As Was His Custom: Studying Scripture and Meditation

Jesus (Yeshua) and His Education

Although many secular scholars label Jesus as a country bumpkin, who probably couldn’t read or write, there’s adequate reason to believe that He could do both. We know from Luke 4:16 that Jesus was invited to read on the Sabbath in his hometown synagogue. While the other Scripture that talks of Jesus’ writing is not found in the earliest manuscripts (John 7:53-8:11), we can deduce that if He knew how to read, He would have also learned to write.

Jesus’ Custom of Studying Scripture

1) He studied Scripture regularly.

There’s good reason to believe that Jesus studied the Scriptures regularly. In Luke 2:41-52, when he was 12, his parents journeyed to Jerusalem, as was their custom, to celebrate Passover. When the festival was over, his parents joined what must have been friends and family who caravaned together back to Nazareth. They thought He was with them, but they realized He was not among their friends and family a day into the return trip. They immediately turned back, walking another day back to Jerusalem, and searched for Jesus for three more days. Get this: a pre-teen boy of 12 years of age, instead of choosing to goof off with his cousins and siblings, decided instead to sit in the temple courts and learn at the feet of priests, rabbis, scribes, and teachers FOR FIVE ENTIRE DAYS. Five days. I can barely get my 11-year-old to get up for school in the morning, let alone go by choice and spend an entire day there! Jesus had a thirst to learn. He chose to study Scripture. This tells us that as a boy, Jesus sought out learning everywhere. Not only this, but He also amazed everyone who heard him and astonished his parents. He was not only learning, but he also gave feedback (understanding) and asked questions.

2) He studied rabbinical teaching styles.

There’s reason to believe that Jesus was educated according to rabbinic styles. He regularly used rabbinic styles of teaching, like answering questions by asking them (check out Luke 18:19; 20:24). He also used a rabbinical style called Remez, where the teacher alludes to an entire section of Scripture by mentioning part of it (in Matt. 11:5, Jesus references Isaiah 29:18; 35:5-6; 42:7 and 61:1). John’s disciples show up and ask Jesus if He is actually the Messiah. Jesus answers by quoting Scripture. John the Baptist immediately understands and recognizes the passages that Jesus alludes to and gets his answer. Jesus is the Christ.

But how does someone figure that out? By paying attention to the text. Jesus used over 23 teaching forms (similes, metaphors, humor, and reason). We’ll be covering this topic in depth at a later date. He knew the Hebrew Bible EXTREMELY WELL. He knew the Bible segmented into the Law, Prophets, and Writings. He quoted from Isaiah, Deuteronomy, the Psalms, and other prophets, proving that He knew the Hebrew Bible well.

3) He studied the culture around Him.

But He was also a product of His time and culture. There’s a thought that perhaps Yosef (Joseph), Jesus, and His earthly brothers helped to build the Herodian town across the hill from Nazareth known as Sepphoris. Hellenism was prevalent and making its way across ancient Israel at that time. It was there that Jesus probably experienced Roman theater and the arts. He actually incorporated parts of Roman plays into his sermons.[1]In fact, as NT Wright has said, “By the time of the first century, if Jesus had wanted to take his disciples to see Euripides’ [480-406 BC] plays performed, he might have only had to walk down the road from Capernaum to Beth Shean.”[2] Although that would have been an almost 12-hour hike, the theater in Sepphoris, just around the corner from Nazareth, seated around 4,000-5,000 people and was active during Jesus’ Galilean ministry.

Underneath the Translation

Here’s what we miss when we read our English translations. When Jesus’ parents found Him, He was sitting in the “midst” of the teachers, “both hearing them and questioning them.” He was actively taking the role of a disciple of these teachers, sitting at their feet, listening, and asking questions. What’s interesting about the word “teachers” is that this kind of teacher in Greek was a Master or Doctor in their field. Jesus was sitting in the middle of, in a sense, a room full of seminarian professors and doctors of the Jewish faith and theology. When Jesus questioned them, the word in Greek meant more of an intense question, demand, or interrogation while being respectful. This shows us Jesus’ seriousness in his desire to learn more about His Father and the faith that He’d been raised in.

If we are not well-versed in rabbinical teaching styles, then we will also miss seeing how Jesus taught in a way that captured His listeners and was memorable, if not life-changing. And if we’re not familiar with the culture at the time of Jesus, it’s quirks, history, and nuances, then we miss more than half of what Jesus teaches His original audience.

So, is studying Scripture important? Absolutely.

How Can We Follow Jesus in this Way?

When we study God’s Word, there are some ways we can know we’re hitting the mark. When learning more about God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Spirit, if we find ourselves amazed, astonished, and having Behold Moments regularly, then we’re on track. Notice the crowd around Jesus when he was learning. The people were shocked and astonished at His understanding. When you find yourself amazed at the circular themes throughout Scripture, God’s design and intention woven throughout the Story with Jesus at the center, and His continuous grace and love, you’ve reached the level of studying I believe we should aim for.

1.    Study to be amazed by Jesus.

2.    Study to be astonished by Jesus.

3.    Study to find Behold Moments in Scripture (Click here for an explanation of Behold Moments).

Intellectual Studying: To Know Him with All Your Mind

Option 1:

1. Read the same passage over and over.

2. Write down any Behold Moments, questions, where you find Jesus in the passage, and anything you need to apply to yourself.

3. Go to https://biblehub.com/interlinear/ for an interlinear version in either Greek or Hebrew to do in-depth word studies.

   1. For Old Testament passages, find Hebrew Interlinear. Click either Interlinear Chapters or Interlinear Verses. At the top of the page, select your Bible book and chapter. Scroll to the word of choice and click the number above to take it to all its usages.

   2. For New Testament passages, find Greek Interlinear. Click either Interlinear Chapters or Interlinear Verses. At the top of the page, select your Bible book and chapter. Scroll to the word of choice and click the number above to take it to all its usages.

Option 2:

1. Trace a theme throughout Scripture (like grace, love, or garden, for example).

2. Go to https://www.blueletterbible.org and type in the theme in the search bar. Choose which Bible version you prefer and search.

3. Find passages that interest you or click the button next to the search results to see the number of times the word is used in other Bible versions or by book of the Bible.

4. Click on the Tools button for language tools and word studies.

Meditation as Studying: To Know Him with All Your Heart

Another form of studying is just to meditate on the Scripture day and night (Joshua 1:8).

1. Put your Bible, a paper pad, and a pen beside your bed.

   1. For a list of Behold Moments to meditate on and to trace through the Bible, click here!

2. Read the passage/verse out loud right before you fall asleep.

3. Take a few minutes to review the passage and ask the Holy Spirit to help you pay attention to a particular word or phrase that will help you behold God the next day.

4. Pray this Scripture before falling asleep, and think about it as sleep takes you.

5. When waking, reread it out loud. Write anything that stands out on the pad of paper. As you go about your day, think about what the Spirit wants you to pay attention to.

6. Look for Behold Moments in your everyday life and see where God shows up!

[1] Marty Solomon, “Welcome to Hellenism,” BEMA Discipleship Podcast. Episode 75, May 24, 2018, https://www.bemadiscipleship.com/75

[2] N.T. Wright, The New Testament and the People of God, (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1992).