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Weekly Playlist  |  April 22-28
Sermon on the Mount-Murder, Adultery, and Divorce
The Meaning of Gehenna
1
Read - Matthew 5:21-26
1 min
2
Watch - Vocab Insight: Gehenna / Valley of Wailing
1 min
3
Listen - The Biblical Background of Gehenna
6 min

Reflect on the passage of Scripture below and then watch a few related resources. As you reflect, consider this question: What does Jesus mean by the word gehenna?

1
Read - Matthew 5:21-26

Matthew 5:21-26

Murder and Contempt

1 min

You have heard that it was said to the ancients, “You will not murder” and “Whoever murders will be guilty by the court.”
And I say to you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be guilty by the court;
and whoever calls his brother “good for nothing!” will be guilty by the Sanhedrin and whoever says “fool!” will be guilty of the fire of gehenna.
Therefore, if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,
leave your offering there before the altar and go, first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.
Settle matters in a friendly way with your legal-opponent while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent doesn't hand you over to the court-judge,
and the court-judge to the officer, so that you are thrown into prison. Truly, I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid back the last coin.
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.
2
Watch - Vocab Insight: Gehenna / Valley of Wailing
Video player poster image
1:00
HIGHLIGHT

Gehenna comes from the Hebrew phrase gey’-hinnom, a valley where Israel’s kings sacrificed children in fire to other gods. The prophets said these fires would turn back on the kings. And Jesus uses this image to describe God’s response to evil.

3
Listen - The Biblical Background of Gehenna

Chapter from Sermon on the Mount E10

The Biblical Background of Gehenna

6 min

HIGHLIGHT

Jeremiah prophesied that God would judge the Israelite kings who sacrificially burned children in the valley of gey’-hinnom, allowing their fires to turn back on them. Jesus is likely building on this imagery to describe God’s response to evil.

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