Matt Davis Matt Davis

Episode 46: When Jesus Shows Up To The Feast

It seems as though Jesus keeps showing up at the right time unless you're part of the crowd trying to keep the same old traditions unchanged. He shows up and brings a whole new meaning to an ancient feast.

The Feast of Booths, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles, is one of the most important holidays in the Jewish calendar. It is a pilgrimage feast when Jews worldwide celebrate the harvest and give thanks for the earth's bounty.

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Matt Davis Matt Davis

Episode 45: The Guilty One Is Set Free (Yom Kippur)

In this episode of the Jewish Road podcast, we take a look at the Jewish High Holy Day of Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement.

This holiday has roots in both the Old and New Testaments, and its implications are still relevant to how we live today.

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Matt Davis Matt Davis

Episode 44: Rethinking Rosh HaShanah

Rosh Hashanah - Feast of Trumpets - Yom Teruah - Zikaron Teruah - the Jewish New Year. That's right, so many different names describing one holiday.

It is one of the biggest holidays on the Jewish calendar and is the start of the High Holy Days season. Synagogues are packed with Jewish people today, gathered to hear the blowing of the shofar and beginning 10 Days of Awe and repentance, hoping they will be inscribed in the Book of Life for one more year.

Yet, not one thing of all of that is found in Scripture. It is strictly tradition.

Maybe it's time we take a deeper look and rethink Rosh Hashanah.

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Matt Davis Matt Davis

Episode 43: Has God Replaced The Jewish People?

On this episode of the Jewish Road podcast, we explore replacement theology and hone in on the book of Romans for a deeper look. The idea that "God is done with the Jews" is not new, but it has been gaining traction in recent years.

But where does this thinking come from?

And what does the Bible actually say about God's relationship with the Jewish people? We'll dig into all of that in this episode and offer some ways to respond to this line of thinking.

So whether you're a Jew struggling with this issue or a Christian who wants to learn more about what the Bible has to say on the matter, this episode is for you. Join us as we unpack replacement theology and explore what the Bible really says about God's relationship with the Jewish people.

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Matt Davis Matt Davis

Episode 42: Are God’s People Still His Chosen People?

Are God's people, the Jewish people, still His chosen people? We'll give you the punchline now: Absolutely.

Are we talking about an old relationship that once was, and now God has moved on to another love, the church? We believe the Jewish are still chosen, still loved, still the apple of His eye.

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Matt Davis Matt Davis

Episode 41: Why Are The Jews God’s Chosen People?

In this episode of the Jewish Road Podcast, we explore why are the Jewish people God's chosen people and why did He choose them - all from a Messianic perspective. We talk about how the Abrahamic covenant plays a big role in this eternal relationship between God and His chosen people. We also explore how being part of the redemption story changes everything and gives meaning to being chosen.

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Matt Davis Matt Davis

Episode 40: Why You Should Join The Jewish Road In Israel

If you've ever been curious about Israel, now is the time to take the plunge and join The Jewish Road on an unforgettable trip to the Promised Land. Israel is not only the epicenter of the story of God - past, present, and future - but it's also a place where you can deepen your faith and gain a new perspective on the Bible.

Israel holds a special place in the hearts of Jews and Christians alike. For Jews, it is the Promised Land, a land that has been promised to them by God for centuries. For Christians, Israel is the place where Jesus lived, preached, died, and rose again to ascend to the right hand of the Father. On our trip, you'll have the opportunity to see Act One and Act Two come together in the classroom of Jesus, and you'll be able to explore all that Israel has to offer - from its stunning landscapes to its fascinating history. A trip to Israel is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the Bible come to life.

We are currently planning a trip for Spring 2023. Join us on The Jewish Road to Israel! If you're ready to experience Israel in a whole new way, visit thejewishroad.com/israel today and sign up for our interest list. We can't wait to show you Israel through our eyes!

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Matt Davis Matt Davis

Episode 39: The Best Of Jewish Humor - Part Two

Times are tough and we need to laugh. When we started The Jewish Road Podcast, we knew we wanted to take the Word of God seriously, live urgently and be aware of the times we are in, and be sure to laugh a bit - because life is short.

So we tell our own brand of jokes, Jewish humor.

This episode gives you the best moments from season two so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy a moment as we take you "Back To The Catskills" and deliver some of our faves.

Also, check out our new announcement about how you can now submit your favorite jokes on a new site: Back To The Catskills! Maybe we'll read one of your jokes on an upcoming podcast!

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Matt Davis Matt Davis

Episode 38: Can A Gentile Be Saved?

Can a Gentile be saved? Overwhelmingly throughout the Biblical narrative up until this point, the story has been primarily Jewish. Even from the beginning, the Israelites were called to be a light to the nations (Genesis 12:1-3). The early church was made up of Jewish believers, but what about Gentiles? Can they be saved?

This was the question that surfaced in Acts 10 when Jewish Peter meet a Gentile Roman named Cornelius. He was a God-fearing man who gave alms and prayed regularly. He even had a vision from God telling him to send for Peter (Acts 10:1-8). So he did and when Peter arrived, Cornelius fell at his feet worshiping him (Acts 10:25). Obviously, this was not the reaction that Peter was expecting, but he saw that God was at work.

So what about today? The tables have turned. The question today is no longer, "Can a Gentile be saved?" but rather, "Can a Jew be saved?" While the answer to both questions is, "Yes!" and we know God desires for all people to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9), there is still a lot of confusion today. Join us on this episode of The Jewish Road Podcast as we discuss all of these issues and more!

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Matt Davis Matt Davis

Episode 37: The Afternoon Of Pentecost

When we look at Pentecost and Acts 2 we marvel and are amazed at the 3,000 who receive the Holy Spirit. We go to the next chapter and forget it's still Pentecost. Just six hours later, Peter and John are going up to the temple and a man who has been lame from birth is healed and the crowds are even more amazed.

Peter says, "Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?" Why do you marvel? This is the promised day that was spoken of by the prophet Joel. And in case you're still doubting, not only does Peter quote Joel, he applies it to what's happening right then and there. This is what was promised! The result? 5,000 were added that day.

The early church was filled with people who were steeped in Jewish culture, thought, and tradition. They were men of Israel who worshiped the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And the message they preached was that Jesus is the fulfillment of all that was promised in the Hebrew Scriptures. If you want to understand the early church, you need to understand its Jewish roots.

Join us on this episode of the Jewish Road podcast as we look into the events of the afternoon of the Pentecost and how they were a fulfillment of what was spoken by the prophet Joel from Act one, being brought to life in real time.

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Matt Davis Matt Davis

Episode 36: The Jewishness Of Pentecost

Somehow over the last 2,000 years, the followers of Jesus have morphed so much so that Christians today don't remotely resemble their spiritual ancestors. The church doesn't look all that Jewish. So much so, we get a surprised and perplexed look when people find out that we follow Jesus AND WE'RE JEWISH!

It's almost as if the two don't really go together. Go back 2,000 years and tables were completely turned the other way.

Our podcast series will explore the Jewish roots of the early church and how its founders were steeped in Jewish culture, thought, and tradition. They were...Jewish. We'll also see how this rich heritage has been lost over time and how we can reclaim it today.

In first-century Jerusalem, it's been 50 days since Passover, Jesus was crucified, rose again, and appeared to more than 500 followers over the course of 40 days.

Now, it's ten days after that and there is a gathering in Jerusalem waiting for the promised Helper. When the Holy Spirit descends on this gathering of Jewish followers, it would change the world. The beginnings were Jewish from its inception and would start a movement still prevalent today.

Let's dig in and look at Acts 2 from Act Two (see what we did there?), and of course, jump back to the roots of Pentecost, AKA Shavuot, from Act One.

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Matt Davis Matt Davis

Episode 35: Jewish Mindset After The Resurrection

Have you ever been waiting for something with all your heart, and when it finally arrives, it's not what you expected?

That's what happened to the disciples after Jesus' resurrection. They were devastated that he didn't fulfill all of their Messianic prophecies, but then Jesus appears to them on the road and opens their eyes to see everything in a new light. In Luke 24, hearts are opened and eyes can see.

In this podcast series, we explore the Jewish roots of Christianity and how Jesus is still the Messiah even in ways they never could have imagined.

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Matt Davis Matt Davis

Episode 34: Jewish Mindset During The Ministry Of Jesus

Let's review a couple of fundamental truths.

  • Jesus was Jewish.

  • The disciples were Jewish.

  • The prophets who had said he was coming for centuries were Jewish.

  • The early church made up of the first "Christians" were Jewish.

Christianity is rooted in Judaism, but many people don't know this. 

If you're like most people, you may say that Jesus was a Christian and that the early church was started by Christians. And while that isn't totally incorrect, there is a nuance that is missing from that statement that removes the Jewishness from Jesus, His disciples, and the beginnings of the early church.

It's a Jewish story, and viewing the story from this lens changes everything. 

Too often, the Christian faith is separated from its Jewish roots. This can lead to a misunderstanding of the Bible and of Jesus Himself.

At the Jewish Road Podcast, we are starting a new series that explores "The Jewish Roots of the Early Church." In this first of five episodes leading to Shavuot (Pentecost), we take a look at the story of the Good Samaritan and learn how Jesus was truly a Jew who came to fulfill all of Israel's hopes and dreams and give you a perspective on this popular story you might not have heard before. Tune in!

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Matt Davis Matt Davis

Episode 33: Can These Dry Bones Live?

Holocaust Remembrance Day was this week.

As we remember the 6 million Jews who were murdered along with millions of others, we also look to God's faithfulness and restoration. In this episode of The Jewish Road Podcast, we explore Ezekiel 37 and see how God brings life back to His people - not just flesh and bone, but eventually to breathe His spirit.

This podcast is a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness and love for His people. It's an important listen for anyone who wants to understand the Holocaust and the Jewish people better.

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Matt Davis Matt Davis

Episode 32: Feast Of First Fruits

Have you ever wondered about the biblical origins of Resurrection Sunday?

In this episode of the Jewish Road Podcast, we explore the Feast of First Fruits and how it ties into the story of Jesus’ resurrection. We bring context to the resurrection story by going back to Act One, the Old Testament, and working through the themes of Jesus being the second Adam, what the Apostle Paul would later call the firstfruits of all creation.

You won’t want to miss this in-depth exploration of an important holiday. This episode is packed with insights that will help you understand the resurrection in a whole new light.

“For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:21-23).

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Matt Davis Matt Davis

Episode 31: Passion Week Through Jewish Eyes: The Testing BY The Lamb Of God

SO, four times Yeshua is confronted by the religious leaders, and four times He answers and shows Himself to be the perfect Lamb of God without spot or blemish. Scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians all put Him to the test.

Now He turns the tables on them and He has a question for the religious leaders…on the last day that Yeshua is speaking publicly so it’s very important to hear what He says. And His last message is about His identity, who is He?

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Matt Davis Matt Davis

Episode 30: Passion Week Through Jewish Eyes: The Testing: The Sadducees

Entering Jerusalem as He did isn’t the end of the story. Unfortunately, in its modern day observance of Passion Week, it jumps from there right to the crucifixion. Palm Sunday → Good Friday. That is the result of the early church deciding not to follow the Jewish calendar. That decision was made at the Council of Nicea in 325 AD (It was a symptom of a deeper problem). What actually happened after the Triumphal Entry is that He went back and forth from Bethany to Jerusalem every day, and entered into dialogue (confrontation-attack) with four different groups:

The Sadducees (Matthew 22:23-33)

A third confrontation was from the Sadducees…

This confrontation was a question of THEOLOGY. It had to do with the Resurrection

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Matt Davis Matt Davis

Episode 29: Passion Week Through Jewish Eyes: The Testing: Pharisees And Herodians

Entering Jerusalem as He did isn’t the end of the story. Unfortunately, in its modern day observance of Passion Week, it jumps from there right to the crucifixion. Palm Sunday → Good Friday. That is the result of the early church deciding not to follow the Jewish calendar. That decision was made at the Council of Nicea in 325 AD (It was a symptom of a deeper problem). What actually happened after the Triumphal Entry is that He went back and forth from Bethany to Jerusalem every day, and entered into dialogue (confrontation-attack) with four different groups:

The Pharisees and the Herodians (Matthew 22:15-22)

A second confrontation was from the Pharisees and the Herodians…

This confrontation was a question of POLITICS.

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Matt Davis Matt Davis

Episode 28: Passion Week Through Jewish Eyes: The Testing: Priests And Elders

Entering Jerusalem as He did isn’t the end of the story. Unfortunately, in its modern day observance of Passion Week, it jumps from there right to the crucifixion. Palm Sunday → Good Friday. That is the result of the early church deciding not to follow the Jewish calendar. That decision was made at the Council of Nicea in 325 AD (It was a symptom of a deeper problem). What actually happened after the Triumphal Entry is that He went back and forth from Bethany to Jerusalem every day, and entered into dialogue (confrontation-attack) with four different groups:

The Priests and the elders

The Pharisees and the Herodians

The Sadducees

The Pharisees (take one more shot)

The Priests and the Elders (Matthew 21:23-22:14)

So, the first line of attack comes from the priests and the elders and the question that is at issue is His AUTHORITY.

And it’s worth our time to pause for a moment and ponder the question of authority.

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