celebrate everything we worked on this year and the patrons who made it possible. The guys then talk about everything coming up in 2024 and beyond, including a sneak peek of a special new series coming in 2024 at the end of the show! View more resources on our website Timestamps Part (00:00-9:28) Part two (9:28-17:09) Part three (17:09-32:39) Part four (32:39-49:10) Referenced Resources Interested in more? Check out Tims librar...
Dec 25, 2023•53 min•Ep 393•Transcript available on Metacast 
