In Matthew 16, Jesus told us that those who believe in Him become part of the church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against us. 

But what exactly are the gates of hell?

Over the past few weeks, we have been discussing the idea of spiritual gateways in the Bible. The modern word for these gates or gateways would be “portals,” but that’s not a term that was used back when King Jimmy wrote his translation, so the biblical vocabulary for these would be gates.

I’ve been digging into this concept of the gate of heaven in the Old Testament. We traced out its whole story of what it was: a portal between heaven and earth- where it came from, the role it served in the Old Testament, and how it was eventually taken down by defiling its altar.

So when Jesus spoke of the gates of hell, could he have been referring to these entry points between our realm and the spiritual realm?

And if the gates of hell are these entryways, then what has Jesus given us- the church- the task of doing about them?

I find this to be weird, and I’d like to explore why it’s in the Bible. 

Turn to Matthew 16, and let’s get weird.

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Hosted by Luke Taylor

If you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!