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Jesus and Jewish Law7. Healing on the SabbathWhy 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 close look at Jesus' legal arguments for why he heals on the sabbath. Primary Texts Referenced in this Episode: 1 Maccabees 2:29-41: https://www.biblegateway.com...2025-07-211h 07Jesus and Jewish Law6. Did Jesus Ignore the Sabbath? The Controversy over Plucking GrainsIn 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 legal case to defend the disciples action.Biblical Sabbath Texts Referenced in this Episode:Genesis 2.2-3Exodus 16.4–5Exodus 16.16–30 Exodus 20.8-11Exodus 34.21Exodus 35.2-4Leviticus 23:3Leviticus 24:8Numbers 15.28-35Numbers 28:9-10Jere...2025-07-091h 16Jesus and Jewish LawQ&A #1: How did Jesus Interpret Sacrifices? And Other QuestionsIn this episode, we respond to questions sent to us by our listeners!2025-04-2841 min
Messiah Podcast72. Christian Scholars Defend the Torah Observant Jesus | Dr. Paul Sloan & Dr. Logan WilliamsFor centuries, supersessionist assumptions in higher education led generations of academics to assume that Jesus came to abolish the Mosaic Law. Today, a new generation of professors and researchers is producing rigorous, meticulously cited work arguing for a different perspective—that Jesus kept the Torah, valued the Torah, and instructed his disciples to keep the Torah and keep practicing Judaism. We’re joined today by Dr. Logan Williams and Dr. Paul Sloan, who have recently inaugurated a podcast of their own, called Jesus and Jewish Law, where they demonstrate how their research has led them to this pro-Torah view of Jesu...2025-04-221h 12
Messiah Podcast72 – Christian Scholars Defend the Torah Observant Jesus | Dr. Paul Sloan & Dr. Logan WilliamsFor centuries, supersessionist assumptions in higher education led generations of academics to assume that Jesus came to abolish the Mosaic Law. Today, a new generation of professors and researchers is producing rigorous, meticulously cited work arguing for a different perspective—that Jesus kept the Torah, valued the Torah, and instructed his disciples to keep the Torah and keep practicing Judaism. We’re joined today by Dr. Logan Williams and Dr. Paul Sloan, who have recently inaugurated a podcast of their own, called Jesus and Jewish Law, where they demonstrate how their research has led them to this pro-Torah view of J...2025-04-221h 12
The Biblical MindSyndicated: Jesus and Jewish Law (Logan Williams and Paul Sloan) Ep. #195Was the Mosaic Law a burdensome set of rules meant to be broken? Did Jesus overthrow the Torah—or fulfill it? In this special episode of The Biblical Mind Podcast, we revisit the pilot episode of the Jesus and the Jewish Law podcast, hosted by Paul Sloan and Logan Williams. Together, they walk through seven widespread misconceptions about the Law and how these misunderstandings distort our reading of both the Old and New Testaments.
You’ll hear why the Law was never meant to be a ladder to earn salvation, how it was designed to maintain God’s pres...2025-04-1021 minJesus and Jewish Law5. Oozing with Power: A Zavah Touches Jesus (Mark 5.25–34)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 sure to listen to the end for the information about how to send in your questions. Primary Sources Referenced in This Episode: ...2025-03-2436 minJesus and Jewish Law4. Contagious with Life: Jesus Heals a Leper (Mark 1.39–44)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 were marginalised and excluded from society? In healing the leper, did Jesus usurp the role of the priests? If Jesus purifies him, why does Jesus tell him to go make offerings "for his purification". An...2025-03-101h 33Jesus and Jewish Law3. The Redemption, Circumcision, and Purification of Baby Jesus (Luke 2.21–24)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 their context in the Old Testament and explain how Luke is portraying Jesus' family as being obedient to Torah (while responding to objections that Luke is unfamiliar with first-century Jewish practice). We also explore the theological implications of the fact that Jesus acquired ritu...2025-02-2442 minJesus and Jewish Law2. Ritual Impurity in the LawWhat 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.2025-02-1247 minJesus and Jewish Law1. Debunking Seven Misconceptions About the LawIn 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 punishing an animal instead of you for your sin.2025-01-2719 min
Jesus and Jewish LawTrailer: Jesus and Jewish LawIn this trailer we introduce what this podcast is about, why we are doing it, and how each episode will be structured.2025-01-1713 min
The Two CitiesEpisode #201 - Debriefing SBL 2023In this episode we debrief our experiences in San Antonio for the 2023 annual meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL). In the first half of the episode we talk about the papers that our team members presented, and then we shift to reflect on some of our major highlights from the conference. After our own comments and reflections conclude, we shift to our live recordings in the book stalls with various colleagues enjoying the conference, including: Dr. Bryan Dyer, Dr. Christoph Heilig, Kent Hendricks, Dr. Travis West, Dr. Holly Beers, Dr. Andrew King, Dr. Dru Johnson, Dr. David Moffitt...2023-11-2942 min