Douglas Jacoby Podcast

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Listen to the 9th lesson in our series, Luke: A Universal Vision from the Center to the Margins (14 minutes).

Introduction: Luke-Acts

• The good news is to be preached from the centers of power (gospel proclaimed to kings) all the way out to the disenfranchised, minorities, outcasts…
• Luke was written in the finest Greek, for those at home in Greek culture.
• Emphasis on Jesus’ concern for the weak and marginalized; love and respect for women.
• Righteous attitudes towards possessions. They must not control us; we are to control them, for the benefit of others.
• Salvation for every stratum of society (vertically); in Acts the gospel expands to all regions (horizontally).
• Special emphasis on the Spirit, prayer, repentance, and several other themes.
• Acts: church as the restoration of Israel.

Text: Luke 4:14-30 (Jesus' Nazareth sermon)

• Good news is not only for Jews, but for Gentiles.
• His examples come from the books of Kings, and in both Gentiles are the ones who receive good news.
• Jesus exposes the prejudice of his audience.
• Although he was brought up in Nazareth, he was not merely "a man of his time." Jesus transcends culture, just as the gospel requires us to stand in judgment on society.
• Application
  • Is there any trace of prejudice in my outlook, or in my ministry?
  • Do I share with those who are different to me?
  • Do I care deeply about the different peoples and cultures of the world?
  • Do I have a universal vision for the impact of the gospel, or do I prefer the quiet confines of the self-absorbed insider?

Next: John: The (Heavenly) Word in (Human) Flesh

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Emphases of Matthew

• Jesus is the Jewish Messiah.
• Jesus a teacher and lawgiver like Moses.
• 5 Teaching Tracts – like Torah (Pentateuch) and Psalms.
  • Suggests Jesus' teaching is scripture (follows the O.T. model).
  • Suggests Jesus is a second Moses.
  • Matthew 5:17: He came not to abolish, but to fulfill, Torah.
  • OT fulfillment formulae (11x).

Observations chapter by chapter in Matthew

• 1:1 -- Son of Abraham, Son of David: Jesus is Jewish through and through.
• 2:1 -- Born in the town of David, Bethlehem.
• 2:1-2 -- King of the Jews (legitimately)
• 4:1ff -- Tested in the desert, like the people of Israel. For more on the parallels, listen to Night of Redemption: A Study of Exodus (10 lessons).
• 5-7 -- Teaching like Moses
  • Goes up a mountainside (as Moses twice went up Mt. Sinai).
  • Authority higher than that of the rabbis or Pharisees; Jesus speaks on his own (divine) authority. See 7:28-29.
  • Updates God's Word, reinterpreting Torah.
• 10:23 (15:24) -- Preaching to the Jews.
• 12:1ff -- Lord of the Sabbath.
• 28:16-20 -- Make disciples of all the Gentiles (nations)
  • Mountain -- Moses.
  • Worship -- Deity.
  • Fulfilling the Abrahamic promise (Genesis 12:3; Exodus 19:6).

Next: Luke: A Universal Vision from the Center to the Margins

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Listen to lesson 7 in the series CHRIST THROUGH THE AGES. In this podcast, Mark: Lord Caesar or Lord Jesus?, we will examine a special focus of the earliest of the four gospels, Mark. The lesson is 15 minutes long.

Introduction

• Gospels were composed primarily for believers.
• Bioi. Ancient biography = bios.
• The theology lies in the differences, not just the similarities.
• For more on bios, please see A Quick Overview of the Bible.

Emphases of Mark

• Brief gospel, swift action. (Euthus [quickly] appears 9x in Mark 1!)
• Roman audience, mainly Gentile—not so much biblical background.
• Jesus’ power and deity.
• Identity of Christ concealed, then revealed.
• Lord Caesar or Lord Jesus?

Our study: the political implication

• Mark 1:1 -- gospel entails Jesus being the Son of God.
• But "Son of God" and other titles like Lord, God, and Savior were reserved for the Caesar!
  • Julius (dictator, uncle of Augustus, d.44 BC)
  • Augustus (27 BC - 14 AD)
  • Tiberius (14-37 AD)
  • Caligula (37-41)
  • Claudius (41-54)
  • Nero (54-68)
  • Vespasian (69-79)
  • And so forth. See Craig Evans' commentary on Mark 8:27-16:20 in The Word Biblical Commentary.
• 1:23-24 -- The demonic world recognizes his identity.
• 15:37-39 -- The centurion tasked with the crucifixion recognizes it.
• Yet often his own followers do not grasp his identity (nor do we)!
• Mark's gospel shows us that Jesus deserves our highest allegiance, not any human government, political leader, or other claimant to ultimate sovereignty. Are we conducting ourselves in line with such a perspective, conviction, and courage?

Next lesson:  Matthew: Jesus was Jewish.

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

By clicking on the link, you can listen to the 6th lesson in our series, 1st Century Judaism: Many Flavors of Messiah. The podcast is 20 minutes in length.

Sectarian groups of the 1st century

• Pharisee – Torah (written and oral)
• Sadducees – Temple
• Essenes – Land (Qumran and library of Dead Sea Scrolls)
• Zealots – Kingship (Sicarii -- extreme measures)
• Herodians – Regime (Mark 3:6)
• Scribes – Text (Shammai & Hillel; Mark 12:34)
• Samaritans – Sectarian past (see 2 Kings 17; John 4)
• Christians – Messiah (Christ)

Later Judaism

• Remnant of Jews joined the Christian movement (Romans 9-11).
• Escalating antipathy, esp. after 70 AD. Anti-Christian curses.
• Did not deny Christian miracles, but rejected Jesus’ divinity.
• Expected a political Messiah (John 6:15).
• Heirs of Pharisees (rabbinic Judaism) codify oral law in Mishnah, c.200 AD.

Modern Judaism

• Descendants of the Pharisees
• Three main divisions
  • Orthodox (right)
  • Conservative (center)
  • Reform (left)
• Mystics (kabala)
• Charismatics (chasidim)

Conclusion

• Divisions into sects -- each with its own take on the Messiah -- was not just a Jewish phenomenon of the first century.
• As we shall see, division will come round again in the course of church history, and perhaps nowhere more so than in our generation – about 20 lessons from now.
• This violates God's ideal that his people remain one (John 17:22-23).

Next section: Christ in the Gospels.  Next podcast: Mark: Lord Caesar or Lord Jesus?

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Following are the notes for the fifth lesson in our series, Christ—Visible in the O.T. Writings. The podcast (12 minutes) takes aim at the third division of the Hebrew scriptures.

O.T. Writings that point to Christ

• Psalms (e.g. listen to the 18 podcasts at this website recorded in 2013).
• Proverbs: Jesus as wisdom teacher and Jesus as God's incarnate Wisdom, or Word.
• 1-2 Chronicles (the closing book in the Hebrew canon), longing for a Davidic Messiah, reflecting and whetting the appetite of God's people for a righteous ruler.
• Ruth: kinsman-redeemer. Parallels Boaz/Ruth, where Boaz is like Christ.
• Esther, Job, Song of Songs, and several other books in this 3rd section of the Hebrew scriptures.
• Note: While the OT Apocrypha were cited by the Jews, Messianic texts found among these extracanonical books were also pressed into service. Of special interest to the early church was Wisdom of Solomon (see chapter 2).
• Daniel

Comments on Daniel

• Classed among the Writings (not the Prophets). Daniel is a wisdom teacher who also relays apocalyptic visions.
• Daniel 9:24-27 -- difficult to interpret, but definitely referring to the Messiah, the covenant, the Messiah being cut off, and Jerusalem being destroyed (70 AD).
• Daniel 7:9-14
  • Not directly referring to the second coming, but to Jesus' ascension to the throne (see Acts 2:30)
  • The Son of Man is led into the presence of the Ancient of Days, and shares in God's sovereignty. This passage suggests Jesus' divinity, and that being the case highlights the strong reaction of the Sanhedrin to Jesus' applying this Messianic text to himself (Matthew 27:74; Mark 14:62; Luke 23:69).
  • Notice that the Messiah is called "Son of Man."

Next podcast:  1st Century Judaism: Many flavors of Messiah 

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Listen to the 4th lesson in the series, Christ—Visible in the O.T. Prophets(16 minutes).

Introduction

• Christ’s identity is in the background of every OT book
• Each of the 3 sections – Law, Prophets, Writings – testifies to Jesus Christ
• In Jewish thought, the prophets begin with Joshua.
• While we could examine Messianic prophecy in Isaiah 53, Jeremiah 31, Ezekiel 34, Micah 5, Malachi 3, or many other books,  in this lesson I thought I’d dwell on one of Jesus’ favorite prophets, one which is ever in the background of his words and actions especially during the Passion Week: Zechariah

Zechariah 9-14: overview

• 9-11 shepherd-king
• 12-14 universal ruler
• Note: there are messanic texts earlier in Zechariah; we are just skipping them.

Zechariah 9-14: specific passages

• 9:9 – though in context of military victory – Jesus must have disappointed them
• 9:11 – blood of covenant
• 9:12, 10:6 – restoration of God’s people
• 10:3, 11:15,17 – anger with wicked shepherds (reminiscent of Ezekiel 34, the Good Shepherd passage)
• 11:12 – valuation at 30 pieces of silver (slave price?)—which is then thrown to the potter (11:13)
• 12:10 – outpoured spirit
• 12:10-14 – mourning for the one who was pierced
• 13:1 – fountain for cleansing (John 4, 7)
• 13:7 – shepherd struck and sheep scattered
• 14:4 – (context of war against Jerusalem), Mount of Olives. (On the basis of this text, many Jews, Christians, and Muslims believe the general resurrection and the last judgment will begin at the Mount of Olives.)
• 14:8 –living waters flowing out of Jerusalem (frequently depicted in Rev 22:1-17)
• 14:9 – Lord king over all the earth
• 14:16-19 – emphasis on Feast of Tabernacles (Pentecost): special focus on devotion to the word of God
• 14:21 – Temple will be cleansed of merchants (or Canaanites—same word)

Next lesson: Christ--Visible in the Writings

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Christ—Visible in the Old Testament Law is the 3rd lesson in the series Christ through the Ages (21 minutes).

Here are the scriptures referred to in the podcast:

• John 5:39 (the Jewish scriptures testify to Christ).
• Luke 24:44-47 (three sections of Hebrew Bible point to the Christ).
• 1 Peter 1:10-12 (the O.T. is more easily understood backward than forward).
• Genesis 3, 12, 14, 22, 49, 50 (Eve, Abraham, Melchizedek, Isaac, Judah, Joseph).
• Exodus 14. Or check out my CD on Exodus (10 lessons).
• Leviticus 14 (live bird sacrifice), 17 (no forgiveness without the shedding of blood), etc.
• Numbers 24 (Balaam's prophecy), interpreted as Messianic by the Jews, in the Dead Sea Scrolls, by Christians, and in medieval Judaism (e.g. Maimonides).
• Deuteronomy 18 (the second Moses).

Next: Christ—Visible in the Old Testament Prophets.

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

The Eternal Plan, Effected at the Perfect Time (19 minutes) is the second in the series CHRIST THROUGH THE AGES.

Scriptures referred to in this lesson:

• 1 Peter 1:20 (Acts 2:23)
• Titus 2:12
• Ephesians 1:20-21
• Hebrews 6:5
• 1 Corinthians 10:11
• Hebrews 9:26
• 1 Timothy 2:5 (also see Ephesians 1:10)
• Philippians 2:5-11 (1 Corinthians 15:28; Isaiah 45:23)

Next lesson: Christ—Visible in the Old Testament Law.

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

This is the introduction to and first lesson in the series CHRIST THROUGH THE AGES. The series aims to explore what it means that Jesus Christ is Lord of history. We hope that this 40-day series truly makes a difference in your spiritual life.

Listen to Lifting our spirits by fixing our eyes on Him (22 minutes).

Scriptures referred to in this lesson:

• Hebrews 3:1
• Isaiah 41:4
• Isaiah 44:6
• Isaiah 48:12-13
• Revelation 1:8
• Revelation 21:6
• Revelation 22:12-13
• John 8:58
• Exodus 3:13-14
• 1 John 4:7-8,16
• The lesson "Already, But Not Yet."

What this series will cover:

• How Jesus is God, and both the beginning, meaning, and end of history.
• How the books of the O.T. clearly reveal the Messiah.
• How the N.T. books illuminate different facets of the Christ.
• The different expectations -- or flavors of Messiah -- present among 1st century Jewish factions.
• How Christ was slowly reinterpreted through the course of church history, and why it is that today there are multiple "Jesuses."
• How Christ has been refracted in the world religions, by polytheists and monotheists alike.
• What the atheists are missing.
• After 30 new lessons on Christ Through the Ages, we will be directed to 10 further podcasts on Worship, which will round out the series.

Next podcast:  God's Eternal Plan, Effected at the Perfect Time

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

So far:

• We have already studied 9 of the Old Testament's well-known but little-observed commandments.
• We have striven to examine each in context and understand its message to us as Christians living under the new testament.
• It is time to conclude our study - to meditate on a commandment that significantly differs from all the others, which may explain why it appears last.

Text

• The 10th commandment
• Exodus 20:17: You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

Comment

• We falsely believe that life is about things, or having what our neighbor has (Ecclesiastes 4:4).
• Violating this commandment can begin in a fantasy: imagining how life would be better if we had what our neighbor has.
  • Greener lawn?
  • Nicer home, nicer things?
  • Better financial security?
  • More appealing car or other means of transport?
  • Classier employees or domestic help?
  • More attractive spouse?
  • A better life?
• The sevenfold prohibition suggests completeness. God desires complete holiness.
• Of all the commandments, this one can be disobeyed without others necessarily seeing. When we disobey the other commandments, people know. Coveting, in contrast, can be committed in broad daylight and no one may know.
• Recall that this is the one commandment Paul chose as an example of the difficulty of keeping the law apart from God's Spirit (Romans 7).
• 1 John 2:15-17; Hebrews 13:5.
• Coveting (greed) is idolatry (Colossians 3:5), thus connecting the 10th commandment with the 2nd.

Conclusion

• The commandments at first blush are deceptively simple.
• Yet the more we meditate on them, the more we realize how far short we have fallen. Ultimately this insight drives us to the Savior.
• Which are the hardest commandments to keep? 2,4,7, and perhaps 5? Or is it no. 10? How do you respond personally to this question?
• Although the commandments challenge the heart, we as Christians are now called to an even higher standard.
• Not just a list of rules, but a pathway to freedom in context of recent liberation from slavery.
• The proper response to the revelation of God's holiness (Exodus 20:18-21).
  • Think biblically.
    • Read both testaments. Finish the O.T. if you have never read it in its entirety.
    • Learn from the Law.
      • For the ancient Jews, the Torah was the word of God and the law of God. For us, the regulations of Exodus-Deuteronomy are not the law of God for us, yet they are still his word for us. There is much to learn!
      • The Decalogue is expanded beginning in Exodus 21. Much of what follows are case studies, concrete examples of putting the principles of the Decalogue into practice.
    • Steven A. Kaufmann has been suggested that the Decalogue is reflected in the structure of Deuteronomy. ("The Structure of the Deuteronomic Law," Maarav, A Journal for the Study of the Northwest Semitic Languages and Literatures, 1-2 [1978-1979]: 105-158). What do you think?
      • 1-2 -- Deut 12:1-31 -- Worship
      • 3 -- 13:1-14:27 -- Name of God
      • 4 -- 14:28-16:17 -- Sabbath
      • 5 -- 16:18-18:22 -- Authority
      • 6 -- 19:1-22:8 -- Homicide
      • 7 -- 22:9-23:19 -- Adultery
      • 8 -- 23:20-24:7 -- Theft
      • 9 -- 24:8-25:4 -- False testimony
      • 10 -- 25:5-16 -- Coveting
    • Replace vague theological opinions with biblical convictions!
    • Aim to see the "big picture."
  • Observe the Decalogue as specifically and faithfully as you are able.
    • Put nothing ahead of God (commandments 1-2).
    • Honor his name: be a man or woman of our word. Make sure our words are not harming others (commandments 3 and 9).
    • Make time for the Lord. Carve out some "sabbath time" weekly -- and daily (commandment 4)!
    • Honor your parents, and all who fulfill the role of a "father" or "mother" in your life (commandment 5).
    • Refrain from murder, theft, and adultery in all their various forms (commandments 6-8).
    • Be content with what you have, and realize how insidious coveting is, and how pervasive it is in our world (commandment 10).
  • Know for a certainty that God desires us to be holy. His law is not about external conformity, but about inward devotion, purity, and holiness.
  • Let us tremble before a holy God (Exodus 20:18-20).