Weekly Playlist  |  March 11-17

Sermon on the Mount - Jesus and the Torah

Entering the Torah Story

Listen to the short passage of Scripture below, and then watch some related resources. As you meditate on this passage, think about this question: What is the story of the Torah and Prophets, and how does Jesus contribute to it?

Watch – An Introduction to Jesus and the Torah
Read – Matthew 5:17-20

Consider While Reading

In Jesus’ day, the Scribes and Pharisees thought of themselves as the greatest because of their strict observance of the Torah.

Matthew 5:17-20

Jesus and the Torah

1 min

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Jesus and the Torah
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Don't suppose that I have come to do away with the Torah or the Prophets. I have not come to do away with them, but to fill them full.
Because truly I tell you, until the sky and the land pass on, not one dot or one squiggle will pass on from the Torah until all things have taken place.
Therefore, whoever undoes one of the least of these commands, and then they teach people to do this, that person will be called least in the kingdom of the skies.
And whoever does the commands, and then teaches people to do this, that person will be called great in the kingdom of the skies.
Because truly I tell you, unless your doing-what-is-right far surpasses the scribes and Pharisees, you won't be entering into the kingdom of the skies.

Reflect

What would it have been like for Jesus’ audience to hear that there was a righteousness even greater than that of the Pharisees?

About This Translation
This reading uses a new translation from the BibleProject Scholar Team, which aims to bring fresh language to familiar words while using consistent English terms for Greek words used throughout this part of Scripture.

We'll be adding more translations here in the future, but in the meantime, you can find more translations now on the BibleProject app.
Watch – Sermon on the Mount, Jesus Fulfills the Law

Highlight

“Life is messy. In any given situation, how are we even supposed to know what it means to do right by everyone? That is the question. Remember, Jesus was an Israelite. And the people of Israel had a specific answer to that question that was simple and profound. To do right by God and people, you need to learn God’s wisdom. And how do you get God’s wisdom? Well, for Israelites, you find God’s wisdom by meditating on their Scriptures, called ‘the Torah and Prophets.’”

Watch – Visual Commentaries, Matthew 5:17-18: Fulfilling Every Dot and Squiggle

Highlight

“The phrase ‘Torah and Prophets’ refers to Jesus’ Bible, the Hebrew Bible. These scriptures tell a story about God calling all of humanity to partner with him to rule the world in a way that brings peace and justice, and how he called one nation, Israel, to lead the way, with the hope that he will make the world new, uniting Heaven and Earth.”

Listen – The Story Behind Matthew 5:17-20

Chapter from Sermon on the Mount E9

The Story Behind Matthew 5:17-20

4 min

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The Story Behind Matthew 5:17-20
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Highlight

“Jesus opens this central section with one of the more dense paragraphs in the whole sermon that is full of exegetical and interpretive puzzles at every turn. So I'm just going to let you read it. It's got a wonderful literary design. This is a four-part paragraph that's broken up in a logical chain. So how about you read each part, and then I'll ask you the question that prompts Jesus to say the next thing he says.”

Invite your friends and family to meditate on the teachings of Jesus together.
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