Most of the Bible Isn't Telling You What to Do

[@danthebookhunter]

A 10 minute Bible Hour video that is only 10 minutes longish. Lol. But seriously, I love the channel. One of the most reasonable rational theistic voices on KZbin. Keep up the great work.

[@FlatlineLancer]

Agree, I have a really hard time with stuff over 10 minutes. I even watched this 10min vid at 2x. So glad for the return of 10 min! Also glad for the TMBH podcast that sticks to the form really well.

[@jenniferlawrence1372]

My phone just commanded me to come watch the latest TMBH. I obeyed.

[@MattWhitmanTMBH]

Well done Jennifer’s phone. Well done.

[@lashantacurry5978]

😖 your humor could benefit from ... Oh wait matt replied himself.

[@digitalsublime]

Many become Bible thumpers, instead of focusing on living it. We are tempted to feel holier than others, to have the need to correct them, when what is need is for us to become examples so others would want to emulate. To much reproach to little being it.

[@claraartnow6645]

Couldn't agree more 👏👏👏

[@jesusislord6020]

I agree. Altho i do think that there are circumstances were as Christians despite our own sinfulness we must condemn certain acts of others. Such as abortion, murder, and abuse. Along with some others.

[@digitalsublime]

@@jesusislord6020 Politically, yes, we must oppose everything contrary to God's commandments. At relationship level we only have to correct a brother in Christ, and only when we ourselves have overcome their affliction, hence take the plank and you can help with the spec. I agree with you.

[@shiningstar3312]

Metonia.....yep..JESUS commands us to ..."make disciples of all nations, teaching them whatever I have commanded u to do,,baptising them"....yes we have a mandate, a message, a mission....however, as humans we unfortunately try to do this our way instead of GODS way (His Spirit in us)....and the message (JESUS) ends up powerless and a total disaster.

[@brandonclark482]

That's a good word!

[@DanielApologetics]

When reading the Bible, I like the accronym: S.T.O.P S stands for Situation? | T stands for Type of Literature | O stands for Object | P stands for Prescriptive or descriptive | Btw, good video Matt!

[@jessiporch7715]

I like this. Peter Enns talks about "who wrote this, when was it written, where was it written and why was it written"

[@Iampowerful8]

Go and read the epistles of Paul from Romans to Philemon and repeat.

[@pessimistprime6318]

@@Iampowerful8 Sure, but why?

[@ChrisHendricks]

On one hand, I love this perspective. It's freeing, but still God-centered. On the other hand, it begs for more insight. Because a lot of the Bible is categorized as "law". You ever have one of those conversations with someone who says they don't have to listen to anything in the Bible because it's a sin to have tattoos or garments with two types of cloth? Practical examples from the Bible of what things are definitely directions toward humanity for all time vs laws for a specific people group would be welcome.

[@thomasmorgan408]

Interesting how this goes right along with my sermon text for this upcoming Sunday. You gave me some ideas. Thanks!

[@dimesonhiseyes9134]

Go ahead just phone it in. Let Matt do all the work for this week.

[@Lakalyren]

It is cool how some of your discussions in “No dumb questions” can be taken into a context where you make valid and solid points about the Bible and our relation to God. Really good food for thought - thank you! Definitely four out of five stars 🥳

[@MattWhitmanTMBH]

Lol, I see what you did there 😂

[@TiciaM]

I had never really thought about it like that, but you're right.

[@robelliott4985]

An indicative reading often seems better than a prescriptive reading. Thanks for the work!

[@nicolaiitchenko7610]

The beatitudes are basic BE attitudes... Be this way - this is the attitude... (Having seen eight kids sitting at a table (At Burger King), all with their thumbs flying and heads down over their telephones, I thought how prophetic the words of the Eagles had become... "We are all just prisoners here, of our own device.")

[@Jungleman-dq9kz]

I’m a legalist and doing my best to change my heart. I focus so much on this one percent and build my life around it. I feel like I’m missing out on some great truth or grace of God because I think differently. I want to understand the freedom of grace; but I’m locked in a legal cage I don’t know how to get out of.

[@jgr7487]

ask God to convince you that no matter what you do, you can't gain salvation all by yourself. may He convince you that we're all saved by Grace & that the Holy Spirit works in mysterious ways.

[@kulvianshun]

This is a hard battle you're fighting but one by God's grace and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit you can win. It does require a change of mindset and looking into scripture with a different point of view as Matt pointed out. You can make use of the method that Daniel Apologetics makes mention of and always keep the context of the various books in view as well as their literary nature (History/Poetic/Prophetic etc). Pray that the Lord softens and melts heart and trust Him. Jesus through the Holy Spirit will get you there and remember we are all in need of Jesus daily. The Lord bless you as you follow Him!

[@dpaddym]

Jungleman1091, I think we are all guilty of trying to build a rules based faith with boundaries we set ourselves, so please do not think you are on your own with that. May I suggest a focus on the life of Jesus as we read it in the Gospels, and how He lived out his answer when questioned about the most important commandment, "Love God and love your neighbour".

[@asdfghjk8876]

It’s great that you're so self-aware! I‘ll pray he’ll free from you from that cage

[@asdfghjk8876]

It’s great that you're so self-aware! I‘ll pray he’ll free from you from that cage

[@DianaHerberg]

I like to think of the "rules" as the fences around the pasture God provides for us... keeping dangers out and the loving stuff protected.

[@lrmurphy1960]

I love this!

[@themrtestdummy]

I've heard it taught that in Romans 8:2 when it talks about the "Law" of the spirit of life, the Greek word there for "law" is nomos, which means "to divide out, distribute", or “that which is assigned”. And this dividing out is like the plot of land one would have for the grazing of animals, so you could think of it like a plot of land God has given us to graze- live in every aspect of the life of the spirit and nothing more. It's a beautiful picture!

[@DianaHerberg]

@@themrtestdummy it certainly is. I had not heard that explanation of nomos, so thank you for sharing that. Once we can see God's law (which in its fulfillment is still important today) as something ONLY for our good, we can begin to search to understand why He commands the things He commands (instead of just resisting the "loss of control").

[@wendyleeconnelly2939]

isn't there a saying in Judaism about building a fence around the Torah? with the same concept...

[@joejackson6205]

Excellent Mat. This video is an excellent example of why I recommend your channel to protestants and catholics alike to gain a better incite into God's word. Though I don't always recommend self interpretation, preferring the early church father's, you actually exposit more like them in modern language than a lot of other so called preachers.

[@Motosapien46]

This is an older video so if I'm just screaming into the void, so be it. Matt, you're the first person out in the wild that I've ever heard speak of God as a friend! This truth is what has truly set me free and is the good news that changed my life! I believe the Bible shows us that there is much more at stake than what we see on this world. As you point out, the Bible is NOT about us but in fact about God, His character, His trustworthiness and the accusation from Satan that God is arbitrary, exacting and vengeful. In that context, at great personal cost, God has shown us throughout the Bible that He is beyond loving, unfathomably patient and holds nothing higher than the freedom of His children. You hit the nail on the head; if God wanted nothing more than obedient robots the bible would be a brief manual of deeds to be done and sins to be shunned. Instead we have a God who wants us to know Him in our hearts and in our minds (Hosea 6:6). IMO one of the highest praises from God in the whole Bible was given to Job when God said "you have said of Me what is right"! I'd challenge you to read the Bible again with this larger perspective of humanity as a cosmic theater (1Cor 4:9) or as exhibit B in the defense of the character of God. Suddenly God's ways that seemed to be unreasonable or extreme are put in context to be emergency measures. Even things like the unpardonable sin or the mark of the beast aren't cryptic horror mysteries anymore because we know our loving God is NOT arbitrarily checking if we'll blindly obey but instead, as we see playing out in American politics, with the wrong view of reality people could be so far lost that they're inculcated from the truth and no amount of evidence will change their minds. At that point a God who highly honors free will, even though He wishes that none should perish (2 Pet 3:9) has to painfully let those children go (Hosea 11:8) to face the natural consequence of sin. I hope this comes across the way it burns in my heart and that you might actually get to read it. If this view interests you there is a great series by Dr Graham Maxwell at the Pine Knoll Publications website called Conversation About God that explains far better than I can in a comment. pineknoll DOT org/conversations Thanks for taking the time for my comment. Moreover, thank you for the content you make!

[@uview1]

Most pastor/preacher/church leaders condition people to see the Bible as only a self-help book. Sermons run past passage context and culture to focus on application for the listener. By doing this, scripture is not understood well and people aren't edified by the text. Instead they're distracted and entertained by jokes, personal stories and motivational 'how-to' opinions. Here today, gone tomorrow blather; forgetting the Sunday sermon even before getting back home.

[@with_all_yourheart1555]

This was really convicting for my interactions with my kids. Thank you.

[@EndTimesHarvest]

God never intended for us to memorize a huge list of commandments to follow. The law of God was always meant to be written on our hearts so that we followed it intuitively, guided by the Holy Spirit.

[@trentitybrehm5105]

You can be a Catholic/Protestant/Other denomination and not be a Christian. You can be Jewish and be Christian. Being Christian means following Christ. I love you and I thank you for your videos. They've really helped me to learn some stuff and the way you explain stuff is very down to earth and wholesome. May the Lord bless you in ways unimaginable, both here in the land of the living and in heaven, as well as those of your family members even more-so. Thank you!

[@IamGrimalkin]

I do very much agree with you here Matt; what I will say is I no longer like the use of the word "legalism" to describe what you're disagreeing with here. Credit to you, you didn't use it; but lots of other people do, so I thought I'd say something anyway. . The problem is the use of the word promotes the idea that the Bible is nothing like legislation, especially in the New Testament. This is something I used to think, until I recently had to start reading legislation for work. I found it really hard to 'get' the legislation, until I realised I could use the same skills I'd used reading the bible (including the New Testament) in reading it. That made reading legislation an awful lot easier. . Now is this because I've held a completely wrong, 'legalistic' view of scripture in the past? This is something I'm still trying to work out but my current idea is 'no'. . Legislation has similarities to scripture in the way it references other legislation, how it's important to read things in context, the way it is sometimes worded (although this is somewhat a product of bible translations), and several other things. But it's also because the term 'legalism' caricatures legislation a little. Legislation is also principle-based a lot of the time. . I now think creating a taboo of comparing scripture and legislation restricts the understanding both scripture and legislation.

[@DaleBoyce2012]

James would call this the 'Royal Law'. Love this Matt!

[@alandmoore4306]

Great video! I love this concept of taking ownership; the same dawned on me when I last studied Galatians 4: "So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God". So many questions about "is X a sin? Is Y a sin?" just miss the point. Is your desire to love God and build His kingdom, or just to get away with as much as you can? A slave serves to avoid punishment, an heir serves because he has a vested interest in his father's business.

[@mitchellm2208]

Thanks for sharing this comment man. Gave me a much needed thwack over the head haha, I gotta start viewing myself as a son!

[@rogermetzger7335]

From the time I was born in 1944, my parents read Bible stories to me several times per week AND they read or recited Bible verses they wanted me to learn - usually verses that were related to or part of the stories they had read to me. Before I was ten, I had memorized about 150 Bible verses and was well acquainted with about 150 Bible stories. Perhaps that is part of the reason I have a very different of Christianity than many other people do, i.e. I think of Christianity as devotion to “the Christ” - another way of saying “the Messiah. I think of everyone who ever had the messianic hope as “Christian” in that broad sense of the term and I think of Christinaity as an historical religion - not only in the sense that it has been the religion of everyone who has the messianic hope but in the sense that Christianity is about who the God of Moses is and a) how he has related to the human race in the past, b) how he relates to the human race in the present and c) how he plans to put an end to the sin (selfishness) problem. Even the ten commandments CAN be understood as a description of an ideal, i.e. this is what your life will be like as you learn to trust me: You won’t worship other Gods, you won’t make images for use in worship, you won’t use my name in disrespectful ways, you will enter into my rest (a relationship of trust) - as symbolized by my rest after I created life on this planet, you will honor your parents, you won’t kill or commit adultery or steal, etc. All promises about what your life will become like as you learn to trust me. After I met a Free Methodist minister in Iowa in the 1970s, I got quite well acquainted with him and sometimes attended the adult Sunday school class of the congregation of which he was the pastor. I sometimes made comments about the events and people in the biblical narrative. I didn’t know the pastor had a sister but she sometimes attended that same Sunday school class. After Sally and I were introduced and began dating, she discovered I was eight years older than she was. She said “Oh! Now I understand how you knew those Bible characters so well. You came over on the ark!” Evangelism means different things to different people but I think of one of the first steps in evangelism as trying to ascertain the level of interest a person has in history and, if the person doesn’t seem to have much interest, I try to find aspects of history in which the person may have SOME interest. I have found, for example, that most youngsters can easily be encouraged to learn about the history of the Pony Express. Most people wouldn’t think of the Pony Express as having much to do with evangelism but if Christians were to encourage people to think of the Bible as a collection of some of the best true stories ever told, I think we would have a lot more success than telling people what to do. I think of salvation as including justification, sanctification and glorification. For that reason, I answer in the affirmative when I am asked “Are you saved?” I know the person who is asking the question means “Are you forgiven?” “Have you taken the initial step of faith of trusting God’s grace for your forgiveness?” I’m not accustomed to volunteering “I am saved.” But when people ask me whether I’m saved, I assume that gives me permission to ask them to tell me how they became Chrstians. Over the years, I’ve asked several people to tell me about that. So far, not one of them has said anything about what the Lord had done for them. Each of them told me about something they had done. Which may be why so many professed Christians’ goal (sometimes it seems to be their only goal) is to get people to do something - make a profession of faith or say the sinner’s prayer, for example. I say “Away with such misrepresentation of Christianity!” Faith is the evidence of things not seen. Let’s spend our time encouraging true Christian faith by encouraging them to consider the evidence of things we can’t observe with our natural senses or measure with scientific instruments. Let's let the Holy Spirit convict them through stories of his interaction with the human race. Conversion is the miracle whereby a person’s trust is transferred from what he thought he could do to save himself from sin or its consequences to what the Lord does to save us. It isn’t our role to “convert” anybody.

[@AlexanderosD]

"The bible is just some book that tries to tell you what to do..." Bruh...have you never read Chronicles and Kings?

[@suzettemacey9632]

and Proverbs .. and Acts ... etc. etc. etc.

[@Laughy-Flaaffy]

Or Judges...

[@mish375]

Ezekiel, 1 and 2 Samuel, Jonah, etc. Jonah is actually one on what NOT to do.

[@christong888]

Or the Torah/The Law (first 5 books of the Bible). That aside, one needs to consider that laws are dictated by antecedents (context) and causes (outcomes). It's not as simple as a book of do's, and not all do's lead to the same outcome. Having faith is necessary for salvation, but that is not the end of the road. Other acts (the fruit of the spirit) help to sanctify individuals, and other actions allow individuals to devote their lives completely to God, resulting in a transformation of heart.

[@newbiegamelover4767]

First off, have you ever tried turning off notifications for your game apps? That should get your phone to shut up about your Forge of Empires so that you can focus on what's more important. Second, while there might be verses that might be verses that might appear to be a commandment, if you actually look for that verse and read the verses around it, you may find that God directing that commandment to a specific person or type of people, not the general reader. Context is key, after all.

[@ilerioyedele8481]

How do you unlearn being a cog and learn how to get vested?

[@MattWhitmanTMBH]

I recommend the sermon on the mount, the missional discourse, and the Kingdom parables of Matthew 13 as great places to start.

[@elrogelio]

Love your content brother. Don’t ever stop 🙌🏾

[@ryan.kilgore]

I love this perspective! God wants us to buy in and be transformed, not to just follow the rules. I think he could have made us like robots, but the fact that he didn't tells us what kind of relationship he wants to have with us.

[@13kimosabi13]

I like your response => but WHAT KIND of relationship doe HE want to have with us ? What's that look like ? Our role ? HIS ? Thanks.

[@wagnervana2000]

Hmm... there's something about your thought process and conclusions that doesn't quite sit right with me. There's a fly in the ointment somewhere. Gonna have to chew on it a bit. Thank you for tackling a big issue and making it accessible. Love the channel.

[@danchanda]

Great perspective. Your Burger King job reminds me of the 613 commandments in the Jewish law and your later jobs remind me of what Jesus said in Matthew 22... 37 “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

[@freeonjubileestrumpet4752]

To enter the kingdom of God: Maybe it’s because we’ve never know any other way of living, having become accustomed to the ways and cares of this world. The things in the world and what we do, we know one day will cease. Solomon, king of Israel, sought to know the end of having abundant material possessions and perceived they were vanity and vexation of spirit. Money, wealth, status, possessions are promised to God’s servants within reason and according to His purpose, but they aren’t guaranteed or the reason why He has called us to be sons and daughters nor was it His purpose to give us a carefree life. Not many rich are called, not many noble men or those who are wise in this world are called, but God has called the fatherless, the widows, those who are meek, who mourn, who are persecuted for His name’s sake for the kingdom of God. Many trials and tribulations are appointed to those who live godly in Christ Jesus. Through them all, our Lord will deliver us. These trials although are grievous at the present time, are strengthening us for the day when He will make up His precious jewels. God is righteous and His eyes can’t behold iniquity. Most of the things we watch on TV are ungodly in God’s sight. Unless it is pure and free from sin, you should guard your soul so you aren’t tempted by evil. The lusts of the world and the things within will pass away but he or she that does the will of God will abide forever. In order to be found perfect and blameless before the Father and His Son Jesus, we must renounce the pleasures we’ve become comfortable doing and live holy and separate from the world, guarding our soul from all evil and the appearance of evil, including friends or family who are not serving God. Admonish them and guide them if they are willing to listen. There is always the day when they could finally understand and begin to serve Him in love and truth. Don’t give up, continue to teach them with the same kindness He showed us for Christ’s sake. If anyone has unforgivingness, ask God to heal you. Our fight isn’t against the people who have hurt us but against the principalities working in them which caused them to do things they wouldn’t do if they truly understood God and His glory, kindness, and righteousness. If anyone is struggling with any form of lust or demonic oppression, fast and pray to God, and He will deliver you and heal you. Meditate in the scriptures as often as you can. God is near to the broken-hearted. Rejoice because if we are found worthy, He shall wipe away our tears from our eyes and lead us into His kingdom. Our Father in heaven sent His Son to us so we may have eternal life. His blood ended the Leviticus sacrifices for sin which was the schoolmaster, the law of sin and death, that could never give anyone who continually sacrificed the blood of the animals eternal life. Only the blood of Jesus and keeping His commandments will give us eternal life in the kingdom. The Laws of God, His Ten Commandments, Sabbath, feast days, and dietary law will be kept in Jesus’s millennial kingdom and eternally in the Father’s kingdom, New Jerusalem. His laws are holy and pure, good and righteous, they bring life and save all who keep them from death. God does not ask much from us. He knows what we can endure, and the suffering we will go through will push us to a breaking point, to test what is in our hearts and whether we will do His will. We may sin, but God will not cast us down forever. He will hold us up again and give us strength to endure the race. The laws are not impossible to keep. Zechariah and Elizabeth, the father and mother of John the Baptist, kept the laws of God without blame (Luke 1:5-6), not because they never sinned, but because they didn’t try to willfully sin against God’s law and kept His commandments with a pure and earnest heart. We cannot receive the blood of Jesus unless we begin to keep His commandments. His word is truth; all those who love Him will keep his commandments. If we do not, then we lie and do not the truth, the truth being the word of God, His commandments. Psalm 119:142 KJV [142] Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth. 1 John 1:5-7 KJV [5] This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. [6] If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: [7] But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John 2:3-5 KJV [3] And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. [4] He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. [5] But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. Galatians is about the law of animal sacrifice. Christ is the sin sacrifice. His purpose on Earth was to die to redeem us from our sins. The blood of the animals temporarily kept God from killing the people but couldn’t redeem them from sin and death. (Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord). Adam’s transgression (Genesis 3) cut humanity off from receiving eternal life. Only through Christ can we have hope of receiving eternal life. Adam was without sin before he transgressed the law of God. Jesus Christ redeems you back to the state Adam was before he transgressed God. Christ frees you from all your past sins (Matthew 24:13 [13]But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved) until you die or when he returns (2 Timothy 4:1 [1] I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom). Most of the nation of Israel during the time Paul wrote Galatians were keeping the animal sacrifices because they didn’t believe Christ was the sacrificial Lamb of God. When Christ died, the veil of the temple ripped (Matthew 27:51 and Hebrews 9:7-11), symbolizing the end of the Levitical priesthood for animal sacrifices and the beginning of the order of Melchisedec under Jesus Christ. Many of the Jews believed the newly converted Gentiles had to keep the law of animal sacrifice. They didn’t understand Christ’s purpose as the sacrificial Lamb of God. Paul said the law is not of faith and Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:12-13) by being a curse himself. This can’t be the law of God (Ten Commandments, feast days, dietary laws) because the law of God is holy and perfect (Psalm 19:7). The law of animal sacrifice could not redeem you from your sins once you transgressed the laws of God. Transgressing the laws of God put you in sin (1 John 3:4 Whoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law). They did not receive the blood of Christ but were still under the blood of the animals. The Israelites believed if they sacrificed an animal to repent of their sin, God would forgive them. They didn’t love God enough to understand that true repentance begins in the heart or mind. David in Psalm 51 said he would have sacrificed to God for forgiveness, but he knew that wasn’t true repentance. Anyone with enough animals could sin as much as they wanted knowing that God would forgive them if all they must do was to kill an animal. That is why David said true sacrifice comes from a contrite, remorseful spirit, and why Paul said this law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. The law of animal sacrifice was to teach people sin had repercussions or punishments. Hebrews 10:1-4 KJV For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. [2] For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. [3] But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. [4] For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. The Sabbath day existed before Israel became a nation. It is the rest God promised to his people in Hebrews 4 but because of sin, they could not enter it. Jesus' millennial kingdom is on the 7000th year of man which is the 7th day for a day with God is as thousand years (2 Peter 3:8). The feast of tabernacles and the 8th day feast symbolize the 7 thousand years of man and the 8th day symbolizes when there will be no more flesh and blood humans with everyone having received their spiritual bodies whether to life eternal or damnation. Each feast is significant and all men will keep them in Jesus' kingdom on Earth in Jerusalem. Isaiah 66:22-24 KJV For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain. [23] And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord. [24] And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh. Israel is God's holy name. When we accept Him we become his children spiritually. When the children of Israel made the covenant on Mt Sinai they become God's firstborn. The Gentiles are grafted into the holy olive tree which is Christ and the covenant Israel made. When we die, God will judge us based on the things written in the books of the laws of God (Revelation 20:11-13).

[@thomasvansant6246]

This understanding of Biblical Truth is always helpful. I think this will be recommended viewing before all my bible studies. Honestly I don't always agree with your conclusions but I usually like your process. . . . Now back to trying to apply this to my own life.

[@Raleford]

We need more of this in the church! The ability to agree and disagree but still have a dialogue in love and honesty. We've lost the unity that doesn't require uniformity.

[@ravissary79]

There's a popular new movement in traditional reformed circles calling for a change to society informed by "theonomy"... on its surface theonomy is fascinating, but fans of it seem to want to replace our constitutional secular civil system with something based on it... basically a new OT based theocracy. In light of this excellent point from this video it's occurred to me that there's an alarmingly large number of serious Christians who don't seen to understand this concept about the bible and biblical living. If you're plumbing it fur rules to govern other people by and they didn't ask for that, you might be missing the entire point of the bible and being Christian in general.

[@Iampowerful8]

This is the eternal message of salvation: Jesus paid for all our sins. Jesus died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.1 Cor15.1-4

[@jessiporch7715]

Then why did Jesus bother to preach the Sermon on the Mount?

[@Iampowerful8]

@@jessiporch7715 Good question. Whatever Jesus preached was addressed to Jews alone, never to gentiles. We can learn from it but the Lord had different plan for us gentiles. The Lord assigned Paul for us gentiles. This is the eternal message of salvation: Jesus paid for all our sins. Jesus died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.1 Cor15.1-4.

[@Iampowerful8]

@@jessiporch7715 Read the epistles of Paul from Romans to Philemon so you learn what belongs to us gentiles.

[@sarco64]

@@jessiporch7715 To convince us that no one will be declared righteous in God's sight by observing the law. Rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. We have to be convinced that we are sinners who can do nothing to save ourselves before we will give up on the idea of coming before God clothed in the filthy rags of our own righteousness, and instead receive the gift of being clothed with the robe of Christ's righteousness.

[@pasqualecandelora2878]

Jesus cared enough about what we do to/for our neighbors to make it the basis of our judgement. Parable of the sheep and goats. Of course it must be done in faith

[@bryangreager2116]

This is not the first time I have listened to you. I am subscribed, I just want to thank you for doing this, I feel you are very well spoken, interesting, and 100% filled with the Holy spirit. Thank you I pray blessing on you and your continuation of this awesome ministry.

[@markpettis2896]

My first job also was at Burger King thank you for this awesome sermon and during it I prayed to ask Jesus to help me love two of my” enemies”As always he’s in charge and when I mess up he’s there for me wow thank you for the sermon!!

[@PrNickJones]

What I love most about the Bible is that it is a narrative of a God who works for the heart of His people. Through the promise made of the Messiah to come in the Old Testament and the promise kept by Jesus coming in the New Testament I see God working through history for my heart. Not about rules and regulations. Love this!

[@Nick_fb]

Yes I agree, I should throw away my phone and stop watching your channel?? The relational language around god that we share in the west, is not the same as the power god commands over specific problems. The implications of one value in the bible is worth a thousand shovelware movies and games. Jordan Peterson lecturing for hours on one sentence about cain and abel shows it. With that in mind, a more critical view of what god does say to do and not do, is far more impactful in seeing a direction through life. The implications are too big to blindly accept on a statistical hand-waving.

[@ryanalving3785]

2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. God is the God of liberty and freedom. When you think about it, the very fact that we are created with free will is evidence of this point. Within the framework of goodness, we are free to do anything at all. I think that's beautiful, and we should wrestle with the boundaries so that we may make use of the fulness of freedom; yet not go beyond what is good. If you see what I mean. Within the confines of "love God, and love your neighbor;" reach for the uttermost extremities of what is permitted us; because every iota of what is permitted is permitted for *some* reason.

[@TheMrMKultra]

Many of the comments here might sound like ”well, if you read it in context, none of the commandments are actually for us today“, although the people who wrote the comments might not even think that themselves. Having the word of God be in our mouth and in our hearts like Moses commanded the people of Israel to speak of it where ever they would be (when you're home, when you leave and enter your house, when you're on the street, talk about it with your kids, etc) is one of the most useful things in getting to know God better. Even the book of Moses is mostly narrative and little commands, so what they were to be repeating would not be counting commandments either. But in everything that was written and inspired by God, one would know a little better the character and the goal of God for mankind and the rest of his creation. This is why I love reading and repeating in my heart all the words of God like (David?) in Psalm 119.

[@RocknRoRose]

Amen. Pretty much the New Testament and about anything that we need to do have nothing to do with materials, tells us to actually build shelter, a place of worship, and how to treat and help people.. That's why I love the Bible :-) Because God said it and did it. It wasn't Moses who parted the Red sea, it was God through Moses parting the Red sea. ;-)

[@arsene4440]

Even if a big part of the Bible is telling stories of things that happened in the past there is always a wisdom showing how God judged/approved peoples actions which gives strong messages about how God sees the desicions we make in this life. We might be taught for example to always be thankful and never complain about God but the book of Job elaborates a lot about this in Job's story. We are taught never to give up upon God or grumble and the book of numbers shows us what happened to the Israelites who were not faithful. So these real life stories are essential and very informative I believe. On the other hand the gospels and epistles are full of instructions about the Christian way of life.

[@kevinpritchard3592]

Man I wish I could put things into perspective and communicate as effectively, good job Matt, keep up the good work. God Bless Brother

[@jakfan09]

Someone send this to John Piper and the like.

[@Swan6370]

Why?

[@ophis181]

This is mostly where the difference between christianity and islam can be found : Christ mostly asks questions to people, and they find the right answer themselves (Luke 10:36-37; Mark 12:16) , while the Quran, being considered as the direct word of God through their prophet, contains way more laws and affirmative orders on how to live your life. Thus is the Sharia

[@megalopolis2015]

There are only two religions, "do" and "done". The Bible extensively covers both. It starts out with the basic ten commandments, then expands to over six hundred. The Pharisees claimed to adhere to them all, but they couldn't. No one can. Jesus, the God-Man, was the only One who could. He did it all, including taking the punishment for sin we earned in our imperfections. The closer we get to Him, and allow His Holy Spirit to dwell in us, the more naturally we follow those commandments, which are basically two-in-one in the Greatest Commandment, to Love God with all that we are, and our neighbor as ourselves. Through Christ, do became done, and our actions in our intimacy with Him reflect that. We can boast of nothing of ourselves. The Bible from cover to cover is His story of Love and Justice being ultimately met on the cross, for His Glory and our good.

[@ArenaHealer]

1% directive, 99% examples of the directive in action. what are you talking about.

[@SharkAcademy]

I just finished reading Leviticus in my journey to read the Bible in order and get the full view for myself. Before getting to it, I knew about it and thought it was going to just be law after law of what do to for everything. Every chapter what I found is the love of God saying he cares about us and giving us these rules that if followed will lengthen and make better the lives of those who do so and allow God in the tabernacle to be among them. It was very much: I care for you health, you should only eat these things and avoid these things, I want your society to work, in order for it to, you should do these things, I want to dwell among you in the tabernacle, do these things so I can.

[@Warpath1337]

this guy is a dead ringer for a childhood friend.

[@matthewweston643]

Another great video Matt. Love the movie analogy. I greatly appreciate your insight that pharesetical rule following is something we all do. It's not a denominational thing but a human thing.

[@r2aul]

SOOOOOOOOOOOO good! Only someone not walking in the fear and paranoia of our Father would have the liberty to take on such a perspective.

[@RocknRoRose]

The Wisdom books in the Holy Bible are the most poetic. the other books especially the Gospels are not really poetic but are pretty much told like an autobiography.

[@sherlockhomeless7138]

That was deep. Thanks. I'm gonna use this whenever someone tells me 'religion is just a bunch of rules'.

[@Chilling498]

Ya I’ve subscribed to your channel and your telling us what to hear and do lol 😂

[@blakknasa]

Hey dude, I grew up with no connection to any religion and no interest in the subject at all, however I found your videos last week and just from a historical context have found everything EXTREMELY interesting. I was wondering if you have done any videos on how science and religion fit together? I’m curious to hear if there are any contradictions between widely held scientific consensus and biblical stories. You seem really level headed and full of common sense so it would be cool to hear your thoughts on those things (if they do exist) or even how science and religion work together :) Thanks and keep up the great work.

[@amandah8178]

Many of history’s greatest scientists were/are Christians. The man responsible for the Big Bang Theory (though his included God) was a Catholic monk. The Vatican owns an observatory in Arizona and has many scientists all over the world whose primary purpose is to seek to better understand creation. There is no quarrel between science and religion, at least from a Christian perspective. My husband is a scientist whose faith is strengthened by his deepening understanding of science.

[@blakknasa]

@@amandah8178 Cool, thank you for your reply :) I never knew Georges Lemaître was a religious man.

[@amandah8178]

@@blakknasa - You’re welcome! I love talking about the union between faith and science. I do want to give you a heads-up that there are some Protestant denominations that believe most scientific study is antithetical to faith. My husband and I grew up in one such denomination. Later in life we became Catholics by choice. Let me know if you have any other questions!

[@andymartin6803]

I like you trying to be honest but your missing the point of course different people give different accounts but your left out this its not kids retelling where they went it's ment to be God telling a story if he can't get his ducks in a row we'll seriously and if God did write a book you would have thought he would have kept at least one copy of the original for us all to read than copies of copies of copies ect ect nice try but it just does not fly. Oh and whole bunch of laws like over 600 doh come on dude tell it like it is

[@MusicalRaichu]

11 minutes. You violated your rule. Bad! My mother tried to instill a similar idea in me about morality - the Bible might say do this or don't do that but what God is actually on about is to do good things for people and not to hurt them. It took me about 30 years to learn that lesson.

[@ingridmalmberg2841]

This is making me think of Jungian archetypes 🧡

[@felren13]

we have to listen to God... i was your 26th dislike.

[@scottmcloughlin4371]

I keep my phone in a drawer. It's not a creative tool like PC's were.

[@PreacherJimC]

Difference between Prescriptive and descriptive text.

[@rubytuby6369]

And they asked Jesus what must we do to do the works God requires. Jesus said the work God requires is this to believe in the one He sent.

[@trevorfrayne6418]

So it sounds like praying for wisdom, and getting to know God is the best way to find out what to do.

[@jgil1966]

Hmm... i moderately to strongly disagree with this video..., i love you and this ministry, especially your ecumenical work, but love of God in my own useless opinion and personal experience is (with the help of God’s grace) sown and grown from service and obeying His commandments and saying no to sin and more importantly for me as a Catholic from participating in the Holy Liturgy, i don’t see or agree or really even experienced that from living initially as a protestant with this free for all, get out of jail feee card, free spirited type of spirituality that exaggerates things like, “its ok to do whatever you feel like doing because we’re not saved by works, you just have to believe” i feel like Isaiah 61, Matthew 25 and Romans and the Torah and James would claim otherwise, but still, i love your work, and i hope you reconsider this in the future. Scripture does tell us what to do, a lot and a deep love for God is grown intensely from working in the vine. God bless you and your family.

[@jgil1966]

@@hillaryfamily completely agree though we must cooperate, it takes two to tango.

[@jgil1966]

@Jonathan Billings i agree that without God we cannot do anything, and that he initiates the relationship by grace but to nourish this loving relationship with Jesus, he calls us to work and plainly tells us many things to do? Actually throughout the entire Scripture there are instructions for Christians that will help them stay and grow in the vineyard... take the talents parable.

[@MrBrucetho]

I like to say the bible is not a prescription, it's a description

[@codythomas1382]

Hey Matt this one was great! Thanks!!!!!

[@noelearl5545]

You are a voice of reason. Thank you!

[@610garage]

If God was merely after your obedience, He would have given you the 10,000 commandments. But He's after your heart, mind, and soul. So He gave you the bible.

[@Crazychickenlady448]

Speaking of one of the do's in the small list of do's and don'ts, we have "remember the Sabbath and keep it holy". I was curious as to why we celebrate the Sabbath on a Sunday. I know that it was the pope that decreed it many many years ago, but why do us non-catholics stick with it? It seems like such a short list of do's and don'ts, why do we ignore this one, or rather, let a man change/add to the bible? (I am actually curious, I am not SDA)

[@johncommons1175]

In the earliest days of the Church, they would meet on the first day of the week (Sunday, technically) and congregate then. That's just always how the tradition has been since Christianity has been alive.

[@johncommons1175]

@Desire Of All Nations I appreciate you being willing to use scripture to prove your point. However, what do you make of the various early church fathers and writings that state communing on the 1st day (Sunday) instead of Saturday? Justin Martyr (100-165 A.D.) mentions the meeting together on the Lord's day as early as then?

[@Crazychickenlady448]

@Desire Of All Nations unsubstantiated hostility seems to be the way of the world today, doesn't it? Sad 🥺

[@therayn0]

This might be why there are so many denominations

[@hilltoprccrawlers1979]

Turn the Phone OFF! Your life will be better for it.

[@jovianleong4651]

Pragmatism has pretty much crept in to the church

[@jasonhatt4295]

I got to come back in 10 minutes, it’s 9:47 as I’m writing this comment, your phone says 9:57

[@jasonhatt4295]

Ha ten minutes, I didn’t notice! This is ten minute bible hour! Ok I’ll come back in a Bible hour! ...actually I can’t wait that long I must watch now!

[@becauseboredom]

Ahahah sounds like you play Clash of Clans.

[@ΟριζόντιοςΚατακόρυφος]

That's why Jesus Christ founded the Church and didn't write the Bible. And that's why Bible says "the church is the pillar and the foundation of the truth" (A Tim 3:15) and doesn't say "the bible is the pillar and the foundation of the truth". Bible, is just one of the books be used by the holy True Church.

[@nuanced1]

This is probably the first of your videos I've watched that's actually about 10 minutes long 😄

[@timothyvanderschultzen9640]

Yes, but what of the OT?

[@610garage]

A nice counter video would have been the ten commandments. What? I like symmetry. ;)

[@jonbold]

Thanks for a great TMBH!. Jesus knows that most people will not catch what he is saying. In his normal subtlety He has given us Ten specific situational Commandments in Matthew 5: 1-12. That is, if you are willing to accept them. Look around you. Does this look like the kingdom of God? It looks the same either way. Let me help you with this reading. Verse 5 says, "Blessed are the Meek, for they shall inherit the Earth". Who are the meek, scripturally? They are the people who know how to be the most vicious, the most ruthless, the most destructive, but simply don't do it. It is your job to make sure these people inherit the Earth. In verse 19 Jesus calls these commandments. Brief, aren't they? Read them like marching orders. GBY

[@rtybn2012]

When you meet Jesus, as we all will, you can tell Him of what you think the Bible is all about. The Bible is a book of how we are to live if we want to be with Him for enernity.

[@joeyp9448]

Wait a minute!!!! I’m sensing that there’s a little dispensationalist in that E Free mind!! Lol. Love it. Thankful for your ministry.

[@PatrickKQ4HBD]

As a vet, I like think of all this in military terms sometimes. Back then I was enlisted -- totally a cog. But in the Lord's army, I'm an officer on diplomatic duty to a neutral-to-slightly-hostile nation, not frontline combat. I'm given generalized guidelines, a strong set of core values, and posted in a certain place for a while. What I do with all that is up to me. The ONLY guarantee is that my King will eventually win. Everything else is yet to be seen against a fierce and determined enemy. Results will be better if I write home regularly (prayer and study). Someday, I'll get my final evaluation, and retire with fantastic benefits on the winning side, and watch all the youngsters struggle to learn the same lessons that I struggled with. Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition!

[@Spazticspaz]

Good video, but here is the critique: Sounds like he is just trying to make the laws and commands less strict. He misses that God makes us sons, heirs, by a miraculous work. And misses the imperative to represent our King well. He is trying to take the perfect standard of the law, which condemns us, to basically nice it up so that we wont feel bad about it. But part of the law is that it is meant to kill you and condemn which teaches you and tutors you to Christ. The characters weren't only random characters, but were part of God revealing Christ to us. He minimizes the law and the standard for purity, but unfortunately that minimizes the gospel and the work of Christ. So yeah its pretty off. if the law is just principles that you have grace for, then why do we need Jesus to die for our sins? Is the rhetorical question Id ask

[@jy7383]

I have been sending you long long comments. did you read them. if so what do yo think. I AM A TRAD CATHOLIC. and i really enjoy your talks since i found you a few days ago.

[@amandah8178]

This is why Jesus left us His Church and not a book. The Church has a teaching body which helps us to properly interpret the Bible, (the Magisterium). I heard a great illustration for the necessity of a teaching body that is protected from error by the Holy Spirit. Say I write "I never said you stole money." What do I mean? I could mean six different things and you have no way of knowing which meaning I'm using unless I tell you. This is a single six word sentence written by someone in the same language, same time period, and same culture as you. How much more important is it to have someone to help us properly interpret the Bible which is a variety of books by a variety of authors in a variety of genres from a variety of time periods and a variety of cultures? Acts 8:26-40

[@vikingmetaliscool]

Great points, Matt. Thanks for the video 🙂

[@Brando550]

I'm more and more changing my view that the Bible is trying to tell a story, rather than acting as a moral code.

[@lashantacurry5978]

Dont think just do sounds like an over simplification of a situational specific adage. Apply that to your entire life might become disriptive. I think I just learned how people that claim not to understand the bibles conflicting information become embroiled their seeking one instruction for all circumstance.

[@papahajek5383]

Tying the don'ts to the dos is a unique and Spirit led way of explaining the humanity of Jesus rather than just speaking the bottom line. It speaks of a God who truly desires His creation to understand the depth of His love for us.

[@triumph5649]

If you or someone you know is struggling to have peace in your heart and are unsure about your salvation, the times we're in right now should cause urgency so that you know where you stand. To receive the simple truth about gift of eternal life, the video titled: *How* *ridiculously* *easy* *it* *is* *to* *be* *saved* by the channel david benjamin in christ.

[@halfnoah9554]

another good video doooood. i used to think like you used to. it sucks!! good video brah

[@matthewsmith9553]

Phenomenal video! This needs to be taught in every church! Is there anyway you could make a second video giving some clear examples? I understand and agree with everything that you stated here but I think some examples would be helpful for alot of people.

[@kevinpritchard3592]

Good stuff brother

[@pessimistprime6318]

Honestly need this. Because every time I read something, I have a voice in my head pointing a finger at me, versus when reading a different way and having a different feeling of, “Wow, look at how they handled this situation, I’d like to strive and be more like that!”

[@jonnytex117]

Thanks, Matt!

[@guyinpajamapants6892]

I don’t agree.

[@biblelife527]

It amazes me how easily and how many times you relate things to our life compared to the Bible and show the truth of the matter. You have a real talent sir! Great video and keep on being awesome!

[@roberthiggason6994]

Thanks for doing such great work, Matt.

[@lavwrenbeeh7836]

Tosses phone and much love from Vegas Matt. :))

[@Creeper308]

Ouch! I do interact more with my phone than my Bible. I need to work on that this year.

[@donatio1]

That’s why you need the church to guide you with the spirit that Christ left it, the Catholic Church.