Dust

How Jewish children were taught the faith and how a rabbi selected his disciples?

The first formal teaching for a Jewish child began about age six and lasted until about age ten. It was called Bet Sefer which meant “House of the Book.” It probably took place at the local synagogue. During this period of time the students would memorize the first five books of the Bible, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Yes, that’s right, memorize the first five books of the Bible, the Torah. Remember you couldn’t just go down to the local bookstore and buy a copy of the Torah. Most towns only had one copy and it was in the synagogue.

By age ten some of the students would show promise and others would not.

So around that age some of the students would leave the process and go into the family business or learn a trade.

The best students would go on to the next step called Bet Talmud which meant
“House of Learning.” During the next three or four years they would memorize the rest of
the Bible, all thirty-nine books, Genesis to Malachi.

At the end of this period more students would drop out, until only the best of the best were left.

These remaining students would begin to search for a rabbi who would accept them as disciples. When a student applied to a rabbi to become one of his disciples the rabbi would ask one essential
question. Can this student become like me? Can he put on my yoke?

If the rabbi thought the student could become like him he would say to the student, “Come, follow me,” and the student would become a disciple of that rabbi for life. Now, here’s the most important point. A rabbi would only ask someone to follow him if he thought that person could become like him.


Now, consider the second scripture. Jesus calls four fishermen to follow Him. What is He
doing? He is a rabbi calling His disciples. Why are these guys fishermen? Because no
other rabbi would accept them as disciples.

They were not the best of the best.

They were the ones who had washed out.

Yet, Jesus calls them to come with Him to change the world. And they do. They come and they change the world.

Who does Jesus call to be His disciples today? Everyone. What does this tell us? It tells us that He believes we can become like Him. We can put on His yoke, understand His teaching, and ultimately live our life like He would live it.

Rob Bell sums up this picture for himself. “I have been told that I need to believe in Jesus. Which is a good thing. But what I am learning is that Jesus believes in me. The rabbi thinks I can be like Him.”





Mat 4:12
When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee.
John jesus cousin who baptised him
in prison
This appears tbe the sign for him to start...
“my time has not come...”


Mat 4:13
Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali-

Mat 4:15
"Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles-

Mat 4:16
the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." [fn]

Mat 4:17
From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."



Mat 4:18
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.

Mat 4:19
"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."

Mat 4:20
At once they left their nets and followed him.

Mat 4:21
Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them,

Mat 4:22
and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.




Mar 2:14
As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.