The BEMA Podcast - Episode 449: "Talmudic Matthew — The Seven"

Release Date: May 8, 2025
Hosts: Marty Solomon, Brent Billings, Al Grover Fricks, Josh Bosse
Series: Talmudic Matthew
Main Focus: An in-depth analysis of the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6, comparing it with the Jewish Amidah prayer from the Talmud.

1. Introduction to the Lord's Prayer

As the episode kicks off, hosts Marty Solomon and Brent Billings introduce the finale of their current series, which delves into the Lord's Prayer as presented in the Sermon on the Mount. They express excitement about closing this chapter while hinting at future explorations into Matthew’s Gospel. Brent humorously remarks on the extensive scholarship surrounding the Lord's Prayer, noting that despite existing comprehensive studies, their discussion still brings fresh insights.

Notable Quote:

• Brent Billings [00:53]: "This whole time, these whole two series, practically, we've been piecing together, how exactly are we salt and light in this world? How do we walk out Torah? How do we walk out who God wants us to be?"

2. Reading the Lord's Prayer

Marty Solomon opts to read the Lord's Prayer in the King James Version (KJV) to capture its traditional cadence and theological nuances. This rendition emphasizes phrases like "Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen," highlighting differences between various biblical manuscripts.

Notable Quote:

• Marty Solomon [05:16]: "After this manner therefore pray ye, Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name..."

3. Comparing the Lord's Prayer with the Amidah

Brent introduces the Amidah, the central Jewish prayer also known as the "18 Benedictions," from the Mishnah and Talmud. He outlines its structure and evolution, noting additions made post-70 AD, such as petitions against heretics. The hosts set the stage for a comparative analysis, aiming to juxtapose the Amidah with Jesus's version of the Lord's Prayer.

Notable Quote:

• Brent Billings [08:02]: "What are we doing here? We're laying our groundwork. We're getting the lay of the land. We're going to compare the Amidah to what Jesus is doing."

4. Detailed Analysis of Petitions

a. Knowledge and Daily Bread

Brent discusses the Amidah's first petition for "wisdom, understanding, and knowledge," contrasting it with Jesus’s request for "daily bread." Josh Bosse introduces the Talmudic notion that "there is no bread, there is no Torah," suggesting that physical sustenance is foundational to spiritual engagement.

Notable Quote:

• Josh Bosse [14:50]: "I just looked it up. It's in Mishnah 21B, chapter three."

b. Repentance and Forgiveness

The conversation shifts to repentance and forgiveness. Brent notes that while the Amidah follows a sequence of repentance leading to forgiveness, Jesus inverses this, emphasizing mutual forgiveness as a reflection of one's own forgiveness from God.

Notable Quote:

• Brent Billings [16:30]: "Our forgiveness is tied to our forgiveness of others."

c. Redemption and Deliverance

Brent compares the Amidah's plea for redemption—depicted through spiritual warfare imagery—with Jesus’s request to "lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." Josh expands on the breadth of "evil" in Hebrew, encompassing not just moral wrongdoing but also natural disasters and personal struggles.

Notable Quotes:

• Brent Billings [18:38]: "It's comparable because redemption language has a lot of spiritual warfare imagery embedded in it."
• Josh Bosse [32:20]: "It's a broad word. It means help us not have our lives collapse and be ruined in all the ways that that can happen."

5. Theological Implications

a. God's Omnipresence vs. "In Heaven"

A critical theological issue arises around Jesus's depiction of God "in heaven," which seems to contrast with Jewish beliefs of God's omnipresence. Marty references Leviticus to argue that holiness isn't just an inherent attribute of God but is made manifest through the faithful observance of commandments.

Notable Quote:

• Brent Billings [30:06]: "Jesus, God is everywhere and especially here. Why are you saying he's in heaven?"

b. Holiness of God's Name

Brent delves into the commandment to keep God's name holy, referencing Leviticus and its emphasis on living according to God's laws as a means of sanctifying His name. This theological exploration ties back to Jesus's prayer, suggesting that true holiness is demonstrated through action rather than mere proclamation.

Notable Quote:

• Brent Billings [40:27]: "May your name be holy. It's connected to doing God's commandments."

6. Doxology and Temple Service

The discussion transitions to the closing blessings of the Amidah, which include temple service, thanksgiving, and peace. Brent connects these elements to the Lord's Prayer's doxology—"For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen"—suggesting that Jesus's prayer serves to consecrate daily life as a form of temple worship.

Notable Quote:

• Brent Billings [60:49]: "Maybe Jesus is playing around with this daily Amidah prayer to teach us how to pray and consecrate our temple, perhaps, which is our body according to Paul."

7. Final Thoughts and Conclusions

In wrapping up, the hosts reflect on the simplicity and depth of Jesus's Lord's Prayer compared to the more elaborate Amidah. They underscore the prayer's focus on daily dependence, forgiveness, and personal spiritual integrity. The doxology is seen as a culminating affirmation of God's eternal sovereignty and presence.

Notable Quotes:

• Josh Bosse [55:35]: "Manna doesn't fit with the natural cycle. He's asking for mana, which is trusting God daily."
• Brent Billings [66:04]: "So how does it open? But with a big theological problem. Jesus, what are you thinking?"

8. Closing Remarks

The episode concludes with light-hearted banter and teasers for future content. Marty emphasizes the importance of listener engagement and support, while Brent hints at further explorations into related theological topics in upcoming episodes led by Josh Bosse.

Notable Quote:

• Marty Solomon [66:22]: "Thank you for joining us on the Bema podcast today. We'll talk to you again soon."

Key Insights:

• Comparative Theology: The episode provides a nuanced comparison between the Lord's Prayer and the Jewish Amidah, highlighting both similarities and distinct differences in their petitions and theological underpinnings.
• Holistic Holiness: Emphasizing that holiness is not just an attribute of God but a relational and behavioral response from believers through obedience.
• Simplification of Prayer: Jesus's Lord's Prayer distills complex theological concepts into a succinct, actionable prayer that focuses on daily dependence, forgiveness, and personal integrity.
• Cultural and Historical Context: Understanding the Lord's Prayer within its Jewish context offers deeper insights into its meaning and innovative aspects.

Further Exploration:

Listeners are encouraged to revisit earlier episodes in the series for foundational knowledge and to explore linked resources provided in the show notes for a more comprehensive understanding of the topics discussed.

Note: For additional resources, references to Leviticus, Talmudic texts, and scholarly works discussed in the episode are available through the podcast's show notes at bamaominated.com.