The Torah and the prophets set the foundation for living in right relationship with God and others, a principle Jesus came to fulfill. Jesus emphasized that the fulfillment of religious practices is crucial to embodying this righteousness, highlighting the importance of aligning these practices with the heart of God and promoting genuine relationships. Despite the noble intention of religious practices to strengthen these relationships, Jesus observed that in his time, people often used religion for self-promotion, seeking honor and status, leading to a hypocritical way of living. Thus, Jesus urged for a sincere approach to religious practices, emphasizing humility and authenticity in actions.
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.
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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
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.
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