This week’s episode dives into one of the most chaotic, confusing, and, honestly, unsettling books in Scripture: Judges.

If you’ve followed this channel for a while, you know I love exploring typology; the patterns and echoes that point us to Jesus throughout the Bible. Once you start seeing them, it’s almost impossible to stop. They’re often beautiful, clear, and deeply compelling.

But Judges? Judges feels… different.

When you look for Jesus in Judges, you do find Him, but not in the clean, obvious ways we might expect. Instead, the typology feels messy, tangled, and even contradictory. The moments where certain figures look the MOST like Christ are often the very same moments they look the LEAST like Him.

-Samson stretches out his arms in death to deliver Israel—but seems more resigned to his death than nobly willing.

-Abimelech carries wood on his shoulders—but not to save, only to destroy.

-Sisera, a tool of God’s judgment, thirsts and is betrayed before his death—but is an enemy of God’s people and is crushed in the head which resonates more with “seed of the serpent” prophecy than anything Messianic.

So what are we supposed to do with that?

In this episode, I explore a theory that changed the way I read Judges: what if these figures aren’t just pointing to Christ—but also to sin itself?

Scripture tells us that Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin for us. At the cross, we don’t just see the love and mercy of God, we also see the full weight and ugliness of human sin laid bare. What if that’s the key to understanding Judges?

What if these broken “saviors” are intentionally written to reflect both:

→ the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent

→ judgment and mercy

→ a shadow of Christ and a mirror of our sin

When Abimelech is crushed, Sisera is pierced, and Samson brings the temple down, we see echoes of the serpent’s defeat. But in the same breath, we also see pride, vengeance, betrayal, and failure.

It’s not clean typology.

It’s cruciform typology.

And maybe that’s the point.

Because at the cross, the clearest picture of God’s glory is also the clearest picture of our sin.

If Judges has ever confused you or even made you uncomfortable, this episode is for you.

Let’s wrestle with the tension together.

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TruthBeToldYouTube

Logo: Matt Hernandez

Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly

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** EPISODE 200!!**

In this episode, we explore a fascinating phrase from Jesus’s letter to the church in Philadelphia in Revelation 3:7 when He identifies Himself as “the One who holds the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens.” What does this title mean, and why does Jesus use it here?

Think Lord of the Rings. Remember Denethor, the Steward of Gondor? His role was to govern the kingdom until the true king returned. But over time Denethor grew proud, bitter, and resentful of the very idea of the rightful king reclaiming the throne. The steward began to act like the kingdom was his.

In Isaiah 22, we get a similar story where God confronts a royal steward named Shebna. As steward of the king’s household, Shebna held immense authority symbolized by the “key of the house of David.” His role was not ownership but stewardship: to manage the king’s house on the king’s behalf. Yet Shebna allowed his position to inflate his pride, acting as though the house belonged to him rather than to the master he served.

Through the prophet Isaiah, God rebukes Shebna and removes him from his position, replacing him with a faithful servant, Eliakim. The key of David would be placed on Eliakim’s shoulder which serves as a symbol of delegated authority and faithful stewardship typological of Christ's ultimate authority as Lord and Master.

Fast forward to the book of Revelation, and Jesus deliberately invokes this imagery. By claiming the key of David, Jesus declares that He (not any human authority) holds ultimate authority over the kingdom of God. He is the true and faithful steward of David’s house, the one who grants or denies access to the kingdom, and whose decisions cannot be overturned.

In this episode, we unpack this powerful Old Testament backdrop and explore what it reveals about authority, humility, and the danger of confusing stewardship with ownership.

The warning given through Shebna still speaks today to leaders, institutions, and believers alike.

Join us as we connect Isaiah and Revelation to see how this small phrase reveals a profound truth about who Jesus is and what it means to faithfully serve in the house that ultimately belongs to God.

Whether you consider ancient Judah, fictional Middle Earth, or the modern day Church, the lesson is the same: don't be a Denethor.

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Email: [email protected]

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TruthBeToldYouTube

Logo: Matt Hernandez

Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly

In this week’s episode, I reflect on a challenging story about an old pastor I once struggled to respect. He seemed harsh and old-fashioned, often presenting a view of God that felt unkind and rigid. Yet, a miraculous story my dad shared about him—being saved from a terrifying car accident—once earned my respect. Later, I discovered that the pastor interpreted this miracle as punishment rather than grace. This revelation shook my perception of him, but it also sparked a deeper reflection on my own pride, judgment, and understanding of God’s work in others. Through this experience, I was reminded that God can work through anyone, regardless of their shortcomings or our personal opinions. It’s a call to humility, grace, and introspection: no one, on their own merit, is more righteous, more worthy, or more deserving than another in God’s eyes. Join me as I wrestle with pride, grace, and the truth that the gospel can be preached—even through “crooked teeth.”

Email: [email protected]

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TruthBeToldYouTube

Logo: Matt Hernandez

Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly

#FaithJourney #ChristianReflection #GodsGrace #Humility #SpiritualGrowth #GospelTruth #ChrisRenzema #ChristianPodcast #FaithStories #GraceOverJudgment #faith #spirituality #religion #Christianity #apologetics #theology #pride #Jesus #God #JesusChrist #Christ #miracle #miracles #bible #biblical #biblestudy #church #chrisrenzema #fyp #fypyoutube

In this video, we dive deep into Romans 9:6–13 and uncover a powerful theme that runs throughout Scripture: God’s sovereignty, the role of believing loyalty, and the incredible blessing we have in Christ.

When Paul writes to the church in Rome—a community made up of both Jews and Gentiles—he addresses a difficult question: If God’s covenant people were Israel, and yet so many rejected Jesus as Messiah… did God’s plan fail?

At first glance, it might seem that way. But Paul shows us something deeper. By looking at familiar Old Testament accounts—Isaac and Ishmael, Jacob and Esau—we begin to see a pattern.

The firstborn, who culturally should receive the double portion (see Deuteronomy 21), repeatedly does not carry the promise forward. Instead, God chooses according to His sovereign will. Ishmael was firstborn… yet Isaac received the blessing. Esau was firstborn… yet Jacob carried the promise. Joseph, Moses, David, and others follow this same unexpected pattern. Even Israel itself—God’s “firstborn” nation—now sees Gentiles brought into the covenant family through Christ. So what is God doing?

Paul shows us that this has always been the pattern: God chooses whom He wills to carry forward His redemptive plan. Not based on human expectation. Not based on birth order. Not based on merit. But according to His purpose.

And here’s where it becomes personal. According to Colossians 1:15, Jesus is the “firstborn of all creation”—a title of authority, inheritance, and supremacy. And in 1 Corinthians 15:20–23, He is called the “firstfruits” of the resurrection.

That means something staggering for us. We are not the firstborn. And yet… we share in the inheritance. Though we earned death through rebellion, we have been raised to life and brought into Christ’s inheritance by grace. Not elevated above Him—but elevated from death into promise through Him.

Romans 9 isn’t just theology—it’s perspective. It humbles us. It guards us from arrogance. It keeps us prayerful for those who do not yet believe. And it reminds us just how blessed we are in Christ.

If you’ve ever wrestled with God’s sovereignty, Israel’s role in the New Covenant, or what it truly means that Jesus is the Firstborn—this study is for you.

Let’s walk through it together.

Email: [email protected]

Logo: Matt Hernandez

Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly

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In this video, I explore Bel and the Dragon—a fascinating story preserved in the Greek version of the Book of Daniel (often included in the Apocrypha/Deuterocanonical books). Although it’s not found in the traditional Hebrew text of Daniel, this narrative offers a compelling window into how Jewish communities in the Second Temple period understood Daniel’s character and faith.

The story features the prophet Daniel exposing the fraud of the Babylonian god Bel, destroying a living dragon worshiped as divine, and once again surviving a lions’ den.

On the surface, it reads like a dramatic tale of courage and wit. But beneath that, it’s a powerful polemic against idolatry and a bold affirmation of the God of Israel.

In this overview, I ask an important question: What can we learn about biblical Daniel from an extrabiblical book? Rather than treating Bel and the Dragon as Scripture (for those traditions that don’t), I use it as a case study in how to read extrabiblical literature responsibly:

-How later Jewish writers interpreted Daniel

-How stories develop around revered figures

-What themes are emphasized (wisdom, fidelity, mockery of idols, divine vindication) What historical context might have shaped the narrative

-This is not about elevating extrabiblical texts to the level of canonical Scripture, nor is it about dismissing them outright.

Instead, it’s a practice in careful historical and theological reading—learning about the biblical world without confusing later tradition with the biblical text itself. If you’ve ever wondered how to use the Apocrypha responsibly, or how stories like Bel and the Dragon illuminate the faith and imagination of ancient Jewish communities, this video is for you.

Email: [email protected]

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TruthBeToldYouTube

Logo: Matt Hernandez

Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly

#faith #religion #spirituality #God #Jesus #Christ #theology #apologetics #JesusChrist #truthbetold #bible #biblical #biblestudy #faithful #hermeneutics #apocrypha #belandthedragon #daniel #danielandthelionsden #fypyoutube #fyp #oldtestament #newtestament #hope #love #apocryphal #extrabiblical

​When you read the story of Paul having dreams, the Apostles performing miracles, the first Christians speaking tongues on Pentecost - do you ever feel a disconnect?

I believe, as a Christian, that I have been given that same Holy Spirit and that the same God lives in me that lived in them. Why is there such a huge discrepancy, then, between the kinds of things that happened at that time as opposed to now?

In this episode we take a look at some of the claims and promises regarding what kinds of effects the Holy Spirit will produce in the lives of Christians and then ask ourselves some hard hitting questions to determine what's going on.

It's possible that we've been HEARING God speak through His Spirit, but not actually LISTENING to Him through it.

Email: [email protected]

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TruthBeToldYouTube

Logo: Matt Hernandez

Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly

#faith #religion #spirituality #Chrisitan #Christianity #spirit #HolySpirit #God #Jesus #Christ #JesusChrist #spiritual #conscience #advocate #helper #church #Scripture #bible #biblestudy #biblical #theology #apologetics #christianliving #truth #hope #love #OldTestament #NewTestament #miracles #fyp #fypyoutube

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During Noah's story, just after the flood, Genesis 8 continues the narrative with a section that has, for whatever reason, caused commentators, early church fathers, and lay-Christians to pause and ask, "Is something odd happening here that I need to pay attention to?"

Noah sends out two birds, a raven and a dove, from the ark to determine the state of the Earth. Something about the way this story is told causes us to pause and take note. Perhaps it is the description of events without explicit explanation as to why they're occurring. Perhaps it is the rhythmic, poetic way in which this story is told.

Some, however, would see Christians pausing at this section and feel incredibly confused. They might ask, "Isn't it just recorded this way because.. that's how it happened?" Maybe so.

Whether you read this account through a hyper-literal lens or a hyper-symbolic one, in this episode, we explore the theories others have put forward as to why Noah sends these two birds specifically and whether they might hold meaning beyond the surface.

It is in sections like this, where dogmatism isn't necessary, we don't KNOW for certain, opinions are divided, and there is equal value in seeing the literal as well as the symbolic, that people from across ideological aisles can come together and practice good discussion driven by interest and a desire to understand which views hold explanatory power.

Email: [email protected]

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TruthBeToldYouTube

Logo: Matt Hernandez

Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly

#faith #religion #spirituality #theology #apologetics #Genesis #creation #recreation #Noah #Moses #Torah #Pentateuch #raven #dove #ark #noahsark #flood #theflood #noahsflood #God #Jesus #Christ #JesusChrist #OldTestament #NewTestament #symbolism #hermeneutics #bible #biblical #holybible #holy #biblestudy #Christian #Christianity #hope #love #discussion #truth #podcast #fyp #fypyoutube #scripture #church

David is an iconic, biblical character, but sometimes he can tend to make people uncomfortable.

Sure, David is described as a man who chased after God's heart, but when we see some of his sins, we have a hard time seeing him as the hero that later biblical figures esteem him as.

What's more complicated is that, after David commits some of his most egregious sins, it seems as if he never faces the FULL weight of the consequences. While this is a beautiful lesson in the mercy of God, when we see others facing consequences on David's behalf, this can begin to feel unjust.

And none of us want to see God as unjust.

However, when we unpack David's story a bit more, we do begin to see the justice and mercy in perfect harmony which should also teach us a lesson about justice and mercy in our own lives as well.

Email: [email protected] 

Logo: Matt Hernandez

Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly

​ ⁨@TruthBeToldYouTube⁩   ⁨@TruthBeToldBiblePodcast⁩ 

Was Mary, the mother of Jesus, sinless? Did she NEED to be?

The sinlessness of Mary is a prevailing Catholic teaching formally defined as a Catholic doctrine in 1854 with roots that go back to the Early Church Fathers.

The idea is that, in order to be acceptable before God to fulfill this special role, she had to be without sin.

Often, when we hear Catholic apologists or teachers discuss this topic certain texts will be used that non-Catholic Christians don't recognize as authoritative in the same way that Scripture is. If a Catholic tells a Protestant that "the Apocrypha says..," and the Protestant believes that apocryphal source as a later addition, a fabricated text, or a contradiction to the 66 book canon, why would they accept it?

In this episode, however, we discuss 2 Instagram reels by Catholic pages that attempt to prove Mary's sinlessness by strictly using biblical truths and verses.

While the method is one I respect and appreciate because it meets non-Catholics where they're at, as a non-Catholic, it is pretty easy to see where these arguments fall off the tracks a bit.

So, what DOES the Bible say about Mary and which verses do Catholics use as support for this teaching that doesn't explicitly come from Scripture itself/alone?

Email: [email protected]

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TruthBeToldYouTube

Logo: Matt Hernandez

Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly

#faith #religion #spirituality #Christian #Christianity #Jesus #Christ #JesusChrist #God #theology #apologetics #Catholic #RomanCatholic #RomanCatholicism #Mary #virginMary #Maryology #sinlessness #sinless #sinlessMary #MarymotherofJesus #Catholicism #Protestant #sin #unclean #Leviticus #presence #bible #biblestudy #biblical #scripture #earlychurchfathers #apocrypha #hermeneutics #exegesis #immaculate #immaculateconception #doctrine #teaching #church #fyp #fypyoutube

I've noticed a tendency, in most Bible studiers, to categorize characters into "good guys" and "bad guys."

While the authors of the Bible DO use storytelling techniques to communicate historical truths, we do need to be careful of overgeneralizations of characters into good and bad categories.

When we aren't, there are a few pitfalls we can stumble into:

1. We don't study deeply into moments when "good characters" do less than good things.

2. We refuse to admit that the actions of "good characters" are actually bad and end up justifying evil.

3. We might not notice when stereotypically "bad" characters do good things.

4. We feel cognitive dissonance when we're told that certain characters are "good" but we read about them doing awful things, thus, disenfranchising the biblical text.

5. We feel the need to "play teams" with biblical characters, forgetting that the Bible is more concerned about GOD'S goodness and our discerning of it through people stepping in and out of alignment with His will and way, than it is about individual character's generalized goodness.

Instead, we need to be okay with the fact that Biblical characters are people. As flawed, if not (at times) more so, as you and me.

This will help us process complex individuals better, ensure we're looking through a human lens at.... humans, and keep our mind's focused on discerning good and evil through God's eyes rather than the categories we set up based on our feelings about certain characters.

Email: [email protected]

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TruthBeToldYouTube

Logo: Matt Hernandez

Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly

#faith #religion #spirituality #Christian #Christianity #Jesus #Christ #God #JesusChrist #Messiah #YHWH #religious #spiritual #faithful #bible #biblical #biblestudy #church #scripture #holybible #holy #theology #apologetics #hermeneutics #ezra #nehemiah #exodus #moses #pharaoh #egypt #israel #judah #josiah #truth #hope #love #oldtestament #newtestament #goodandevil #morality #characters #story #storytelling #fyp #fypyoutube