Covered in the Dust: Part II
"As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, 'Follow me.' And he got up and followed him."
-Matthew 9:9
As a young child, Matthew had gone through the educational system. He would have attended both Bet Sefer (House of the Book) and Bet Talmud (House of Learning) at the synagogue from age 6 to age 13. He learned the scriptures inside and out, and at age 13 was declared a "son of the commandments" at his "Bar Mitzvah."
Around the same time as his Bar Mitzvah he would present himself to a rabbi to be given an oral test. The rabbi’s would test not only his knowledge of scripture, but also his understanding of scripture and its theological concepts. The knowledge of scripture a requirement for the Bar Mitzvah, but the understanding would have allowed him to be the student of a rabbi. This elite form of higher education was known as the Bet Midrash. Only if you had a grasp of those theological concepts that the rabbi deemed important would he call you to be his disciple. Otherwise he would congratulate you on your knowledge of scripture and encourage you to learn your Father’s trade.
When we meet Matthew we see that he was not chosen to follow a rabbi. Rather he makes his living by serving the government that oppresses his people. Scripture doesn't tell us how much time has passed since his Bar Mitzvah, but we know that enough time has passed for him to gain a reputation as a "tax collector and a sinner."
Though no other rabbi did, Jesus the rabbi had seen worth in him. Jesus the rabbi decided that he had enough of a grasp on theological concepts that he could follow him and learn his "yoke," his system of rules and teachings. Jesus the rabbi had uttered those two words that he had longed to hear, "Follow Me."
For the next three years Matthew studied under the rabbi Jesus. He, no doubt, heard the common blessing given to rabbinical students, "May you be covered in the dust of your rabbi." May you walk so close to him, that the dust that he kicks up on the path would coat you. May you follow him so closely, so precisely that you will do what he does, say what he says, feel what he feels and think what he thinks.
We know from history that Matthew was covered in the dust of Jesus. He took the yoke upon himself and became the rabbi for so many. He gave us the Gospel of Matthew and so much more. The call still goes out each and every day. To the destitute and the successful, to the blue collar and the white collar, to the righteous and the wicked - it echoes in our hearts and minds, "Follow Me." Can we, like Matthew, respond by leaving everything we know, the certainty of our processes, the familiarity of our habits, leaving them to follow Jesus, trusting that following him is infinitely better than what we currently have?
Homework this week: May you be covered in the dust of your rabbi.
-Matthew 9:9
As a young child, Matthew had gone through the educational system. He would have attended both Bet Sefer (House of the Book) and Bet Talmud (House of Learning) at the synagogue from age 6 to age 13. He learned the scriptures inside and out, and at age 13 was declared a "son of the commandments" at his "Bar Mitzvah."
Around the same time as his Bar Mitzvah he would present himself to a rabbi to be given an oral test. The rabbi’s would test not only his knowledge of scripture, but also his understanding of scripture and its theological concepts. The knowledge of scripture a requirement for the Bar Mitzvah, but the understanding would have allowed him to be the student of a rabbi. This elite form of higher education was known as the Bet Midrash. Only if you had a grasp of those theological concepts that the rabbi deemed important would he call you to be his disciple. Otherwise he would congratulate you on your knowledge of scripture and encourage you to learn your Father’s trade.
When we meet Matthew we see that he was not chosen to follow a rabbi. Rather he makes his living by serving the government that oppresses his people. Scripture doesn't tell us how much time has passed since his Bar Mitzvah, but we know that enough time has passed for him to gain a reputation as a "tax collector and a sinner."
Though no other rabbi did, Jesus the rabbi had seen worth in him. Jesus the rabbi decided that he had enough of a grasp on theological concepts that he could follow him and learn his "yoke," his system of rules and teachings. Jesus the rabbi had uttered those two words that he had longed to hear, "Follow Me."
For the next three years Matthew studied under the rabbi Jesus. He, no doubt, heard the common blessing given to rabbinical students, "May you be covered in the dust of your rabbi." May you walk so close to him, that the dust that he kicks up on the path would coat you. May you follow him so closely, so precisely that you will do what he does, say what he says, feel what he feels and think what he thinks.
We know from history that Matthew was covered in the dust of Jesus. He took the yoke upon himself and became the rabbi for so many. He gave us the Gospel of Matthew and so much more. The call still goes out each and every day. To the destitute and the successful, to the blue collar and the white collar, to the righteous and the wicked - it echoes in our hearts and minds, "Follow Me." Can we, like Matthew, respond by leaving everything we know, the certainty of our processes, the familiarity of our habits, leaving them to follow Jesus, trusting that following him is infinitely better than what we currently have?
Homework this week: May you be covered in the dust of your rabbi.