Episode 156 - Can I Critique Israel’s Government and Not Be Antisemitic?
Can you question what Israel’s government is doing and still stand with Israel in a biblical way?
Many Christians feel trapped between blind support on one side and hostility on the other. In a noisy moment filled with slogans and hot takes, the conversation needs more covenant, not less.
In this episode we step back into the big story of Scripture to separate three things most people blur together: Israel’s government, the Jewish people, and God’s eternal covenant.
We look at the prophets, at Jesus, at Paul, and at the Gospel of John to see how the Bible itself models sharp internal critique without ever erasing God’s promises to Israel.
You will come away with a simple “compass” you can use before you tweet, preach, repost, or debate.
The goal is not to tell you what to think about every policy, but to help you think inside the covenant story of God, so that your words carry truth, humility, and hope for both Israel and the nations.
Episode 155 - Are the Jewish People of Today the Jewish People of the Bible? (featuring Mottel Baleston)
There’s a rising chorus of voices - some hostile, others simply misinformed - claiming that modern Jews aren’t the same people God called His own in Scripture.
In this episode, we sit down with Messianic teacher Mottel Baleston to dismantle the Khazar conspiracy and explore the deeper theological question behind it: Are the Jewish people of today truly the covenant people of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?
Baleston traces the Jewish story through Scripture, history, and even modern genetics to show that God’s promises have never been revoked.
The Jewish people remain central to His plan of redemption, not as spiritual relics, but as living proof that God keeps His word.
This isn’t just about disproving bad history - it’s about recovering biblical clarity for the Church and real love for Israel.
Episode 154 - Why Is Israel Back in the Land if They Don’t Believe? (featuring Stephen Briggs)
Why would God restore Israel to the Land if they don’t believe in Jesus? That’s the question many Christians wrestle with - and the one Ezekiel 36 answers head-on.
In this wide-ranging conversation with filmmaker and Bible teacher Stephen Briggs of Hatikva Films, we explore the prophetic timeline of Israel’s restoration, the continuity of God’s covenant with Abraham, and the flaws in replacement theology that blur the story of Scripture.
Together we trace how the Hebrew nuances of Genesis 12, the promises of Ezekiel 36, and the disciples’ question in Acts 1 all reveal the same truth: God’s faithfulness comes before Israel’s faith.
Stephen shares insights from life in Jerusalem, stories from the “Blessing, Curse, or Coincidence” film series, and a clear-eyed view of what God is doing in our generation.
Whether we’re talking about prophecy, politics, or discipleship, the message is the same - the restoration of Israel is the greatest evidence that God keeps His promises.
Episode 153 - Will “All Israel” Be Saved? (featuring Dr. Michael Brown)
Why did Paul end his masterpiece in Romans with a promise that “all Israel will be saved”? What does that mean - and has it already happened, or is it still to come?
In this wide-ranging conversation with Dr. Michael Brown, author of Our Hands Are Stained with Blood and host of The Line of Fire, we trace how Romans 9–11 reveals the continuity of God’s plan for Israel and the nations.
Dr. Brown unpacks Paul’s argument verse by verse, explains why replacement theology opened the door to antisemitism in church history, and clarifies how “all Israel” refers to a future national turning to Messiah - not merely a cumulative remnant.
We also talk about the surge of antisemitism after October 7, the confusion in the modern church, and why believers must recover a biblical vision of Israel’s role in redemptive history. This isn’t a side issue. It’s the center of the gospel’s story of mercy.
Episode 152 - Still Chosen: Has One Verse Erased God’s Covenant?
For centuries, a single line from Paul’s letter to the Romans - “not all Israel is Israel” - has been used to rewrite the story of God’s faithfulness.
But was Paul really declaring that the Church replaced Israel? Or was he weeping over his people, trusting that God’s promises still stand?
This episode takes a deep look into Romans 9–11 and Galatians 6, unpacking what Paul meant by “the Israel of God” and how a single mistranslated conjunction has shaped two millennia of confusion.
We’ll explore the grief behind Paul’s words, the endurance of God’s covenants, and the modern drift that has led Christians to read prophecy as poetry and Israel’s story as metaphor.
As anti-Semitism rises and theology grows foggy, it’s time to recover what the Apostle Paul never meant to erase: that Israel’s unbelief doesn’t cancel God’s faithfulness - it magnifies it.
Episode 151 - Transformed by the Messiah (featuring Rabbi Jason Sobel)
Many of us read the Bible like a standard-definition broadcast - true, but flat. What happens when the Old and New Testaments come into the same frame? Clarity. Color. Coherence.
Rabbi Jason Sobel shares his journey to Messiah and why reconnecting the Testaments guards us from “strange fruit” - detached doctrines and confused practices. He walks through Sukkot, the Transfiguration’s “booths,” and how Yeshua’s Jewish context changes everything.
We also enter the present moment: Israel after Oct 7, Simchat Torah timing, and the difference between flimsy roofs we build and the sukkah God provides. Then we land where transformation begins - practices that move insight into life.
Episode 150 - Bearing Witness to the October 7 Massacre (featuring Justin Kron & David Boskey)
When evil boasts, truth must bear witness. After a screening of October 7: Bearing Witness to the Massacre at Lexington’s historic Lyric Theater, we sat down with co-creator, Justin Kron, and Israeli believer, David Boskey, for an unfiltered Q&A. The conversation traces the long arc leading to October 7, why the online narrative flipped overnight, and how followers of Jesus should respond without naïveté or despair.
We talk about the spiritual war beneath the politics, the cost of telling the truth, and the aching question of hostages still in captivity. We explore how trauma can open doors for real hope, and why any durable “peace plan” must deal with ideology and spiritual warfare, not just borders.
Finally, we get practical: where to find reliable info, how to disciple the next generation against propaganda, and why churches must speak with clarity. We end with an invitation to pray, to gather, and to stand with Israel in a way that honors Messiah and blesses the nations.
Episode 149 - Hebrew: The Language That Refused to Die (featuring Melissa Briggs)
We don’t know the problem we have: reading the Bible at the surface. English translations are trustworthy, but they flatten words that Hebrew infused with density, imagery, and connection. We end up missing layers of meaning that would transform how we live.
In this conversation, we explore what happens when Hebrew cracks open the text.
Familiar words you thought you understood suddenly leap off the page. Hope is sturdier, love is covenantal, fear is reframed, faith is embodied. The story of God’s promises comes alive in a way that makes you want to keep digging.
This isn’t about becoming a scholar. It’s about recognizing that the Bible is one unified story and learning how the Hebrew underneath points us more deeply to the God who keeps His promises and to the Messiah who fulfills them.
Episode 148 - Still Chosen: How Paul Welcomes the Nations Without Erasing The Jews
Galatians 3 has done a lot of heavy lifting in modern theology. Some say it proves everything is now “spiritual,” that Israel was folded into the church and the land promise dissolved. We open the text and ask: is that what Paul actually says?
Paul’s concern is rescue, not replacement. He confronts the claim that Gentiles need the works of the law to belong. By returning to Abraham, he shows that righteousness has always been by faith and that the blessing promised to the nations reaches its center in the Messiah. That’s inclusion without erasure.
Episode 147 - Still Chosen: Did God Make an Unconditional Covenant With Abraham?
The question of Israel’s chosenness isn’t abstract - it’s foundational.
If God’s covenant with Abraham is conditional, then Israel’s future and even our own assurance in Christ are uncertain. But if it’s unconditional, then God’s faithfulness to Abraham secures hope for us all.
In this episode, Ron and Matt Davis trace the Abrahamic covenant from Genesis 12, 15, and 17. They unpack the ancient covenant-cutting ceremony, the unconditional nature of God’s promise, and how the Mosaic covenant fits alongside it.
They also show how the New Testament reaffirms - not erases - God’s oath to Abraham, and why that matters for both Jews and Gentiles today.
With analogies of trust funds and house rules, they bring clarity to common misunderstandings. God’s covenant stands not because of human performance but because of His promise. And that means His faithfulness to Israel is the same faithfulness we depend on in Jesus.
Episode 146 - Still Chosen: Why Are So Many Christians Confused About Israel Right Now?
Christians are deconstructing - and Israel is getting left behind.
In this gripping episode, Matt and Ron Davis tackle a spiritual crisis erupting across the Church. As Christians deconstruct their faith, many are also unraveling their support for Israel.
But this isn’t just about politics or theology - it’s a battle for the narrative of God’s story.
Through honest reflection, cultural commentary, and biblical insight, the Davises unpack the subtle ways antisemitism creeps into pulpits and prayer rooms.
From the dangers of progressive ideology to the fear of social backlash, this conversation holds nothing back.
It’s not about taking sides. It’s about staying rooted.
Because if we lose Israel, we lose the plot.
Episode 64: The Road Half Traveled
Ever felt like you're missing a piece of the puzzle in your faith journey?
Or that there's more to the story of Jesus that remains unexplored?
Or, as a Jew, have you grappled with the idea of embracing Jesus, feeling it might mean forsaking your cherished heritage?
If this hits home for you, then this episode of The Jewish Road Podcast has your name on it.
In "The Road Half Traveled," we invite you on an extraordinary journey that goes beyond the typical narratives heard in Sunday school or synagogue. As Messianic Jews ourselves, we're standing at the fascinating intersection of faith where Jewish tradition and Christian understanding meet.
Picture it as a two-act play, with Jewish and Christian communities each attending a different act and missing the full performance. We're here to guide you through the entire show, revealing the profound links between Act One and Two, the Old and New Testaments.
We tackle real struggles, like challenging dialogues with Jews intrigued about Jesus but anxious about losing their identity, or Christians seeking to uncover the Jewish roots of their faith but unsure where to start.
So, whether you're a Christian keen to dive deeper into your faith's roots or a Jew wrestling with your view of Jesus, join us in this down-to-earth conversation. It's time to journey down the full length of The Jewish Road and unveil the captivating story that unites us all.
Are you ready? Pop in those earbuds, and let's journey on "The Road Half Traveled" together.
Episode 63: Merging Mourning With Hope
Did you know that both the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem - central to Jewish faith and history - were destroyed on the exact same day, centuries apart? It's as if time stood still to mark a profound period of loss and mourning for the Jewish people.
To put this in perspective, imagine if another event of the magnitude of September 11th happened again on the same date, but centuries later. The sheer coincidence would be staggering, wouldn't it? This is the reality of Tisha B'Av, a day of deep mourning in Judaism.
But Tisha B'Av is not just about the past, it's also about resilience and hope for a better future.
Episode 62: The Church: God’s Commissioned People
In this third and final episode in our “Two Chosen People” series, we journey into understanding the role and identity of God's Commissioned People – the Church.
As we have previously explored, God's chosen ones are two distinct, yet intimately connected groups – the Covenant People (Jews) and the Commissioned People (the Church made up of Jews and Gentiles). After having looked into the unique journey of the Covenant People in our last episode, it's time to unpack the complexities of the Commissioned People – the Church.
From its birth at Shavuot, or Pentecost, the Church was initially entirely Jewish. Yet, it evolved, expanding to welcome the Gentiles, or the Nations, and turning into a vibrant blend of Jews and Gentiles. Paul's metaphor of Gentiles being grafted into Israel's tree beautifully illustrates this unity in diversity.
In this episode, we explore the divine calling of the Church – its mission to go out into the world and make disciples of all nations, beginning with the Jewish people and extending to every corner of the globe. This divine commissioning is not just a task or responsibility, but a significant part of the Church's identity.
We also look into the implications of this divine commission, the struggles, and triumphs, the challenges, and victories experienced by the Church in carrying out this mission.
Join us as we celebrate this “Unprecedented Union” and God's plan for unity and mutual enrichment. Together, we look at how our roots intertwine and the wondrous ways God uses His Commissioned People to accomplish His divine will.
Episode 61: Israel: God’s Covenant People
Genesis 12:1-3 — The verses that marked the start of an extraordinary covenant.
Not by number, not by strength, but by divine decree – Israel, God's Covenant People.
This episode unfolds the story of Israel, a nation marked by faith, struggle, and divine covenants. But what makes them 'God's Chosen People'? What does 'chosenness' mean, and why Israel?
We start with a journey back in time, back to the genesis of the nation of Israel. We touch upon the pivotal figure of Abraham, his extraordinary faith, and the divine promise that would forever change the course of history. As we trace the lineage of Abraham to the twelve tribes of Israel, we examine the covenant, its implications, its conditionalities, and its everlasting nature.
Listen to our latest podcast episode, "Israel: God's Covenant People," as we continue the exploration of the question, "Are There Really Two Chosen People?"
Episode 60: Two Chosen People: An Unprecedented Union
In this series, we unveil a truth that might shatter your previous understanding: There are not one, but two chosen people of God! Now, stay with us as we unpack this concept of God's Covenant People and Commissioned People.
For centuries, we've believed that the Jewish people alone held the title of God's chosen people. And yes, they still do! But here's where we have to take a deep dive: God's chosen people also include the Commissioned People, which encompasses both Jews and Gentiles.