Sermon on the Mount E22 – The first half of the Lord’s 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 Lord’s prayer focuses on four personal requests, where we seek to align our needs with God’s 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 resources on our website →

Timestamps 

• Chapter 1: Recap up to This Point (0:00-10:47)
• Chapter 2: The Meaning of “Daily Bread” in Greek (10:47-16:55)
• Chapter 3: “Daily Bread” in Exodus or Abundance in Proverbs? (16:55-34:36)
• Chapter 4: Reorienting Toward Radical Trust and Dependence (34:36-43:52)

Referenced Resources

• Jesus: A Very Short Introduction by Richard Bauckham
• 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 Kohan
• BibleProject theme song by TENTS
• “Flows” by Abnuu
• “Lost Memories (feat. Bastien Brison)” by ØDYSSEE & Ruck P

Show Credits

Jon 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; Stephanie Tam, consultant and editor. Frank Garza and Aaron Olsen edited today's episode, and Tyler Bailey was supervising editor. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Today’s hosts are Jon Collins and Michelle Jones. Special thanks to Brian Hall, Liz Vice, and the BibleProject Scholar Team.

Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Sermon on the Mount E21 – Prayer is at the center of the center of the Sermon on the Mount. And it’s in this section of teaching that Jesus gives us a simple prayer that we can participate in. It’s 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.”  

View more resources on our website →

Timestamps 

• Chapter 1: Our Father (00:00-9:38)
• Chapter 2:  In the skies (9:38-16:20)
• Chapter 3: May your name be recognized as holy (16:20-26:15)
• Chapter 4: May your kingdom come, and may your will be done (26:15-36:01)
• Chapter 5: Checking in on the Lord’s Prayer Song (36:01-40:33)

Referenced Resources

• 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 TENTS
• “Empty” by Oddfish
• “High Beams (feat. Dotlights)” by Kreatev & 88JAY
• “And That’s Okay” by Ian Ewing
• “Stay” by Yasper

Show Credits

Jon 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; Stephanie Tam, consultant and editor. Frank Garza and Aaron Olsen edited today's episode, Aaron Olsen mixed the episode, and Tyler Bailey was supervising editor. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Today’s hosts are Jon Collins and Michelle Jones. Special thanks to Brian Hall, Liz Vice, and the BibleProject Scholar Team.

Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Sermon on the Mount E20 – We are now halfway through studying Jesus' most famous sermon, which brings us to the Lord’s Prayer. What’s the significance of a prayer being right here at the center? And what’s 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 Lord’s Prayer, exploring its structure, core ideas, and historical background.  For more information about writing and sharing your own Lord's Prayer song, visit our website here.

View more resources on our website →

Timestamps 

• Chapter 1: A Story of the Lord’s Prayer in Jerusalem (00:00-6:23)
• Chapter 2: The Epicenter of the Sermon on the Mount (6:23-10:52)
• Chapter 3: Reading the Prayer (10:52-18:50)
• Chapter 4: The Structure of the Lord’s Prayer (18:50-22:02)
• Chapter 5: The Core Ideas of the Lord’s Prayer (22:02-25:30)
• Chapter 6: Interview About Liturgies With James K. A. Smith (25:30-36:49)
• Chapter 7: Historical and Cultural Background of the Lord’s Prayer (36:49-50:17)
• Chapter 8: How the Lord’s Prayer Shaped Jesus (50:17-52:04)
• Chapter 9: Writing a New Lord’s Prayer Song (52:04-59:12)

Referenced Resources

• You Are What You Love by James K. A. Smith
• Jewish Liturgy: A Comprehensive History by Ismar Elbogen
• 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 TENTS
• “Open Wings” by Liron Meyuhas
• “From Srinager” by Guy Buttery

Show Credits

Stephanie Tam is the lead producer for today’s show. 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 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 James K.A. Smith, Brian Hall, Liz Vice, and the BibleProject scholar team, and to Dan Gummel who commissioned and supported the production of this episode. Today’s hosts are Jon Collins and Michelle Jones, and Tim Mackie is our lead scholar.

Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

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 Resources

• Style and Structure in Biblical Hebrew Narrative by Jerome T. Walsh
• Four Views on Hell: Second Edition (Counterpoints: Bible and Theology), by Zondervan and edited by Preston Sprinkle
• Interested 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 TENTS

Show Credits

Jon 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 Resources

• Fasting: The Ancient Practices by Scot McKnight
• Christianity's Surprise: A Sure and Certain Hope by C. Kavin Rowe
• 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 TENTS
• “Descend” by dryhope
• “Polaroid” by Ward Wills

Show Credits

Jon 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 Resources

• 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 TENTS
• “Silk” by El Train
• “Brush Strokes” by Blue Wednesday and morningtime

Show Credits

Jon 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 Resources

• The 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 Kohen
• BibleProject theme song by TENTS
• “Better Days” - Evil Needle
• “Inner Glow” - Bao & Packed Rich

Show Credits

Jon 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 Resources

• The Gospel of Matthew: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary by Craig S. Keener
• The JPS Torah Commentary: Exodus by Nahum M. Sarna
• Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
• Strength 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 Kohen
• BibleProject theme song by TENTS

Show Credits

Jon 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 Resources

• The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard
• 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
• Additional music by UpsiDown
• BibleProject theme song by TENTS

Show Credits

Jon 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 Resources

• Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels (The IVP Bible Dictionary Series) by Joel B. Green, Jeannine K. Brown, Nicholas Perrin
• The Gospel of Matthew (New International Commentary on the New Testament) by R.T. France
• The 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 TENTS

Show Credits

Jon 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.