Congregation Shema Yisrael

The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the Torah. -Mark 1:22

Modern, non-Jewish readers of the Bible tend to not understand why Yeshua (Jesus) teaching “as one who had authority” was such a big deal to Yeshua’s Jewish students and audience. Traditionally, Jewish sons would receive their first lessons in Torah from their fathers, starting at age 6 or 7 years, and then, if a child showed a particular talent in Torah study, he was sent to a Yeshiva or school of Torah study, to learn from a master Torah teacher such as Hillel or Gamaliel, both of whom lived in Israel during the First Century. Successful Torah students, would graduate the Yeshiva and become instructors, teaching in the name of, and under the authority of their Masters.

The Gospels have no record of Yosef (Joseph), Yeshua’s earthly father, after Yeshua was age 12. Certainly if Yosef died sometime afterwards, Yeshua, as the eldest son, would have taken on the responsibility of supporting the family (probably by carpentry), and would not have been eligible to attend a Yeshiva, even if invited. Yet, as we know, Yeshua was, among other things, an extremely gifted Torah teacher. No one could credibly question his Torah interpretations, even his detractors. Yet where did he come by such wisdom and knowledge?

Every year his (Yeshua’s) parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom. After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he was saying to them. Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. -Luke 2:41-52

Here we are given the only peek into Yeshua’s childhood, as he’s studying with the Torah scholars at the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, just after the conclusion of the Passover festival. His understanding of Torah not only amazed his parents Miriam (Mary) and Yosef, but the learned teachers as well. We assume Yeshua gained a supernatural understanding of Torah from His Father in Heaven, which the scriptures support.

Jesus gave them this answer: “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these.” -John 5:19-20

All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” -John 6:37-40

My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one. -John 10:29-30

As an adult, Yeshua repeatedly stated that he was not the source of the authority and wisdom he imparted; only his Father in Heaven. Yeshua never exalted himself, but the Father exalted him. In essence, the Father taught his son Yeshua, who then passed these teachings on to his disciples. Of course, these were not brand new teachings, since nothing Yeshua taught contradicted the Torah of God that Moses brought down from Sinai (Yeshua’s disciples and followers would have revolted against him if they did…it was only because Yeshua’s teachings were flawlessly consistent with the original words and intent of the Torah, that every one, even potential opponents like Nicodemus, were attracted to Yeshua as a teacher and master).

The pattern by which Yeshua learned and then taught Torah, is best understood within the Jewish context in which he lived. Rabbinic commentary gives greater insights:

Originally, if a child had a father, the father would teach him Torah, but one who did not have a father would not learn Torah. Which verse did they use as a source for this? “And you shall teach them” – to your children. Since the word “them” in Hebrew is written without the letter “Vav”, the verse can be read, “And you yourselves shall teach [Torah] to your children”, i.e. the father himself must teach his child. Since many children were not receiving an education, Chazal established a school system. Our Gemara teaches that Yehoshua ben Gamla came and enacted that local authorities should engage teachers of children in every district and town and they should bring in children ages six or seven.

HaRav Elchanan Wasserman notes that it seems that before the time of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Gamla only the actual biological father of a child would be commanded to teach the child Torah. Yet, Rashi, in his explanation of the verse in Devarim (Deuteronomy) 6:7, cites the Sifrei which interprets the term “sons” as referring to “students”. In other words, the verse directly teaches us to instruct not only sons, but also our students. Why, then, was there a custom whereby people only educated their own children?

Once a student is brought to a teacher and they become immersed in the study of Torah together, the pupil immediately becomes as a son to the Rebbe. Their relationship becomes one which simulates an authentic father/son association. Accordingly, the Rebbe is then obligated to teach his student as if he were his natural son. Before this arrangement is set, however, the Rebbe would not have this responsibility, for the student is not yet a “son” to him. There was also no requirement for a teacher to seek out all eligible children and to educate them. This, however, was part of the innovation which Rabbi Yehoshua ben Gamla instituted, and children from the community at large were then recruited and brought into the organized classes to be taught Torah and trained together with all the other children.

From Daf Digest
Distinctive Insight
Bava Basra 21

Here’s just a brief reminder of the scripture upon which this teaching is based:

These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. -Deuteronomy 6:6-7

Here’s a further illusration from the Daf:

The self sacrifice of Rav Elchonon Wasserman, hy”d, on behalf of his students was truly astounding. A year before the Second World War broke out, he was in America collecting sorely needed funds for his yeshiva, but the moment he raised enough money to get by he wished to return home as was his wont. Many people did their utmost to discourage him from returning. These people even guaranteed to bring over his two unmarried sons to the States to start a new life.

They argued, “Is it not a question of putting your life in danger? Who knows what further destruction the German madness will cause?”

But Rav Elchonon would have none of this. “Do I only have two sons in the old country? I have four hundred sons: my students! How can I possibly abandon them?”

In 1939 he was given a visa to travel to America and even had special permission to travel to Israel, but he absolutely refused to consider the move. “As long as one student remains here it is forbidden for me to save my own life and leave him to face his fate alone.”

But his choices become more understandable when we consider that Rav Elchonon fulfilled everything he taught. When learning the statement in Bava Basra 21, that at first children with fathers would learn Torah, while those without a father did not, Rav Elchonon asked, “What need is there for the limud from ‘And you shall teach them’ since the Sifrei explains this verse refers to students?”

He answered his own question. “As long as a teacher has not yet taught a student, he is not yet considered his child. This means that we cannot infer any obligation to teach children who do not yet have a teacher. It is only after a young man becomes a teacher’s student that the teacher must instruct him just as he is obligated to instruct his own son.”

From Daf Digest
Stories off the Daf
Bava Basra 21

This is a rather startling revelation, if we apply it to our own relationship with Yeshua, as teacher and “father”. We become “sons” (and “daughters”) of our master, only once we become students and disciples. Only after that relationship has been established, are we not left abandoned and alone in an uncertain world. It’s important to note that, even as Rav Wasserman risked his own life by returning to Nazi Germany for the sake of his students, our teacher Yeshua gave his own life (and took it up again) for the sake of every one of us. He leaves no one behind, who has accepted him as teacher.

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” -Matthew 28:16-20

If there hadn’t been a schism between the Jewish Messianic movement and the Gentile Christian church early in the Common Era, it’s possible that the Master/Disciple or “Father/Son-Daughter” teaching method would have extended in an unbroken line between Yeshua himself and us, his followers, to this very day. However, it was the plan of the Father that this not be the case. Only now are we, the Gentile believers in Yeshua, our Master teacher, reconnecting to Yeshua’s (and Moses’) understanding of God’s Torah as it was originally taught. But how are we to learn?

While the connection to Yeshua’s teachings of Torah within their original Hebraic context was broken, it is being repaired. History cannot be changed, but all things are possible through God who created everything. We can pick up the torn threads of our Master’s words and reattach them to the Torah, being actively written on our hearts everyday. I recently wrote that Yeshua has not permanently abandoned us here as orphans. In addition to the written revelation of the Bible, he sent another teacher to guide us.

“If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” -John 14:15-21

As you can see, the Counselor sent by Yeshua, the Holy Spirit of God, is completely intertwined with Yeshua’s teaching of Torah, and our following Yeshua’s teachings. Learning and obeying Torah is directly linked to expressing our love for Yeshua and accepting the “Spirit of truth”. We can’t separate out the spiritual from the concrete, so studying, learning, and obeying God’s Torah of truth is an act of love, devotion, and worship. The Spirit is with us, as a loving father and teacher, conducting us as we open the Bible and study His Word. Remembering that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us”, especially as the Festival of Sukkot approaches, only enhances the connection between our teacher, his teachings, and us.

We have a Father who is with us, teaching us Torah in an unbroken line of discipleship, instructing us as Sons and Daughters of the commandments. The Spirit of God was sent to us and cannot be taken from us, as long as we accept the Spirit and his teachings, and love Yeshua and the Father. Let us learn and obey our Father’s teachings, that we may live, and then teach our children to do the same.

My child, do not forget My Torah, and let your heart guard My commandments, for they add to you length of days and years of life and peace. -Proverbs 3:1-2