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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO: Keith Cru thirds (4^th), Ben Oller (6^th), June Sadorra (21^st)

SITTING AT THE FEET OF RABBI JESUS

“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one Master and you are all brothers” (Matthew 23:8).

Theologians have been emphasizing in recent years three areas. One is that of the political climate of the first century world; a second of the need of a better understanding of the Old Testament and how it is used in the New; and third, the effects of the Jewish culture in the New Testament, especially in the lives of Jesus and Paul. Most of this work is found on the scholarly level but is beginning to find its way to a more popular level. The title of this article is that of a new book by Ann Spangler and Lois Tverberg that looks at Jewish culture in the life of Jesus (1). The subtitle is “How the Jewishness of Jesus can transform your faith.”

The book opens with the scene in Mary and Martha’s house where Martha is preparing food while Mary is sitting at Jesus’ feet. Women in the first century world were encouraged to sit in on discussions and even to participate in some (p. 12). In reading through the book, one does get a fuller picture of what was happening in the first century world. Interestingly, some of our ideas might have been based on some assumptions. We have often heard that women were to be quiet but that might not have been a majority view. Were women really not allow to sing in the synagogue as I heard in a class a number of years ago? That might not be the case and this might cause us to take another look at some texts.

Throughout the book, various topics are covered. The Jewish festivals are explored, their meaning and practice in the first century. The Passover, being one of the most important, has a chapter all its own. Actually, there are three chapters on meals. “Each time Jesus ate with sinners, he was revealing the kingdom of God” (p. 141). Meals were an important function in the Middle East and Jewish cultures. The fellowship and acceptance found in them was an important part of the ministry of Jesus and the early church. There is a discussion on pages 133 and 134 discussing the meal that Moses and seventy others had in the presence of God and the importance of the presence of God in our meals.

One chapter deals with blessings. Paul tells us to “pray without ceasing” in 1 Thessalonians 5:17. We have often wondered about that. How does one pray continually? Paul, being the good rabbi that he was, understood what he was saying from his cultural background. One rabbi stated that one should say one hundred blessings a day. The authors list some of the blessings they have learned through their study. They also give illustrations of what one might say in certain circumstances. For instance, when the ten lepers were healed, one came back praising God (Luke 17:12-19). He might have said something like “Blessed is he who does good to the undeserving and has rendered every kindness to me” (p. 95). One author has this blessing when shopping which is based on the old proverb “a fool and her money are soon parted.” She states her blessing this way: “Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who once again has kept the fool and her money together” (p. 97).

They discuss the use of scripture on clothing. In the Gospels, we see the religious leaders having their boxes on various parts of their outer garments. What we learn however is that this custom was much wider than just the religious leaders. We also find a discussion of the Torah and its meaning. We have looked at the books of Moses as laws written down to be perfectly obeyed. Torah means instruction. It is like a father putting together a new bike and telling his child what to do and not do when riding. The Torah is a father (God) instructing His children (Israel) how to live in His presence out of His love for them (2).

The authors also discuss Jesus coming and fulfilling the Law and the Prophets. In Matthew 5:17-18, two words are used, “fulfill” and “abolish.” We have often interpreted that when Jesus fulfilled the law He lived it perfectly. The authors however find a rabbinic idiom in which when one fulfills the law one is properly interpreting the Torah and when one attempts to abolish the law one is misinterpreting it (p. 166). In light o the following context, this seems to be the understanding that Jesus is presenting.

Throughout the book there are interesting sidebars defining a variety of Jewish ideas and words. “ A mitzvah is a commandment, a religious obligation. People commonly use this word to refer to a good deed” (p. 151). There is a glossary, charts for Jewish holidays, and blessings said as well as a bibliography. It is a book worth reading. Among other topics covered are some of the parables and the meaning of the kingdom of God or reign of God. One interesting fact is that Matthew uses “kingdom of heaven.” Every time it is used it refers to God, interesting in light of our use or misuse of the word.

Understanding the Jewish background enhances our understanding of scripture. It might give us a better understanding of scripture or correct some of our understandings. On Lois Tverberg’s web site, she adds to the book in the understanding of the participation of women in Jewish religious culture. Some theologians think that the Christian assembly was based on the Jewish synagogue. In light of this study, how we understand the conflict in 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 and the silence of women might be better understood in light of the participation of women in the Jewish synagogue. Paul, being the good rabbi that he was, might have had something different in mind from the way we have seen this text. It is something to think about (3).

I would encourage all to read this book and gain from it. Some of its thoughts will challenge some views we have held, others will enhance our understanding of scripture. May God bless us in the reading of such material.

George B. Mearns

(1) Zondervan, 2009.

(2) Illustration and definition from Rick Marrs, Did We Throw the Baby Out with the Bath Water?, Pepperdine University Bible Lectureship, 2009.

(3) Lois Tverberg, The Place of Women in First Century Synagogues, 4/6/2009, www.ourrabbijesus.com