Jesus and Jewish Law

Why did some Jews object to Jesus healing on the Sabbath? Was it because they were cold, hard legalists who cared about observing the law more than having compassion on others? And why did Jesus think it was permissible for him to heal people on the sabbath? In this episode, we explore various ancient Jewish views on the relationship between sabbath, healing, and preserving life, and we take a clo...

In all three synoptic gospels, Jesus' disciples are accused of transgression when they make their way through a field and pluck grains on the sabbath. What is the meaning of Jesus' defense? Does he think the sabbath doesn't matter anymore, or that the rules don't apply to him? In this episode, we investigate how, in Mark 2:23-28 and Matthew 12:1-8,Jesus establishes a complicated le...

In this episode, we respond to questions sent to us by our listeners!

In Mark 5, a woman who experienced vaginal bleeding for 12 years touches Jesus. What happens when she does this, and why? In this episode we dive into Leviticus 15, the legislation genital discharges, both natural and unnatural. We look at how this legislation was applied by ancient Jews and how all this helps us read Mark 5.24–35 with new eyes. We are doing a Q&A for our next episode! Make su...

Lepers weren't "excluded" from all of society in ancient Judaism. So what is the significance of Jesus touching a leper? The focus of this episode is the scene where Jesus "purifies" a leper through touch in Mark 1.39–44. This short passage raises numerous questions: Did Jesus disregard the torah when he touched the leper? What was the leper doing in the synagogue if lepers...

In this episode we look at Mary and Joseph's obedience to three commandments in Luke 2.21–24: the commandment for the redemption of the firstborn (Exodus 13:11-15; Numbers 3:40-41; Numbers 18:15-16), the commandment to circumcise every male child on the eighth day (Genesis 17.10-14), and the commandment for parturient purification (Leviticus 12.1–8). Our discussion goes through the commandments in...

What is impurity? How do people contract it? How do they get rid of it? And why does any of this matter for understanding Jesus? In this episode, we offer a whistle-stop tour of the ritual purity system in Leviticus 12–15, Numbers 5, and Numbers 19. We discuss the meaning of holy/profane/pure/impure, outline the sources of impurity, and explain how the sacrificial system fits into all this.

In this episode we address the following seven common misconceptions about the Law: 1. Obeying the law is about earning your way to God. 2. The law demands perfection and is an impossible burden. 3. Being impure means you are evil or sinful. 4. The law excludes gentiles. 5. The law uniformly obligates all humans. 6. The law governs external actions, not the heart. 7. Sacrifice is about God punishi...

In this trailer we introduce what this podcast is about, why we are doing it, and how each episode will be structured.