Gospel at a Glance

Episode 35 - Mattheew 6:1-4 - Secret Faith

Scripture
Matthew 6:1–4 (NRSV)
Beware of practicing your righteousness before others in order to be seen by them, for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.
But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
 
Episode Summary
In this episode, Jesus turns from the visible light of chapter 5 to the hidden life of chapter 6. What happens when good deeds become performance? Together, we explore Jesus’s challenge to practice righteousness without an audience, giving not for applause but for love.
Through the imagery of trumpets, masks, and the “Father who sees in secret,” Jesus invites us to rediscover the beauty of hidden faith. True generosity doesn’t seek credit; it reflects the quiet heart of God who delights in unseen obedience.
 
Takeaways
Chapter 5 focuses on the heart of righteousness, while chapter 6 focuses on motive.
Jesus warns against practicing goodness for attention or admiration.
“Hypocrite” (Greek hypokritēs) literally means “actor,” describing giving as performance rather than love.
“Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing” paints a picture of unselfconscious generosity.
The Father’s presence in secret is not absence but intimacy. God treasures what others never see.
 
Recommended Reading & Sources
Biblical and Historical Context
Deuteronomy 15:7–11 — God’s command to open hands to the poor.
Proverbs 19:17 — “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord.”
Matthew 5:16 — “Let your light shine before others,” now reframed by motive.
Matthew 6:5–18 — Parallel teachings on prayer and fasting in secret.
 
Scholarly Works
R. T. France, The Gospel of Matthew (NICNT) — Commentary on public vs. private righteousness.
N. T. Wright, Matthew for Everyone, Part 1 — How motive transforms outward acts.
Ulrich Luz, Matthew 1–7: A Commentary — Context on Jewish almsgiving practices.
Craig S. Keener, The Gospel of Matthew: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary — Background on first-century giving customs and hypocrisy.
Scot McKnight, The Sermon on the Mount — On the interior transformation of faith.
 
Mainstream and Devotional Reading
Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy — On hiddenness as the training ground of spiritual life.
Henri Nouwen, The Way of the Heart — Silence, solitude, and secrecy as disciplines of love.
Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline — The discipline of secrecy as spiritual freedom.
Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel — Living for grace rather than approval.
Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ — Warnings against vanity and public praise.
 
About the Podcast
Gospel at a Glance walks through the Gospels one short passage at a time, finding depth, challenge, and comfort in just a few verses. Follow for daily reflections that invite us to see how the kingdom of God still breaks into ordinary life.
 
Connect
Email: gospelataglancepodcast@gmail.com
Substack: gospelataglance.substack.com
Instagram: instagram.com/gospelataglancepod
 
Keywords
Jesus, Sermon on the Mount, Giving, Generosity, Hypocrisy, Motive, Secrecy, Righteousness, Kingdom of God, Faith
 
Hashtags
#GospelAtAGlance #SermonOnTheMount #Matthew6 #SecretFaith #HiddenFaith #Generosity #ChristianPodcast #FaithInAction #JesusTeachings #KingdomLiving

Episode 34 - Matthew 5:43-48 - Enemy Love

Scripture
Matthew 5:43–48 (NRSV)
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
so that you may be children of your Father in heaven;
for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good,
and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.
For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?
Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others?
Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
 
Episode Summary
In this final section of Matthew chapter 5, Jesus delivers the heart of his kingdom vision: love that extends even to enemies. We explore how this command, often quoted but rarely practiced, breaks every social boundary and redefines what it means to be a child of God.
Enemy-love is not sentimental or naive. It’s an act of holy defiance. It imitates the Father, whose generosity and grace reach everyone. In this episode, we explore the cultural meaning of “enemy,” the deeper sense of “be perfect,” and how prayer for those who hurt us transforms both heart and world.
 
Takeaways
Jesus ends the “You have heard…but I say” teachings by transforming hostility into love.
Loving enemies means reflecting the impartial love of the Father, who gives sun and rain to all.
Agapē love is active good will, not emotion or approval.
“Be perfect” (teleios) means mature, complete, whole—not flawless.
Enemy-love refuses to dehumanize others and opens the possibility of redemption.
 
Recommended Reading & Sources
Biblical and Historical Context
Leviticus 19:18 — “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Proverbs 25:21–22 — “If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat.”
Luke 6:27–36 — Parallel teaching on loving enemies.
Romans 12:14–21 — Paul’s echo of Jesus’s command to overcome evil with good.
 
Scholarly Works
R. T. France, The Gospel of Matthew (NICNT) — Commentary on the context and language of agapē love.
N. T. Wright, Matthew for Everyone, Part 1 — How enemy-love reveals God’s character.
John Howard Yoder, The Politics of Jesus — Theological foundation for nonviolent, redemptive love.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship — Interprets “love your enemies” as total obedience to Christ.
Glen H. Stassen, Kingdom Ethics: Following Jesus in Contemporary Context — Practical implications of radical peacemaking.
Amy-Jill Levine, The Misunderstood Jew — Jewish context for Jesus’s teaching on enemies and inclusion.
 
Mainstream and Devotional Reading
Martin Luther King Jr., Strength to Love — Sermons on enemy-love as the weapon of the strong.
Desmond Tutu, No Future Without Forgiveness — On reconciliation through mercy and truth.
Henri Nouwen, Life of the Beloved — Living from belovedness rather than resentment.
Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy — Understanding “perfection” as wholeness and kingdom maturity.
Richard Rohr, Falling Upward — On spiritual growth through surrender and grace.
About the Podcast
Gospel at a Glance walks through the Gospels one short passage at a time, finding depth, challenge, and comfort in just a few verses. Follow for daily reflections that invite you to see how the kingdom of God still breaks into ordinary life.
 
Connect
Email: gospelataglancepodcast@gmail.com
Substack: gospelataglance.substack.com
Instagram: instagram.com/gospelataglancepod
Keywords
Jesus, Sermon on the Mount, Enemies, Love, Prayer, Mercy, Agape, Perfection, Kingdom of God, Discipleship
 
Hashtags
#GospelAtAGlance #SermonOnTheMount #Matthew5 #EnemyLove #Agape #KingdomLiving #LoveYourEnemies #ChristianPodcast #FaithInAction #JesusTeachings

Episode 33 - Matthew 5:38-42 - Merciful Strength

Scripture
Matthew 5:38–42 (NRSV)
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’
But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer.
But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also;
and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well;
and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile.
Give to the one who asks of you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.”
 
Episode Summary
In this passage, Jesus overturns the world’s expectations of power and justice. Where the law of retaliation once limited revenge, Jesus invites his followers into something deeper: mercy as strength. Turning the other cheek, giving the cloak also, and walking the second mile are not about passivity but about reclaiming dignity, exposing injustice, and transforming relationships through nonviolent love.
We explore how each example in this passage challenges systems of domination and reveals a new kind of power. The freedom to love without fear and to resist evil without becoming it.
Takeaways
The lex talionis (“eye for an eye”) was meant to restrain revenge, not justify it.
“Do not resist an evildoer” means not to retaliate violently but to respond with creative, nonviolent resistance.
Turning the other cheek and walking the second mile reclaim agency and expose injustice.
Generosity and mercy disarm fear, freeing us to love without calculation.
True strength in the kingdom is the power to end the cycle of harm through love.
Recommended Reading & Sources
Biblical and Historical Context
Exodus 21:23–25; Leviticus 24:19–20; Deuteronomy 19:21 — Original context for “eye for an eye.”
Isaiah 50:6; 53:7 — The Servant who suffers without retaliation.
Romans 12:17–21 — “Do not repay anyone evil for evil.”
1 Peter 2:21–23 — Christ’s example of redemptive suffering.
Scholarly Works
Walter Wink, Engaging the Powers: Discernment and Resistance in a World of Domination — Explains Jesus’s “third way” of nonviolent resistance.
N. T. Wright, Matthew for Everyone, Part 1 — Discusses kingdom ethics and radical mercy.
Glen H. Stassen, Kingdom Ethics: Following Jesus in Contemporary Context — Details the moral vision of Jesus’s teachings.
R. T. France, The Gospel of Matthew (NICNT) — Historical and cultural background on Roman occupation and Jewish law.
John Howard Yoder, The Politics of Jesus — Theological framework for Christian nonviolence.
Scot McKnight, The Sermon on the Mount — Commentary on mercy, justice, and transformative discipleship.
Mainstream and Devotional Reading
Martin Luther King Jr., Strength to Love — Sermons on love as the weapon of the strong.
Henri Nouwen, The Road to Daybreak — Reflections on mercy, humility, and vulnerability.
Desmond Tutu, No Future Without Forgiveness — A vision of restorative justice rooted in mercy.
Richard Rohr, The Universal Christ — How mercy and surrender express divine strength.
Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy — On the inner transformation that makes kingdom mercy possible.
About the Podcast
Gospel at a Glance walks through the Gospels one short passage at a time, finding depth, challenge, and comfort in just a few verses. Follow for daily reflections that invite you to see how the kingdom of God still breaks into ordinary life.
Connect
Email: gospelataglancepodcast@gmail.com
Substack: gospelataglance.substack.com
Instagram: instagram.com/gospelataglancepod
Keywords
Jesus, Sermon on the Mount, Retaliation, Nonviolence, Mercy, Strength, Generosity, Justice, Kingdom of God, Discipleship
Hashtags
#GospelAtAGlance #SermonOnTheMount #Matthew5 #Mercy #Strength #Nonviolence #JesusTeaches #ChristianPodcast #KingdomLiving #LoveInAction

Episode 32 - Matthew 5:33-37 - Truthfulness

Scripture
Matthew 5:33–37 (NRSVUE)
“Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times,
‘You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.’
But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,
or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.
Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one.”
Episode Summary
In this episode, Jesus turns from covenant love to covenant speech, showing how kingdom people use words that match their hearts. In a world full of loopholes and half-truths, he calls his followers to speak simply and honestly: “Let your ‘Yes’ be yes and your ‘No’ be no.”
We explore the background of oaths in Second Temple Judaism, the prophetic call to truthful speech, and what it means for modern disciples to live with quiet integrity. Truthfulness isn’t just moral correctness; it’s freedom and wholeness.
Takeaways
Kingdom people don’t need guarantees; ordinary words should already be trustworthy.
Speech carries covenant weight; our words echo God’s creative faithfulness.
Integrity is simplicity: consistent, dependable, and rooted in love.
Honesty frees the soul from fragmentation and allows us to live unmasked.
Truthful speech reflects the light and reliability of God in a world of noise and manipulation.
Recommended Reading & Sources
Biblical and Historical Context
Leviticus 19 and Numbers 30 (on vows and integrity before God)
Zechariah 8:16–17 — “Speak the truth to one another.”
James 5:12 — Early Christian echo of Jesus’s teaching on truthful speech.
The Mishnah, Shebuot 1–4 — Rabbinic discussions on oath-making in Second Temple Judaism.
Scholarly Works
N. T. Wright, Matthew for Everyone, Part 1 (Westminster John Knox Press) — Insight on how Jesus redefines righteousness and covenant faithfulness.
R. T. France, The Gospel of Matthew (New International Commentary on the New Testament) — Historical and linguistic notes on oaths and integrity.
Craig S. Keener, The Gospel of Matthew: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary — Context on Second Temple practices and their ethical implications.
Scot McKnight, The Sermon on the Mount (The Story of God Bible Commentary) — Practical application of Jesus’s teachings on truthful speech.
William Barclay, The Daily Study Bible: Matthew — Readable reflection on Jesus’s call for simplicity and honesty.
Mainstream and Devotional Reading
Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy — Explores how Jesus’s words on integrity reveal a kingdom way of living.
Eugene Peterson, Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places — On how truthful, simple speech reflects God’s creative faithfulness.
Frederick Buechner, Wishful Thinking: A Seeker’s ABC — Entries on truth, words, and integrity in everyday life.
Timothy Keller, The Meaning of Marriage — Discussion on covenantal love and truthfulness in relationships.
Henri Nouwen, The Inner Voice of Love — Encouragement toward living with interior honesty and wholeness.
About the Podcast
Gospel at a Glance walks through the Gospels one short passage at a time, finding depth, challenge, and comfort in just a few verses. Follow for daily reflections that invite you to see how the kingdom of God still breaks into ordinary life.
Connect
gospelataglancepodcast@gmail.com
Substack: gospelataglance.substack.com
Instagram: instagram.com/gospelataglancepodcast
Keywords
Jesus, Sermon on the Mount, Oaths, Integrity, Truthfulness, Speech, Discipleship, Faith and Words, Christian Living, Covenant, Kingdom of God
Hashtags
#GospelAtAGlance #SermonOnTheMount #Matthew5 #Truthfulness #Integrity #FaithInAction #ChristianPodcast #KingdomLiving #YesBeYes #NoBeNo

Episode 31 - Matthew 5:31-32 - Faithful

Scripture:
Matthew 5:31–32 (NRSV)
Episode Summary
In two brief verses, Jesus speaks about marriage, divorce, and covenant loyalty. He reminds his listeners that faithfulness is not about legal loopholes but about reflecting God’s steadfast love. In a culture where women could be dismissed easily, his words defended the vulnerable and restored the sacred weight of relationship. This episode explores how Jesus’s teaching protects rather than punishes, calls us toward integrity in every relationship, and shows that covenant love mirrors God’s mercy.
Takeaways
Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 24:1, refocusing it on protection, not punishment.
First-century debates between the schools of Shammai and Hillel reveal how law could become injustice.
“Causing her to commit adultery” exposes a broken system rather than condemning the woman.
Faithfulness is the atmosphere of the kingdom and extends beyond marriage.
The exception clause in Matthew points to moral realism, not loopholes.
Jesus’s words do not command anyone to stay in harm. Safety and healing can be acts of faithfulness.
Covenant love reflects God’s reliability and mercy.
Grace still meets us when covenant breaks. Love can begin again.
Recommended Reading & Sources
Deuteronomy 24:1–4 – background on certificates of divorce in Torah law
Mark 10:2–12 and Luke 16:18 – parallel teachings on covenant and remarriage
Craig S. Keener, The Gospel of Matthew: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary
Amy-Jill Levine and Marc Brettler, The Jewish Annotated New Testament
N. T. Wright, Matthew for Everyone, Part 1
HarperCollins Study Bible – notes on the exception clause and covenant intent
About the Podcast
Gospel at a Glance walks through the gospels one short passage at a time, finding depth, challenge, and comfort in just a few verses.
Connect
Email: gospelataglancepodcast@gmail.com
Substack: gospelataglance.substack.com
Instagram: @gospelataglancepodcast
Keywords
faithfulness, covenant, marriage, divorce, grace, integrity, Jesus, Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5, kingdom love, justice, mercy, porneia, steadfast love
Hashtags
#GospelAtAGlance #Faithful #Matthew5 #SermonOnTheMount #Jesus #Grace #Covenant #Faithfulness #Mercy #Integrity #BibleStudy #PodcastMinistry #KingdomOfGod

Episode 30 - Matthew 5:27-30 - Wholehearted

Scripture:
Matthew 5:27–30 (NIV)
Episode Summary:
In this episode, we continue through Matthew 5 as Jesus turns from anger to desire and showing us that righteousness isn’t just about avoiding wrongdoing but about cultivating wholeness of heart. He begins with a command everyone knew, “Do not commit adultery,” and moves it inward: faithfulness starts long before behavior.
Jesus challenges us to see others not as objects but as image-bearers and to love with integrity instead of indulgence. When he uses vivid hyperbole about plucking out eyes and cutting off hands, he’s not calling for harm but for urgency. He’s saying: don’t play with what pulls you apart. Deal with what destroys your peace of heart before it takes root.
True holiness isn’t about repression or perfection; it’s about restoration. Jesus calls us to see rightly. To let our eyes and hearts become instruments of blessing, not possession. That’s what it means to love with a whole heart.
Takeaways:
Jesus moves the commandment from behavior to the heart. From avoiding sin to cultivating integrity.
Lust devalues others and fragments love; wholeness honors both body and spirit.
Hyperbole in this passage emphasizes urgency, not self-harm. Deal decisively with what corrupts your peace.
Jesus calls us to wholeness, not perfection: to be people whose inner life matches their outer one.
Restoration, not repression, is the goal. Learning to see others with dignity and love.
Recommended Reading & Sources:
The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing by Jonathan T. Pennington
Matthew (The New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary, Vol. VIII)
The Gospel of Matthew by R.T. France (NICNT)
The Jewish Annotated New Testament (notes on Matthew 5:27–30)
The Moral Vision of the New Testament by Richard B. Hays
Jesus and the Victory of God by N.T. Wright
About the Podcast:
Gospel at a Glance walks through the gospels one short passage at a time, finding depth, challenge, and comfort in just a few verses.
Connect:
Email: gospelataglancepodcast@gmail.com
Substack: gospelataglance.substack.com
Instagram: instagram.com/gospelataglancepod
Keywords:
lust, desire, integrity, righteousness, Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5, fulfillment, purity of heart, faithfulness, restoration, Jesus teaching
Hashtags:
#GospelAtAGlance #Wholehearted #SermonOnTheMount #Matthew5 #Integrity #Wholeness #ChristianPodcast

Episode 29 - Matthew 5:21-26 - Reconciled

Scripture:
Matthew 5:21–26 (NIV)
Episode Summary:
In this episode, we continue through Matthew 5 as Jesus begins to unpack what it means to fulfill the Law. He takes one of the Ten Commandments everyone knew by heart–“Do not murder”--and moves it from external action to internal attitude. Jesus reminds us that anger, contempt, and insult come from the same root as violence: a heart disconnected from love.
We explore how reconciliation, not ritual, becomes the true expression of worship. Jesus calls us to repair what’s broken before we bring our offering in order to value peace over pride and relationship over performance. This teaching doesn’t lower the bar; it deepens it. Following Jesus means cultivating a heart where peace can grow and reconciliation becomes a way of life.
Takeaways:
Jesus fulfills the Law by bringing it from external behavior to internal transformation.
Anger and contempt wound the image of God in others. They’re the seeds of violence.
Reconciliation matters more than ritual; healing relationships is an act of worship.
True righteousness is measured by restored relationships, not flawless performance.
Peacemaking is urgent work. The longer anger lingers, the deeper it roots.
Recommended Reading & Sources:
The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing by Jonathan T. Pennington
Matthew (The New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary, Vol. VIII)
The Gospel of Matthew by R.T. France (NICNT)
The Jewish Annotated New Testament (notes on Matthew 5:21–26)
The Gospel of Matthew: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary by Craig S. Keener
The Moral Vision of the New Testament by Richard B. Hays
About the Podcast:
Gospel at a Glance walks through the gospels one short passage at a time, finding depth, challenge, and comfort in just a few verses.
Connect:
Email: gospelataglancepodcast@gmail.com
Substack: gospelataglance.substack.com
Instagram: instagram.com/gospelataglancepod
Keywords:
anger, reconciliation, Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5, fulfill the Law, righteousness, peace, forgiveness, relationship, mercy, Jesus teaching
Hashtags:
#GospelAtAGlance #Reconciled #SermonOnTheMount #Matthew5 #KingdomLiving #Reconciliation #ChristianPodcast

Episode 28 - Matthew 5:17-20 - Fulfilled

Scripture:
Matthew 5:17–20 (NIV)
Episode Summary:
In this episode, we explore one of Jesus’s most profound statements: “I have not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets but to fulfill them.”
Jesus stands within Israel’s covenant tradition, not outside it. He isn’t erasing the story, he’s finishing the sentence. By fulfilling the Law, he brings it to its intended goal: love of God and neighbor. True righteousness, he teaches, is not about external performance but about inward transformation and obedience that flows from love, justice, and mercy.
We see how Jesus honors the Law’s holiness while revealing its heart, inviting us into a deeper, more relational kind of faithfulness. One that surpasses reputation and moves toward genuine alignment with God’s purposes.
Takeaways:
Jesus doesn’t replace the Law; he brings it to completion.
Fulfillment (plēroō) means to fill to the brim. To live out the Law’s purpose in love and mercy.
God’s covenant purposes are enduring; not one stroke of divine intent is lost.
True righteousness surpasses performance. It flows from relationship, not reputation.
The Law’s goal is not control but communion: shaping a people who reflect God’s justice, humility, and compassion.
Recommended Reading & Sources:
The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing by Jonathan T. Pennington
Matthew (The New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary, Vol. VIII)
The Gospel of Matthew by R.T. France (NICNT)
The Jewish Annotated New Testament (notes on Matthew 5:17–20)
Jesus and the Law in the Synoptic Tradition by Robert Banks
Matthew: A Commentary by Dale C. Allison Jr. (T&T Clark)
About the Podcast:
Gospel at a Glance walks through the gospels one short passage at a time, finding depth, challenge, and comfort in just a few verses.
Connect:
Email: gospelataglancepodcast@gmail.com
Substack: gospelataglance.substack.com
Instagram: instagram.com/gospelataglancepod
Keywords:
Jesus and the Law, fulfill the Law, Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5, righteousness, Torah, covenant, grace, justice, mercy, inner transformation
Hashtags:
#GospelAtAGlance #Fulfilled #SermonOnTheMount #Matthew5 #KingdomLiving #JesusAndTheLaw #ChristianPodcast

Episode 27 - Matthew 5:13-16 - Salt and Light

Scripture:
Matthew 5:13–16 (NIV)
Episode Summary:
In this episode, we explore one of Jesus’s most familiar teachings: “You are the salt of the earth” and “You are the light of the world.” Rather than giving us a command, Jesus names an identity reminding us that our presence in the world already carries divine purpose. Through simple images of salt and light, he shows us what it means to preserve what’s good, reflect what’s true, and live in a way that quietly transforms our surroundings.
Takeaways:
Jesus doesn’t tell us to become salt and light.He tells us we already are.
Salt preserves what’s good and brings out hidden flavor; it calls us to live with integrity, courage, and compassion.
Light reveals what’s real and points others back to God, not to ourselves.
When we live with mercy, honesty, and humility, our everyday actions become glimpses of God’s kingdom breaking into ordinary life.
Both salt and light work quietly, transforming the world without demanding attention.
Recommended Reading & Sources:
The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing by Jonathan T. Pennington
Matthew (The New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary, Vol. VIII)
The Gospel of Matthew by R.T. France (NICNT)
The Jewish Annotated New Testament (notes on Matthew 5:13–16)
About the Podcast:
Gospel at a Glance walks through the gospels one short passage at a time, finding depth, challenge, and comfort in just a few verses.
Connect:
Email: gospelataglancepodcast@gmail.com
Substack: gospelataglance.substack.com
Instagram: instagram.com/gospelataglancepod
Keywords:
salt of the earth, light of the world, Sermon on the Mount, Beatitudes, Matthew 5, identity in Christ, preservation, truth, Jesus teaching
Hashtags:
#GospelAtAGlance #SermonOnTheMount #SaltAndLight #Beatitudes #KingdomLiving #ChristianPodcast #Matthew5

Episode 26 - Word Study - Covenant Faithfulness

Scripture:
Exodus 34:6–7; Deuteronomy 7:9; Psalm 136; Matthew 26:28
Episode Summary:
“Covenant faithfulness” isn’t a phrase we hear every day, but it’s one of the most important ideas in the Bible. It describes God’s consistent, loyal love: His commitment to keep promises, even when His people don’t.
In this episode, we explore what a covenant actually is, why ancient people took them so seriously, and how God’s faithfulness forms the backbone of the entire biblical story. From God’s promises to Abraham, through Israel’s repeated failures, to the new covenant Jesus announces at the Last Supper, we see the same pattern: God remains faithful, even when we are not.
For a modern audience, covenant faithfulness reminds us that God’s love isn’t fragile...it’s a steadfast, trustworthy promise that holds when everything else falls apart.
Takeaways:
A covenant is a binding relationship built on commitment, not convenience.
God’s faithfulness is not based on our performance but on His character.
The entire story of Scripture is one long demonstration of God keeping His promises.
Jesus fulfills and renews the covenant offering us a place in that unbreakable relationship.
Living in covenant faithfulness means reflecting God’s trustworthiness in how we love and keep our word.
Recommended Reading & Sources:
Scott Hahn, A Father Who Keeps His Promises — a clear, story-driven introduction to covenant theology.
N. T. Wright, The Day the Revolution Began — connects Jesus’ death to God’s covenant renewal project.
BibleProject: “Covenant” video and podcast series — excellent visuals and explanations of covenant structure in Scripture.
Walter Brueggemann, Theology of the Old Testament — deep dive into how God’s relational faithfulness shapes Israel’s understanding of justice and mercy.
 
Connect: 
Email: gospelataglancepodcast@gmail.com
Instagram
Substack
Keywords:
covenant, faithfulness, promise, Old Testament, Hebrew Bible, Jesus, new covenant, loyalty, trust, God’s character, biblical theology
Hashtags:
#GospelAtAGlance #WordStudy #CovenantFaithfulness #BiblePodcast #Jesus #Faithfulness #Promise #Grace #Scripture