Jesus’ Surprising Warning About Religious Practices

Sermon on the Mount Q+R 2 (E19) – How do we reconcile Jesus’ words about the Law with other New Testament teachings? How is God’s 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 questions!View more resources on our website →Timestamps Why are there so many sets of threes in the Sermon on the Mount? (1:42-8:06)How do we reconcile Jesus’ words about the Law with other New Testament teachings? (8:06-18:10)Does Jesus contradict his teaching in Matthew 5:22 when he calls the Pharisees “blind fools” in Matthew 23:17? (18:10-26:06)What is the difference between God’s justice with gehenna and the philosophical idea of karma? (26:06-32:19)Why does Jesus not mention abuse as a legitimate reason for divorce? (32:19-42:12)Would Jesus say not to legally swear to tell the truth with your hand on the Bible? (42:12-46:14)Why do you refer to the Kingdom of Heaven as the Kingdom of the skies? (46:19-53:46)Referenced ResourcesStyle and Structure in Biblical Hebrew Narrative by Jerome T. WalshFour Views on Hell: Second Edition (Counterpoints: Bible and Theology), by Zondervan and edited by Preston SprinkleInterested in more? 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 Original Sermon on the Mount music by Richie Kohen BibleProject 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; and Colin Wilson, producer. Tyler Bailey is our supervising editor, and Aaron Olsen edited and mixed today’s episode. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Audience questions compiled by Christopher Maier. The hosts of today’s episode are Jon Collins and Tim Mackie.Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

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 1: Honor in Jesus’ Day (00:00-6:32)Chapter 2: Giving to the Poor (6:32-26:00)Chapter 3: Prayer (26:00-34:15)Chapter 4: Fasting (34:15-54:14)Referenced ResourcesFasting: The Ancient Practices by Scot McKnightChristianity's Surprise: A Sure and Certain Hope by C. Kavin RoweCheck out Tim’s library here.You can experience our entire library of resources in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Show Music Original Sermon on the Mount music by Richie KohenBibleProject theme song by TENTS“Descend” by dryhope“Polaroid” by Ward WillsShow 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; and Stephanie Tam, consultant and editor. Tyler Bailey is our audio engineer and editor, and he also provided our sound design and mix. Frank Garza and Aaron Olsen edited today's episode. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Today’s hosts are Jon Collins and Michelle Jones.Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

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 practices—like prayer, serving the poor, or generosity—are 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 it does to us today. In this episode, Jon and Tim discuss the original meaning of the word “hypocrite” and the differing motivations people can have for doing right by God and others.View more resources on our website →Timestamps Chapter 1: The Meaning of “Hypocrite” (00:00-10:06)Chapter 2: Seeking Reward from People or God (10:06-15:38)Chapter 3: A Reward of Honor (15:38-31:16)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 Original Sermon on the Mount music by Richie KohenBibleProject theme song by TENTS“Silk” by El Train“Brush Strokes” by Blue Wednesday and morningtimeShow 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; and Stephanie Tam, consultant and editor. Tyler Bailey is our audio engineer and editor, and he also provided our sound design and mix. Frank Garza and Aaron Olsen edited today's episode. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Today’s hosts are Jon Collins and Michelle Jones.Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

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 discuss one of Jesus’ most famous teachings: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”View more resources on our website →Timestamps Chapter 1: Recap of the Sermon so Far (00:00-11:16)Chapter 2: Unpacking “Love Your Neighbor and Hate Your Enemy” (11:16-20:12)Chapter 3: Who Is My Neighbor? (20:12-33:47)Chapter 4: Loving Like God and the Meaning of Teleios (33:47-51:36)Referenced ResourcesThe Gospel of Matthew (New International Commentary on the New Testament) by R. T. France 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 Original Sermon on the Mount music by Richie KohenBibleProject theme song by TENTS“Better Days” - Evil Needle“Inner Glow” - Bao & Packed RichShow 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; and Stephanie Tam, consultant and editor. Tyler Bailey, Frank Garza, and Aaron Olsen are our audio editors. Tyler Bailey is also our audio engineer, and he provided our sound design and mix. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Today’s hosts are Jon Collins and Michelle Jones.Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

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 your cloak, and going the extra mile. In this episode, Jon, Tim, and Michelle discuss how these actions can open up our imaginations for boldly standing against injustice in creative, nonviolent ways.View more resources on our website →Timestamps Chapter 1: Cultural Background of “Eye for Eye” (00:00-20:45)Chapter 2: The Meaning of “Do Not Resist” (20:45-28:13)Chapter 3: Turn the Other Cheek (28:13-39:20)Chapter 4: Give Up Your Coat (39:20-45:30)Chapter 5: Go the Extra Mile (45:30-01:01:00)Referenced ResourcesThe Gospel of Matthew: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary by Craig S. KeenerThe JPS Torah Commentary: Exodus by Nahum M. SarnaRomeo and Juliet by William ShakespeareStrength to Love by Martin Luther King Jr.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 Original 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; and Stephanie Tam, consultant and editor. Tyler Bailey, Frank Garza, and Aaron Olsen are our audio editors. Tyler Bailey is also our audio engineer, and he provided our sound design and mix. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Today’s hosts are Jon Collins and Michelle Jones.Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

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 God—like the sky, land, temple, etc. Some people used these oaths as a loophole because they felt less serious to break (“I only swore by the temple!”). In this episode, Jon and Tim discuss Jesus’ teaching on oaths, which demonstrates God’s wisdom on the integrity of our words and the danger of even small deceptions.View more resources on our website →Timestamps Chapter 1: The Historical Background of Oaths (00:00-13:22)Chapter 2: The Heart Beneath Oaths (13:22-30:44)Chapter 3: Oaths From the Evil One (30:44-46:15)Referenced ResourcesThe Divine Conspiracy by Dallas WillardCheck out Tim’s library here.You can experience our entire library of resources in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Show Music Original Sermon on the Mount music by Richie KohenAdditional music by UpsiDownBibleProject 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; and Stephanie Tam, consultant and editor. Tyler Bailey, Frank Garza, and Aaron Olsen are our audio editors. Tyler Bailey is also our audio engineer, and he also provided our sound design and mix. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Today’s hosts are Jon Collins and Michelle Jones.Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

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? It’s easy for modern readers to miss, but Jesus is entering a longstanding debate concerning a passage about divorce in Deuteronomy 24—and his take is surprising. In this episode, Jon, Tim, and special guest Jeannine Brown discuss the story surrounding divorce in ancient Israel, the Bible’s ideal of covenant loyalty, and the wisdom we can find in Scripture to navigate divorce in our culture today.View more resources on our website →Timestamps Chapter 1: The Context of Jesus’ Words on Divorce (00:00-11:51)Chapter 2: Divorce in Ancient Jewish Culture (11:51-23:06)Chapter 3: Divorce Compared to the Genesis 1-2 Ideal (23:06-42:49)Referenced ResourcesDictionary of Jesus and the Gospels (The IVP Bible Dictionary Series) by Joel B. Green, Jeannine K. Brown, Nicholas PerrinThe Gospel of Matthew (New International Commentary on the New Testament) by R.T. FranceThe Gospel of Matthew (New International Greek Testament Commentary) by John Nolland 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 Original Sermon on the Mount music by Richie Kohen BibleProject theme song by TENTSShow CreditsJon Collins is the Creative Producer for today’s show. Production of today’s episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer; Cooper Peltz, managing producer; Colin Wilson, producer; and Stephanie Tam, consultant and editor. Tyler Bailey, Frank Garza, and Aaron Olse are our audio editors. Tyler Bailey is also our audio engineer, and he provided our sound design and mix. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Special thanks to Jeannine Brown. Today’s hosts are Jon Collins and Michelle Jones.Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Sermon on the Mount E12 – In Matthew 5:27-30, Jesus references the Torah’s 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! Whoa—what is Jesus talking about? In this episode, Jon, Tim, and special guest Lucy Peppiatt discuss the meaning and impact of lust, the Bible’s original ideal for men and women, and Jesus’ countercultural vision for sex and marriage in the Kingdom of the skies.View more resources on our website →Timestamps Chapter 1: The Impact of Lust and a Solution to the Problem (0:00-24:40)Chapter 2: The Genesis 1 Ideal for Men and Women and How It Falls Apart (24:40-34:30)Chapter 3: The Revolutionary Christian Vision for Marriage and Sex (34:30-47:39)Referenced ResourcesCheck out Tim’s library here.If you’d like to learn more from our guest Lucy Peppiatt, you can take her 1 Corinthians Class in BibleProject Classroom.You can experience our entire library of resources in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Show Music Original 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; and Stephanie Tam, consultant and editor. Tyler Bailey and Frank Garza are our audio editors, and Tyler Bailey also provided our sound design and mix. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Special thanks to Lucy Peppiatt. Today’s hosts are Jon Collins and Michelle Jones.Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

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 the Sermon on the Mount in the gospels of Mark or John? (1:05)Why is “blessed" not a good translation of makarios? (9:43)Why does Matthew 5:3 matter to people who feel overworked, crushed, oppressed, domesticated, complacent, powerless, and hopeless? (19:25)Should we pursue mourning, powerlessness, and poverty if that is the good life? (27:34)Is there something I should be doing to attain the blessings in the Beatitudes? (27:58)How can we “bless the Lord?” (37:27)Isn’t there more to righteousness than right relationships with others? (46:18)Is the meekness Jesus describes the same as Moses’ meekness in Numbers 12:3? (52:24)Are there techniques early Christians used that could help us today to remember and reflect on the sermon? (60:17)Referenced ResourcesInterested in more? 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 Original 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; and Colin Wilson, producer. Tyler Bailey is our audio engineer and editor, and he provided the sound design and mix. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Today’s host is Jon Collins.Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Sermon on the Mount E10 – In Matthew 5:21-48, Jesus reveals the divine wisdom of Israel’s 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 concepts—such as murder, contempt, and divine justice—and what they tell us about the value of human beings.View more resources on our website →Timestamps Chapter 1: What Jesus Is Doing in These Case Studies (0:00-8:45)Chapter 2: Overview of Matthew 5:21-32 (8:45-18:09)Chapter 3: Insults, Contempt, and the Value of Human Beings (18:09-26:11)Chapter 4: The Paradox of the Crime and the Punishment (26:11-32:07)Chapter 5: The Meaning of the Word Gehenna (32:07-56:15)Referenced ResourcesThe Divine Conspiracy by Dallas WillardThe Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing by Jonathan T. PenningtonThe Gospel of Matthew (New International Commentary on the New Testament) by R.T. FranceThe Geography of Hell in the Teaching of Jesus by Kim PapaioannouThe Fate of the Dead by Richard BauckhamCheck out Tim’s library here.You can experience our entire library of resources in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Show Music Original Sermon on the Mount music by Richie Kohen BibleProject 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; and Stephanie Tam, consultant and editor. Tyler Bailey is our audio engineer and editor, and he provided the sound design and mix. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Today’s hosts are Jon Collins and Michelle Jones.Powered and distributed by Simplecast.