What Makes the Golden Rule the Greatest Command?

Sermon on the Mount Q+R 5 (E39) – Should we judge abusive behavior in others? Do we need faith in Jesus and the Holy Spirit to be righteous? And how can we discern who is a true or false prophet? In this episode, Tim and Jon respond to your questions from episodes 30-38 in the Sermon on the Mount series, where we explored Matthew 7:1-27. Plus, we share more of the Lord’s Prayer song submissions. Thank you to our audience for your thoughtful contributions to this episode!View more resources on our website →Timestamps Chapter 1: “Are the opening and closing of the sermon at odds with each other?” (00:00-12:50)Chapter 2: “What about judging abusive behavior?” (15:52-27:04)Chapter 3: “How can we be peacemakers but avoid throwing pearls before swine?” (29:43-33:55)Chapter 4: “Is there a pattern in the Bible of angels guarding significant doorways?” (33:55-40:37)Chapter 5: “How can we discern who is a true or false prophet?” (43:40-59:46)Chapter 6: “How do you think Jesus connects the Spirit’s power with living righteously?” (1:01:41-1:11:44)Referenced ResourcesCheck out Tim’s library here.You can experience our entire library of resources in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Show Music “The Lord’s Prayer 3” by Poor Bishop Hooper“Thine Is the Kingdom” by Aryn Michelle“Creator of the Cosmos” by Andrew Eoff“The Lord’s Prayer” by Wes Crawford“Our Father (Lord’s Prayer)” by Peter AssadOriginal Sermon on the Mount music by Richie KohenBibleProject theme song by TENTSShow CreditsJon Collins is the creative producer for today’s show, and Tim Mackie is the lead scholar. Production of today’s episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer; Cooper Peltz, managing producer; Colin Wilson, producer. Aaron Olsen edited today's episode and also provided our sound design and mix. Tyler Bailey was supervising engineer. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app.Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

The Mountain E3 — The biblical authors portray Eden as a cosmic mountain—an overlapping Heaven and Earth space in God’s presence. Humans are placed on the Eden mountain and given a choice: Will they trust God’s voice and wisdom, or will they seize the knowledge of good and bad on their own terms? In this episode, Jon and Tim discuss the drama that plays out on the first cosmic mountain and how it becomes the pattern for every future mountaintop story in the Bible.View more resources on our website →Timestamps Chapter 1: Recap of What We’ve Learned So Far (0:00-12:33)Chapter 2: The Cosmic Eden Mountain (12:33-33:27)Chapter 3: The First Humans Fail the Mountain Test (33:27-58:50)Referenced ResourcesThe Tabernacle Pre-Figured: Cosmic Mountain Ideology in Genesis and Exodus by L.M. Morales (Link to PDF, since book is not available for sale)The Symbolism of the Biblical World: Ancient Near Eastern Iconography and the Book of Psalms by Othmar KeelCheck out Tim’s library here.You can experience our entire library of resources in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Show Music“Dreamscape Lagoon” by Enzalla“Rain or Shine” by Birocratic & Middle SchoolBibleProject theme song by TENTS Show CreditsProduction of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer. Aaron Olsen edited today’s episode and also provided the sound design and mix. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie.Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

The Mountain E2 — Ancient Israel’s neighbors believed that the world originated as a mountain rising up out of the chaos waters. The gods ruled from this great cosmic mountain, fighting battles with nature and issuing decrees that kept the world in order. So how did this surrounding culture impact the cosmology of the Bible? In this episode, Jon and Tim discuss what the cosmic mountain meant in the Ancient Near Eastern context and how the biblical authors adapted and subverted this symbol in surprising ways.View more resources on our website →Timestamps Chapter 1: Recap and Intro to Cosmic Mountains in the Ancient Near East (0:00-6:52)Chapter 2: Egyptian and Mesopotamian Cosmic Mountains (6:52-17:54)Chapter 3: Canaanite and Phoenician Cosmic Mountains (17:54-28:17)Chapter 4: Psalm 48: The True Cosmic Mountain (28:17-38:40)Referenced ResourcesThe Cosmic Mountain in Canaan and the Old Testament by Richard J. Clifford“The Common Temple Ideology of the Ancient Near East” by John M. LundquistCheck out Tim’s library here.You can experience our entire library of resources in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Show Music“Are We There Yet?” by The Bridge, Efechto & D. Steele“Lozari” by L’indécis“Lily (Floriana)” by Timothy BrindleBibleProject theme song by TENTS Show CreditsProduction of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer. Aaron Olsen edited today’s episode and also provided the sound design and mix. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie.Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

The Mountain E1 — What comes to mind when you think of mountains? Is it a strenuous climb or a feeling of smallness as you gaze on the majesty of nature? The biblical authors had similar connotations with mountains, presenting them as sublime, in-between spaces—that are also treacherous! This tension between majesty and danger led ancient Israel and their surrounding neighbors to connect real mountains to “The Mountain,” a cosmic place where Heaven and Earth overlap and the divine and human realms become one. In this episode, Jon and Tim introduce our new theme series, The Mountain.View more resources on our website →Timestamps Chapter 1: Introduction to Biblical Mountains (0:00-7:13)Chapter 2: What Is a Mountain in the Bible? (7:13-19:22)Chapter 3: What Do Mountains Mean in the Bible? (19:22-40:43)Referenced ResourcesCheck out Tim’s library here.You can experience our entire library of resources in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Show Music“Astér” by Kissamilé“Soulangeana, ft. Dom R” by Illiterate“Twins” by Rose NoirBibleProject theme song by TENTSShow CreditsProduction of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer. Aaron Olsen edited today’s episode and also provided the sound design and mix. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie.Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

How is God’s generosity meant to change us? In the Bible, God’s gifts are intended to bring about transformation in our lives. This generosity challenges our natural tendencies toward selfishness, calling us to live in a community that freely shares and truly loves one another. In this re-released episode from 2019, Tim and Jon explore the teachings of Jesus and the apostles on generosity and ponder the centrality of generosity to the Gospel itself.View more resources on our website →Timestamps Chapter 1: Indiscriminate Gifting (0:00-16:32)Chapter 2: Give to Your Enemies (16:32-33:35)Chapter 3: Grace and Gifts (33:35-45:01)Chapter 4: A Blank Checkbook from Jesus (45:01-56:21)Referenced ResourcesPaul and the Gift by John M. G. Barclay You can find our Generosity theme video here.Check out Tim’s library here.You can experience our entire library of resources in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Show Music“Clouded Thoughts” by goosetaf“Reminisce (feat. HM Surf)” by goosetaf“Murmuration” by Blue Wednesday & ShopanBibleProject theme song by TENTS Show CreditsProduction of today's episode is by Dan Gummel, producer; Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer and remixed this episode for re-release. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie.Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

What happens when humans misuse the gifts God gives them? From Eve’s attitude toward the births of Cain and Seth, to the Tower of Babel, to Abraham’s response to the promised land, the stories in Genesis reveal a tension between God’s abundant generosity and humanity’s selfish responses. This tension continues when the people of Israel reside in the promised land—a gift they repeatedly misuse. In this re-released episode from 2019, Tim and Jon trace the theme of generosity and scarcity from Genesis to Deuteronomy, uncovering what it means for us today.View more resources on our website →Timestamps Chapter 1: First-Born and Second-Born (00:00-20:05)Chapter 2: God Chooses the Unlikely One + TheTower of Babel (20:05-32:21)Chapter 3: Abraham Gets the Ultimate Gift (32:21-44:00)Chapter 4: Rescued Slaves (44:00-1:02:51)Referenced ResourcesA Commentary on the Book of Genesis: Part I - From Adam to Noah by Umberto CassutoCreated Equal: How the Bible Broke with Ancient Political Thought by Joshua A. BermanYou can find our Generosity theme video here.Check out Tim’s library here.You can experience our entire library of resources in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Show Music“Quietly” by blnkspc_“Mind Your Time” by Me.So“Cruising” by Evil NeedleBibleProject theme song by TENTSShow CreditsProduction of today's episode is by Dan Gummel, producer; Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer and remixed this episode for re-release. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie.Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

The Bible begins with a portrait of God as an amazing and generous host to humanity, an image that is on full display in the Genesis creation narrative. But the humans ruin the party in Eden by believing the lies that God is stingy and withholding. In this re-released episode from 2019, Jon and Tim start at the beginning of the Bible, where God seeks to be generous and gracious, and where humans respond with suspicion, greed, jealousy, and murder.View more resources on our website →TimestampsChapter 1: Always One Horrible Choice From Ruining the Party (00:00-15:04)Chapter 2: A Noble-Looking Way to Ruin Abundance (15:04-26:47)Chapter 3: The Chosen and the Onlookers (26:47-39:17)Referenced ResourcesYou can find our Generosity theme video here.Check out Tim’s library here.You can experience our entire library of resources in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Show Music“Spiral” by KV Twin“Leche 005” by Matthew Halbert-HowenBibleProject theme song by TENTSShow CreditsProduction of today's episode is by Dan Gummel, producer; Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer and remixed this episode for re-release. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie.Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

What comes to mind when you think of generosity? Is it sharing your money, resources, or even time with others? For the biblical authors, generosity is much more than an act of kindness—it’s a reality woven into the universe, starting with the generous Creator. In this re-released of our 2019 series on generosity, Jon and Tim start by exploring Jesus’ perspective on resources and the Hebrew Bible’s portrayal of God’s gracious abundance.View more resources on our website →Timestamps Chapter 1: The Theme of Generosity in the Bible (00:00-7:58)Chapter 2: Generosity for the Poor, Anxiety About Life, and Birdwatching (7:58-36:25)Chapter 3: The Story of Generosity in the Hebrew Bible (36:25-53:06)Chapter 4: The Corruption of Abundance (53:06-1:07:04)Referenced ResourcesYou can find our Generosity theme video here.Check out Tim’s library here.You can experience our entire library of resources in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Show Music“Conquer” by Beautiful Eulogy“Shot in the Back of the Head” by Moby“Scream Pilots” by Moby“Analogs” by MobyBibleProject theme song by TENTSShow CreditsProduction of today's episode is by Dan Gummel, producer; Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer and remixed this episode for re-release. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie.Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Sermon on the Mount E38 – When Jesus finishes the Sermon on the Mount, his first audience responds with astonishment. What will our response be? And where will that response lead us? In this episode, Tim, Jon, Michelle, and members of our audience reflect on their journeys through the sermon. Listen to how meditating on Matthew 5-7 has changed them and how these words of Jesus are guiding them to seek God’s wisdom moving forward. TimestampsChapter 1: How Jesus' First Listeners Responded to the Sermon on the Mount (00:00-24:10)Chapter 2: A Lifetime of Meditating (24:10-33:59)Chapter 3: Jon and Tim Share Personal Reflections (33:59-48:02)Referenced ResourcesCheck out Tim’s library here.You can experience our entire library of resources in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Show MusicOriginal Sermon on the Mount music by Richie KohenBibleProject theme song by TENTS“Don’t Be Anxious” by Maddy BelskusShow CreditsJon Collins is the creative producer for today's show. Production of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer; Cooper Peltz, managing producer; and Colin Wilson, producer. Stephanie Tam is our consultant and editor. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer, and he edited and mixed today’s episode. Nina Simone does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Today’s hosts are Jon Collins and Michelle Jones, and Tim Mackie is our lead scholar. Special thanks to our incredible audience for their thoughtful reflections.Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Sermon on the Mount E37 –  The final teaching of the Sermon on the Mount addresses the most important aspect of the choice Jesus presents to his listeners. Where does the path that we choose lead us? Jesus describes two builders—a foolish man who builds his house on sand and a wise man who builds his house on rock. When the storm comes, the house on sand is destroyed, while the house on rock remains standing. This seems straightforward, but unpacking the biblical themes of houses, cities, and floodwaters reveals deeper implications for Jesus followers in every generation. Listen in as Tim and Jon conclude their discussion of the sermon by exploring how Jesus' teachings equip us to weather storms outside of Eden, just as Jesus' life ultimately overcame the floodwaters of death.TimestampsChapter 1: The Simple-Minded (0:00-22:03)Chapter 2: When The Storms Come (22:03-30:50)Chapter 3: Neither Compromise Nor Revolt (30:50-39:53)Chapter 4: If You Live By the Way of Jesus (39:53-53:17)Referenced ResourcesCheck out Tim’s library here.You can experience our entire library of resources in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Show MusicOriginal Sermon on the Mount music by Richie KohenBibleProject theme song by TENTS“Lost Call” by Suuna & tulki“Soulangeana (feat. Dom R)” by Illiterate“Clementine.” by chromo, the dreamerShow CreditsJon Collins is the creative producer for today's show. Production of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer; Cooper Peltz, managing producer; and Colin Wilson, producer. Stephanie Tam is our consultant and editor. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer. Frank Garza and Aaron Olsen edited today's episode. Aaron Olsen also provided the sound design and mix for today's episode. Nina Simone does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Today’s hosts are Jon Collins and Michelle Jones, and Tim Mackie is our lead scholar.Powered and distributed by Simplecast.