Kingdom Commentary

Matt and Josh answer your questions about what it means to be a human being, like “What does the sea represent in Revelation?” “Are human beings born ‘unrighteous ’?” “Is the Trinity in the Old Testament or was it invented later?” and much more! CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro 00:11 Bragging about California Climate 04:24 Shout Out Josh! 05:33 Contradictions in Genesis 1 & 2 08:37 Why Doesn’t God “Nebuchadn...

Matt and Josh interview Dr Carmen Imes. Dr. Imes explains what the image of God meant to an ancient Near Eastern people group and how the Bible gives wisdom and subverts expectations even today. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro 00:11 Updates and Hot Yoga 04:03 Interview with Carmen Imes 05:49 What Is the Image of God? 12:43 Was Hitler the Image of God? 15:11 God’s Idol Statues 17:03 What Makes Jesus Differen...

Matt and Josh look at the end goal of human beings by turning to the book of Revelation. They get into judgment day, hell, the divinization of humans, the materiality of the new creation, and what all human beings hope for. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro 00:11 Backrooms Review 07:49 Magnifica Humanitas 13:25 The End-Goal of Humanity 29:15 Symbolism in Revelation 36:07 Looking Forward to Judgment 1:00:53 Ou...

Matt and Josh tackle human anthropology. What does the Bible say about what a human being is? How do the Old and New Testaments differ? How did the early church talk about the human being? And most importantly, how do the Resurrection and Pentecost change what a human being is? CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro 00:21 Shakespeare Adaptations 07:06 We Are Not Brains on Sticks (Christian vs. Enlightenment Anthro...

Matt and Josh take a look at the Pope’s encyclical on AI, the craze around the new movie Obsession, and how, through Pentecost, the people of God become the light and fire of God. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro 00:21 Blessings of Horror 05:34 AI Is Not Human 20:09 Recap (Jesus) 25:50 Pentecost and Becoming God’s Fire 33:40 The New Human 42:31 Meaning of Baptism 56:36 Purification through the Fire of Commun...

Matt and Josh turn to Jesus to see how his teachings, transfiguration, death, resurrection, and ascension all reveal what it means to be a human being. They discuss how Jesus is not just the first full human being, but the original image of God as well, and how much modern political and ethical disagreements flow from different accounts of anthropology. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro 00:32 Remarkably Brigh...

Matt and Josh explore the stories of Daniel and how they can be used to interpret Daniel's trippy LSD-like dreams. They respond to questions about humanity's ontology and discuss humanity's high calling to rule with God over the cosmos as his idol purified by fire. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro 00:32 Josh’s Science Corner 5:00 Matt’s Addiction 12:44 Humanity’s Goodness and Distortion 17:45 Is the Food Cha...

Matt and Josh look at Israel's role as a microcosm of humanity...or of humanity's role as a macrocosm of Israel. By focusing on Moses, they show how the Hebrew Bible blurs the lines between God and his created images. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro 00:32 Sponsor Us 01:29 Is Genesis 1 God’s Light? 09:10 Is Creation Good like God? 14:22 Cosmology Questions 15:30 What Changed in the Fall? 18:53 Israel and Ada...

Matt and Josh look at the event commonly called “the Fall.” They discuss why that might not be a great name for what happened, whether humans are, by nature, good or bad, and how the following eight chapters of Genesis are framed as a trajectory toward chaos and death. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro 00:32 Josh’s Apocalyptic Dream 06:57 The Snake and the Tree 15:46 Sins vs. Mistakes 20:18 The Cursed World 2...

Matt and Josh look at the condition of humanity and creation as it's described in Genesis 2. They focus on humanity's role in creation and the inherent communal nature of humanity as it reflects God’s image. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro 00:32 Controversial Movies 05:23 Anthropic and Anthropology 08:34 The Other Creation Story 18:21 Why Life through Fruit? 26:48 Rivers of Light and Life 30:24 Humanity Is...

Matt and Josh start a new series on what it means to be a human being. They start by looking at the definition of humanity in Genesis 1, and ask what the light on day 1 is supposed to be. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro 00:32 Butter and Egg Day 03:55 Movies We’re Looking Forward to 07:44 Biblical Theology of Humanity 11:53 2 Ontological Creation Stories 14:59 What Is the Light of Genesis 1? 27:41 Humans As...

Matt and Josh answer your questions about biblical law, including: Should Christians follow Jewish customs and festivals? What about Jewish Christians? Why does God hold himself to the sacrificial system of an ancient Near Eastern people group? Can God forgive without sacrifice? and more! CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro 00:32 Artemis II 03:37 Q&A 04:17 Moral Impurity and the Land in the Prophets 15:36 Shoul...

In a follow-up to the “How to Read the Bible” series, Matt and Josh speak with Dr. Max Botner about his new book, How Then Shall We Read? They discuss the dangers of biblicism, maintaining a high view of the Bible, and the different definitions of biblical inerrancy. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro 00:32 How Then Shall We Read Introduction 02:45 Interview Begins 22:21 What Is Biblicism? 03:39 Democratic Per...

Matt and Josh are joined by Isaac again to talk about Paul and biblical law. As they make their way through Paul and Romans, they look at the controversial claims Paul makes about the restoration of Israel, why biblical law isn’t abolished, and which biblical laws apply to which groups of people. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro 00:32 Updates 03:11 Recap of Biblical Law Series 20:46 Paul’s Gospel 25:30 Genti...

Matt and Josh interview Dr. Andrew Rillera about his book, Lamb of the Free: Recovering the Varied Sacrificial Understandings of Jesus's Death. They discuss whether Levitical sacrifices are violent, how Jesus's ascension is atoning, and whether Jesus's death is depicted as "substitutionary" in the New Testament. Also, if you want to hear Dr. Rillera's thoughts on what Disney movies get right, or i...

Matt and Josh talk about goats. They discuss the complex logic of atonement and purification, and how the blood of goats, lambs, pigeons (and even flour) spread life to maintain connection with God’s presence, and how Jesus accomplishes this through his ascension, rather than his death. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro 00:32 GOATS 06:28 The Oscars and Begonia 08:42 Impurity and Sacred Space 11:02 What Is Ato...

Matt and Josh are joined by Zac to discuss ritual purity laws. They discuss how they often get misconstrued as oppressive or legalistic, how Jesus confronts death, and why Scream 7 was so bad. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro 00:32 Scream 7 04:50 Transition to Ritual Purity Instructions 06:54 What Causes Ritually Impurity 10:25 It’s Not Bad to Be Impure 15:54 Jesus as a Source of Life (Not Purity) 24:37 Mora...

Matt and Josh discuss two of the most common sacrificial offerings in Leviticus. They also explore how the Eucharist functions similarly to the Passover offering, and how the driving purpose of offerings was communion with God, not forgiveness of sin. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro 00:32 Summer and No Other Choice 06:05 Cultures of Sacrificial Offerings 15:04 The Wellbeing Offering 20:15 The Passover Lamb...

Matt and Josh explore the world of blessings and curses in covenant treaties. And how understanding these blessings and curses is the key to understanding many of Jesus’s teachings, as well as his death and resurrection. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro 00:32 Josh’s Vet Corner 03:26 How to Introduce New Believers to Biblical Law 18:55 Suzerain Treaties Blessings and Curses 25:34 Hope of Restoration in the Pr...

Matt and Josh turn to the New Testament to see how Jesus read, lived out, and taught biblical law. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro 00:32 Car Registration and The Bone Temple 06:13 Halakha 11:36 Jesus as the Authoritative Interpreter of the Law 14:26 Misunderstanding Pharisees 17:23 The Royal Law in the Sermon on the Mount 31:15 How to Not Twist Biblical Law 38:47 Biblical Law Hangs on Loving Your Neighbor 4...

Matt and Josh continue discussing biblical law and talk with Dr. Dru Johnson about how church communities can meditate on biblical law today.   CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro 00:32 Super Bowl and the Olympics 06:17 Understanding Biblical Law with Dru Johnson 08:42 What Does “Torah” Mean? 10:46 Formative rather than Prohibitive 13:46 American Religion and Christian Religion 15:57 Biblical Law and Ancient Sl...

Matt and Josh explore the differences between common law and statutory law, and how biblical law was actually meant to be applied in formational covenant communities. They also complain about the cesspool of Twitter and debate the status of Chick-fil-A. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro 00:32 Chick-fil-A vs. Popeyes 04:25 Twitter Is Depressing 26:16 The Conjuring 10:57 Why Are Miracles Scarce? 21:03 What Are...

Biblical Law is not boring or outdated! And if we think it is, we are probably reading it wrong. Matt and Josh debunk several misconceptions about biblical law and explain that it is not there to bore you during your daily Bible reading. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro 00:32 More Wake Up Dead Man 08:21 Misunderstanding the Law 15:24 Things Biblical Law Is NOT 29:21 What Biblical Law IS 38:48 Following the L...

Matt and Josh are joined by Jesse Lasley to discuss your questions about the kingdom of God, from practical church questions to demonology. If you would like to hear about Jesse's approach to worship in his church, follow us on Patreon and listen to our exclusive bonus interview. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro 00:32 Spider-Man (2002-2007) 05:41 Is the Gospel “Simple”? 17:34 Cross Churches vs. Kingdom Churc...

Matt and Josh think through how to appropriately announce the good news of the kingdom today as a response to the questions our culture is asking. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro 00:35 Avatar and ER 05:20 Ins and Outs for 2026 17:56 The Now and Not Yet 26:45 Participating in the Kingdom, Not Building It 32:00 When the Church Acts like Empire 43:36 Healthy Evangelism and Answering the Culture’s Questions wit...