Douglas Jacoby Podcast

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. 38 “You have heard that it was said,‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’39 But I say to you,Do not resist the one who is evil. Butif anyoneslaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.40 Andif anyone would sue you and take your tunic let him have your cloak as well.41 And if anyoneforces you to go one mile, go with...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. 33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ 34 But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.3...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. “It was said, ‘Whoever sends his wife away, let him give her a certificate of divorce’; but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery” (Matthew 5:31-32). The Jewish world There were grounds for divorce besides a...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. 27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. You have heard that it was said by those of old, you will not kill; and whoever kills will be in danger of the judgment. But I say to you whoever is angry with his brother rashly will be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, raqa , will be in danger of the council. And whoever says “fool” will be in danger of hell...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. "For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:20).   Jesus' words would probably have been shocking to many, as the Pharisees were quite respected. The Sadducees, and the priestly class (many of whom were Sadducees) on the other hand, were mo...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. 17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 "Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teach...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do men light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand. And it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:14-16). God said, “L...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt becomes foolish, how will it be salted? It is thereafter good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men” (Matthew 5:13).  The next 2 podcasts are on salt and light—the stuff of Christian discipleship. Flavor, or function?   Whereas in modern times we usually associate...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.    " Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.      Blessed are you when men speak abusively of you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil things against you for my sake.      Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, because great is your reward in heaven. For so they persecut...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. "Blessed are the peacemakers,    for they shall be called the children of God" (Matthew 5:9).  "If most of us are honest with ourselves, we know that there are many ways in which our hearts are not at peace. We are wounded, insecure, resentful and lonely, and this restlessness within us causes us to anxiously defend our actions and opi...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. "Blessed are the pure in heart,      for they shall see God" (Matthew 5:8).   (1) PURITY:  A constant theme in Jesus’ teaching is that God looks not only at outward actions, but at what goes on inside a person. “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasury of his heart brings forth good things...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. The 5th beatitude: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy” ( Matthew 5:7 ). My friend David Berçot is producing an Early Christian Study Bible—taking us through the scriptures and revealing how most early Christians (first 3 centuries) understood them. Not that the early Christians were without confusion, distortion, an...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst, for they will be satisfied." What does this mean? Consider such passages as: “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” ( Matt 4:4; see Deut. 8:3 ). “I am the bread of life,” and “If any man thirsts, let him come to me and drink” ( John 6:35; 7:37 )....

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.   “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." (Matthew 5:5) "Meek" is a word we seldom use. It does  not mean "weak." It derives from the Old Norse mjúkr, meaning soft, pliant, gentle. Oxford English Dictionary: Gentle, courteous, kind; merciful, indulgent. Free from self-will; piously humble and submissive; patient and u...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” ( Matthew 5:4 ). In the background there are well over 100 scriptural passages on mourning, like this one, where Jesus identifies himself and explains his ministry (see Luke 4:18 ). The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me... to comfort all who mo...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. This is the first lesson in The Sermon on the Mount. The podcast (13 minutes) builds on the introductory lesson, explains the nature of a beatitude, and focuses especially on the Old Testament scriptures alluded to in Matthew 5:3. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs in the kingdom of heaven" ( Matthew 5:3 ). There are at least...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. ( Matt 5:1-2 ESV) Mountains in the Bible are associated with Moses ( Exod 19-20 ), Elijah (1 Kings), and Jesus. In Matthew, Jesus is found on mountains five times: Matt 4:8; 5:1; 14:23; 17:1-8; 28:16-20 . Matthew presents Jesus as the Second...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) is the section of the New Testament widely agreed to contain the very heart of Jesus’ kingdom message. The teachings were and still are remarkable and revolutionary. For just as by the Law God had been building an alternative community through the people of Israel, so Jesus Christ is creating an al...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. 3rd century – church buildings (converted houses) 4th century Influx of O.T. culture (priesthood, church/state, and more) Influx of paganism (holidays, images...) Basilicas Role of Imperial support 5th century Relics Cult of saints Mary The stern Christ High Middle Ages Serious ecclesiastical abuses (crusades, Inquisition, etc) Congreg...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Justin Martyr, First Apology 65-67 But we, after we have thus washed him who has been convinced and has assented to our teaching, bring him to the place where those who are called brothers are assembled, in order that we may offer hearty prayers in common for ourselves and for the baptized illuminated person, and for all others in ever...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Pliny, Letter to Trajan, 10.96-97, c.110 AD It is my practice, my lord, to refer to you all matters concerning which I am in doubt. For who can better give guidance to my hesitation or inform my ignorance? I have never participated in trials of Christians. I therefore do not know what offenses it is the practice to punish or investigat...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Acts 13:2 – worshipping and fasting / insight, plans Acts 24:11 – Paul says he went up to worship (Jerusalem) see 26:7, Acts 27:23. 1 Cor 11 – Somberness? What’s the meaning of “discerning the body”? 1 Cor 14 – Participatory house churches 1 Cor 14:25 – convicted visitors will fall down and worship God. Heb 12:28 – Acceptable worship e...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Seven confessions (John's Gospel) 1:34   John the Baptist 1:49   Nathanael 4:42   Samaritans (4:29) 6:69   Peter 9:38   blind man 11:27 Martha [19:19 Pilate] ~ 11:50 Caiaphas 20:28 Thomas Critical principles (New Covenant) Phil 2:11 (John 20:28) – Worshipped Jesus as Lord. John 4:42 – Worship through Spirit (also Phil 3:3) and truth. (...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. 1 Sam 15:25 — the appearance of worship (Saul) 2 Kings 10:19 — pretending to worship Ba’al (John 19:3) Isaiah 29:13 — hearts far from God Isaiah 44:15— the folly of idolatry Jeremiah 7:2, 26:2 — worship intercept Ezek 8:16 — what’s really in our hearts (elders)? Mal 1:10 – “Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you w...