Different biblical prophets have offered varied interpretations of the laws of the Torah, each reducing them to a simpler form. Micah articulated the laws into three essential concepts: to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly before God. Isaiah simplified these further into two primary mandates: keep justice and do righteousness. Amos distilled them down to one central tenet: 'seek me and live,' emphasizing the importance of pursuing a relationship with God for life. Habakkuk also focused on a singular principle, stating that 'the righteous will live by his faith,' highlighting faith as the foundation of righteous living. This progressive simplification illustrates the evolving interpretation of biblical laws, culminating in a view that emphasizes faith and one's relationship with God as central to spiritual life. Additionally, the integration of the Shema with the command to love one's neighbor reflects a comprehensive approach to justice, compassion, and community.
Sermon on the Mount E33 – The final teaching in the main body of the Sermon on the Mount is commonly known as the Golden Rule: do to others what you would have them do to you. Jesus says that all of the Law and Prophets—everything he has come to fulfill—are contained in this one statement. How? In this episode, Tim and Jon unpack what many consider Jesus’ most famous teaching. Join us as we examine how the Golden Rule fits into the intentional design of the Sermon on the Mount, reinforcing the central theme of how God’s desires reshape our own.
Timestamps
- Chapter 1: The Golden Rule as a Compass (00:00-9:55)
- Chapter 2: The Complex Motivation of the Human Heart (9:55-36:21)
- Chapter 3: Establishing a Heavenly Kingdom (36:21-50:27)
- Chapter 4: What’s Next? (50:27-55:09)
Referenced Resources
Show Music
- Original Sermon on the Mount music by Richie Kohen
- BibleProject theme song by TENTS
- “Will You Play With Me?” -=by Lalinea
- “Lakes” by sero
- “Ecstasy” by MILANO
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 supervising engineer. Tyler Bailey and Aaron Olsen edited today's episode. Tyler Bailey also provided the sound design and mix for today's episode. Nina Simone does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Today’s hosts are Jon Collins and Michelle Jones, and Tim Mackie is our lead scholar. Special thanks to Michael Helmy and to Dan Gummel for supporting and commissioning this episode.
Powered and distributed by Simplecast.