Search — Theology Explorer

Matthew 5:20-48 Sermon on the Mount Matthew 5:20-48 antitheses

Matthew 5:20-48 shows Jesus intensifying the Law (anger=murder, lust=adultery) to reveal how far short everyone falls

Winger's reading of the antitheses in the Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 10:5 Matthew 15:24 Matthew 6:32 Matthew 10:5 Matthew 15:24 Jewish audience of Jesus

Jesus's ministry was exclusively to Jews (Matt 15:24; Matt 10:5)—the Sermon on the Mount is a Jewish address, not a Gentile one

Contextual argument that Matthew 5 cannot be applied directly to Gentiles

Matthew 5:17-19 abolish vs. fulfill pleroo Matthew 5:17-19

Summary of Matthew 5 exegesis: Law fulfilled (completed), not abolished; accomplished in totality, not stripped piece by piece; not relaxed but done

Winger's three-point summary of Matthew 5:17-19

Matthew 28:20 Hebrew Roots movement Great Commission Gentiles and the Law

Three problems with the Hebrew Roots use of Matthew 28: it misreads Matthew 5, ignores everything Jesus commanded, and contradicts how the Apostles actually applied it

Winger's three-pronged critique of the Matthew 28 argument

Acts 10 Acts 15 Acts 10 Acts 15 Gentile mission

Preview: Book of Acts will be examined next to show how the Apostles actually applied Jesus's commands regarding the Law

Transition to future installments of the series

Matthew 7:14 Matthew 7:14 universalism unevangelized

Q&A: Those who never hear the gospel — Winger says the way is narrow but defers to his dedicated teaching on the topic

Classic theological question about the unevangelized

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-16

Extra-biblical corroboration: Herod Archelaus and Matthew 2:22

McLatchie gives Josephus as extra-biblical corroboration explaining Matthew's otherwise puzzling reference to Herod Archelaus.

Matthew 2:22 Josephus Herod Antipas Antiquities of the Jews

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-16

Earliest Jewish polemic presupposes the empty tomb — Matthew 28

McLatchie points to the earliest Jewish counter-argument to the resurrection as presupposing the tomb was empty.

Matthew 28 empty tomb resurrection of Jesus Matthew 28

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-16

Irreconcilable variation in empty tomb accounts — evidence for independence

McLatchie presents apparent discrepancies between Gospel accounts of the empty tomb as evidence for their independence.

Mark 16:1 Matthew 28:1 Luke 24:10 empty tomb Jonathan McLatchie historicity of the Gospels

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Three expectations if Jesus wanted obedience to Mosaic Law: (1) clear extension to Gentiles in his teaching, (2) Apostles teaching it to Gentiles in Acts, (3) Paul explicitly commanding it

Methodological framework for evaluating Acts

Matthew 28 Paul the Apostle Gentiles Law of Moses

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Challenge to Hebrew Roots movement: if Matthew 5 and 28 teach Torah for all, why does Acts never once tell Gentiles to obey the law? The silence disproves the interpretation.

Summary challenge to Hebrew Roots reading of Acts

Matthew 5 Matthew 28 argument from silence Great Commission Matthew 5

Mike Winger idea 2019-06-05

Summary of the four-part Hebrew Roots series: Parts 1–3 recap

Series overview for new viewers

Matthew 5 Acts circumcision Matthew 5 Acts

Mike Winger idea 2019-06-13

Matthew 9:11-13: Jesus eats with tax collectors and sinners — his heart is toward sinners

Jesus's posture of reaching toward sinners rather than destroying them

Matthew 9:11-13 Hosea 6:6 Matthew 9:11-13 tax collectors and sinners compassion over sacrifice

Mike Winger idea 2019-06-13

Jesus in Matthew 5 intensifies the law — lust equals adultery in the heart, hate equals murder

Jesus's Sermon on the Mount expands the scope of sin

Matthew 5 Matthew 5 Sermon on the Mount universal sinfulness

Mike Winger idea 2019-06-13

Matthew 11:28 and John 3:16-17: Jesus's actual advice — come to me; God sent Son to save not judge

What Jesus would actually say to sinners

Matthew 11:28 John 3:16-17 salvation Jesus's mission Matthew 11:28

Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Refutation: Paul and Jesus use "brothers" for all believers, but Matthew names four brothers of Jesus including James — confirmed by Josephus

Multiple source attestation for James as biological brother of Jesus

Galatians James (brother of Jesus) Matthew 13:55 Josephus Galatians multiple attestation

Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Multiple independent attestation from Paul, Matthew, John (special L), and Josephus — the strongest form of historical evidence — confirms Jesus's brothers including James

Summary of multiple attestation for Jesus's brothers

James (brother of Jesus) Josephus multiple attestation James (brother of Jesus)

Mike Winger idea 2019-06-26

Critique of Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry: prophetic activation exercises using Uno cards reduce prophecy to social engineering and fabrication.

Winger pivots to critique hyper-charismatic practice, using Bethel's published school curriculum as a concrete example.

Matthew 18 Matthew 18 Bethel Church Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry

Mike Winger idea 2019-07-24

Many are called but few are chosen; preaching the gospel to all implies a genuine offer for all

Mike uses the Great Commission and related teaching to argue against limited atonement's pastoral coherence.

Matthew 22:14 Mark 16:15 Great Commission gospel proclamation limited atonement

Mike Winger idea 2019-09-04

Gospel evidence: titulus (sign above head) requires a lowercase-T cross, not a stake

Two of the four Gospels record that a sign (the titulus) was placed above Jesus's head on the cross, naming his charge. This detail is evidence for a lowercase-T shaped cross rather than a torture stake.

Matthew 27 John 19 crucifixion cross Matthew 27

Mike Winger idea 2019-09-04

Q&A: Did Judas Iscariot commit the unforgivable sin?

A viewer asks whether Judas committed the unforgivable sin, prompted by a recent Winger video on the topic.

Luke 22:3 Matthew 26:24 repentance Judas Iscariot unforgivable sin

Mike Winger idea 2019-09-04

Q&A: Can a Christian be demon-possessed? Winger argues no, based on Jesus's parable of the unoccupied house

A viewer asks whether Christians can have an unclean spirit/demon, and whether Winger's view implies deliverance ministry is only for unbelievers.

Matthew 12:43-45 Todd White exorcism Holy Spirit indwelling

Mike Winger idea 2019-10-02

Jesus raises the moral standard inward: lust as adultery, hatred as murder — God judges the inner person

Scriptural grounding for total depravity / the inadequacy of external goodness

Matthew 5:27-28 Matthew 5:21-22 lust inner life total depravity

Mike Winger idea 2019-10-02

Q&A: Does Matthew 11:21-22 (Tyre and Sidon) challenge Calvinism?

Viewer question from James Giorgio

Matthew 11:21-22 repentance Calvinism soteriology

Mike Winger idea 2019-07-31

Matthew 28:18-20 — baptism follows discipleship/belief, not precedes it

Winger examines the Great Commission to establish the pattern for baptism in the NT.

Matthew 28:18-20 Great Commission discipleship baptism

Mike Winger idea 2020-08-28

No marriage in heaven does not mean demotion — relationships will be closer and better in the resurrection

Question: Since there is no marriage in heaven, will married couples be strangers? Mike addresses Matthew 22:30.

Matthew 22:30 resurrection eschatology Matthew 22:30

Mike Winger idea 2020-08-28

The Great Commission applies to all Christians at some level; discipleship includes both evangelism (initiation) and ongoing teaching

Question from Cass Magnuson about how Matthew 28:18-20 applies to individual Christians and what making a disciple involves.

Acts Matthew 28:18-20 Great Commission discipleship baptism

Mike Winger idea 2020-09-04

Matthew 21 has two animals at the Triumphal Entry while Mark and Luke have one; the young donkey points to Jesus's sacrificial nature

Q from Flora about why Matthew 21:1-8 mentions both a donkey and a colt while other Gospels only mention one animal.

Mark Luke Matthew 21:1-8 Gospel harmonization Mark Luke

Mike Winger idea 2020-09-04

Rapture at the Feast of Trumpets: possible hint from typological fulfillment of feasts, but undermined by "no one knows the day or hour"

Q from Andrej about whether there is reason to think the Rapture will occur during the Feast of Trumpets.

Matthew 24:36 typology no one knows the day or hour eschatology

Mike Winger idea 2020-09-11

Christians are called to non-retaliation; violent protest contradicts following Jesus

Continuing the discussion on whether Jesus clearing the temple justifies violent protest.

Matthew 5:38-48 Romans 12:14-21 Christian ethics nonviolence retaliation

Mike Winger idea 2020-09-11

Distinction between temptation and lust/sin: sin begins when the will yields to desire, not at first awareness of attraction

Response to Hot Wax 93 asking the difference between simple sexual attraction and lust.

James 1:13-15 Matthew 5:28 temptation sin sexual sin

Mike Winger idea 2020-09-11

The Book of Enoch is historically interesting but not canonical and was never part of the Jewish or Christian canon

Response to Spider-G asking about the Book of Enoch.

Jude Jude Book of Enoch canon

Matthew 8:16-17 Isaiah 53:4 healing atonement messianic prophecy

Matthew 8:16-17 applies Isaiah 53 to Jesus's physical healings — physical healing is in the atonement

Continuing Isaiah 53 / healing discussion; a complicating text for those who deny physical healing in the atonement.

Romans Acts Hebrews Romans Acts Hebrews

How to start reading the Bible — begin with the Gospels, Acts, Romans, Hebrews; not Genesis-to-Revelation in order

Question from Dallin Byrd about the best starting point for Bible reading.

1 John Matthew 6:14-15 1 John salvation Lord's Prayer

Matthew 6:14-15 — is forgiving others necessary for salvation, or evidence of it?

Question from David Ellington about whether failing to forgive others means losing salvation.

false teaching heresy discernment

Avoiding heresy-tracking burnout — know your realm of responsibility in the body of Christ

Question from Judah Matthews about discernment without anxiety over every false teaching.

Matthew 18 church leadership Matthew 18 ecclesiology

Addressing a church drifting from Scripture — approach thoughtfully, privately first, then through proper channels

Question from Nala about a church where the Bible is not preached and the lead pastor bulldozes people.

Matthew 5:44 Luke 6:28 prayer sanctification forgiveness

How to overcome long-held bitterness — pray for the person consistently; blessing them changes your own heart

Final question from Lillian McDonald about stopping bitterness held for years.

Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Parable of the Talents: the main point is investing what God has given you for his kingdom

Q&A from Faded Princess about the Parable of the Talents and discerning spiritual gifts

Matthew 25 spiritual gifts stewardship Matthew 25

Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Parable of the Wheat and Tares explains the presence of ungodly people within the visible church

Second biblical resource for answering the bloody-church-history objection

Matthew 13 church history visible vs invisible church Parable of the Wheat and Tares

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-02

Q (Quelle) is a hypothetical source document proposed in synoptic gospel studies; its existence is unproven and theologically non-threatening

Question from New Creation Coaching about the scholarly concept of "Q" and its reception among concerned Facebook users

textual criticism inspiration of Scripture synoptic problem

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-02

Annihilationism fails because (1) immortality does not mean eternal existence, and (2) Jesus uses the same word "everlasting" for both heaven and hell

Question from Selenora about why annihilationism is unbiblical

Matthew 25:46 eschatology conditional immortality hell

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

"No man knows the day or the hour" — taking Jesus literally against rapture date-setting

Applying Matthew 24:36 to rapture date-setting

Matthew 24:36 false prophecy second coming Matthew 24:36

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

How Gospel writers knew what Jesus said when alone — Garden of Gethsemane example

Question from Meg Ward about eyewitness accounts for scenes where Jesus was alone

James John Matthew Peter James John

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Persistent prayer vs. vain repetition — the biblical balance

Question from Lunggail Zandi about wrestling with God vs. vain repetitions in prayer

Matthew 6:7 Luke 18 prayer vain repetition persistent prayer

Matthew 24:34 Matthew 24 Matthew 24:34 eschatology Matthew 24

Matthew 24:34 — "this generation" does not mean the generation hearing Jesus speak; it refers to those who witness specific end-time events

Question from Jason Stob about the meaning of Matthew 24:34.

Matthew 24:34 Matthew 24:34 eschatology Israel

Refutation of the 1948 Israel founding as a generational clock for Matthew 24

Mike critiques the popular dispensational application of Matthew 24:34 to Israel's statehood.

Matthew 24 Matthew 24:6-8 eschatology false prophets Matthew 24

Wars, famines, earthquakes, and pestilences in Matthew 24 are NOT signs of the Second Coming — they are warnings that the end has not yet come

Mike reads Matthew 24 in sequence to reframe how the signs are commonly misunderstood.

Matthew 24:15 Daniel 9 Matthew 24 Matthew 24:15 Daniel 9 eschatology

The one true sign in Matthew 24 is the Abomination of Desolation — referenced from Daniel 9

Mike identifies the single definitive sign Jesus gives in Matthew 24.