Jesus...Jewish child and youth

Jesus ...Jewish child and youth

People have wondered why so little is written in the Gospels about Jesus during the years between his infancy, the age of twelve, and until thirty. But our information sources are few, and it is not the practice of the Christian Church to place much emphasis on non-canonized religious writings as a rule or basis for faith. The usual practice is "sola scriptura" (scripture alone).

But that does not mean that we may not go to Jewish sources for some information to shed light on ancient traditions, and practices still observed today after many many centuries. After all, Judaism is the cradle in which Christianity was born.

Jewish ideas about the upbringing of children are expressed not only in the Hebrew Bible, but in other written sources. Pirkei Avot (sayings of the fathers), is a written work containing the wisdom of the great Rabbis whose scholarship and humanity shaped the development of Judaism.

It is recorded in Avot V, 24 : "At five years the age is reached for study of the Scripture, at ten for the study of the Mishnah, at thirteen for the fulfillment of the commandments, at fifteen for the study of the Talmud, at eighteen for marriage, at twenty for seeking a livelihood, at thirty for entering into ones full strength"...

Did the parents of Jesus follow that pattern? Think of it. A five year old Jewish boy busy learning verses from the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament). The command of Deuteronomy 6:7, says: You shall teach them diligently unto your children and talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up.

Yosef and Miriam (Joseph and Mary) surely spent much time with Jesus repeating and talking scripture. Some sources assert that the first biblical verse taught by a father to his son is found in Deuteronomy 6:4; Hear O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord. Today, a child would say these words: "Shma Yisrael, Hashem Elohenu Hashem echad." Its called the "shma" because of the first Hebrew word.

The "shma" is comparable to a confession of faith. and focuses on the revelation to Israel that there is only one God (Elohim echad). It is generally recited twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. Imagine Jesus reciting this verse twice a day. For my own personal satisfaction, I have learned this verse in Hebrew by memory, and recite it, even though I’m a gentile. It’s really a powerful verse.

Prior to his teenage years, when he was 12 years old, the Gospel of Luke in 2:42-52, mentions that Jesus was subject unto his parents, even when they were grieved because of him and had scolded him. Such reverent behavior by a 12 year old boy is commendable and reflects discipline and ethics in action. But it didn’t just happen, it was behavior by choice and not by chance. It was surely because of Torah influence and parental example.

Other New Testament examples exist which show the influence of childhood upbringing.
In 2Timothy 3:14-15, we read about some religious training of a Jewish child named Timothy.
In spite of the fact that Timothy’s father was non Jewish (Greek), and his mother a Jewess (see Acts 16:1), Timothy evidently was a child well taught in the holy Hebrew Scriptures, and Paul the author of the epistle (letter), bearing Timothy’s name admits to Timothy’s knowledge of those scriptures.

In 2Timothy 1:5, Paul calls to remembrance the unfeigned faith indwelling Timothy, and his grandmother Lois, and mother Eunice. Details are lacking about these two women, but our source indicates that their knowledge of the Jewish scriptures passed along to Timothy, produced "faith," rather than a legalist attitude. Some Christian folks seem to think that any scriptures in the law section of the bible are no longer valid, and produce no true faith. Wasn’t it a Hebrew prophet named Habakkuk who said; the just shall live by his faith?

Acts 16:3, shows that Paul knew some value of keeping the law. He took the youthful convert named Timothy and had him circumcised, making it possible for the young man to travel among Jews with Paul in the ministry. This lessened the possibility of Jewish animosity, since they knew Timothy’s father was a Greek (non Jew). Perhaps that’s why Paul called Timothy "my own son (child) in the faith" (1Timothy 1:2). Timothy’s Greek father had failed to plan Timothy’s brit milah (circumcision), which in tradition was a father’s duty. Paul assumed fatherly responsibility.

This knowledge about Timothy, as found in the New Testament sources, sheds light on the actions of Jewish mothers, and indicates how they impressed upon their sons (and daughters), about the faith of their forefathers. The only bible read during the early years of the life of Timothy’s mother and grandmother was the Hebrew Bible or Septuagint, since the New testament scriptures were not even written in those early days of their lives. They passed it along to Timothy. Now, we truly understand what Paul meant when he said "scriptures." We Christians often call it the Old Testament.

Such sources coupled with traditions that never seem to change over huge periods of time, reveal how Jesus may have lived and learned as a youth. Comparative analysis sometimes helps us grasp the likelihood of example among contemporaries.

The Hebrew Bible (O.T.), records teachings that covers every aspect of Jewish life. Human relations, ethics, morality, governmental responsibilities, and any other matter of importance. Apostle Peter wrote of Jesus saying : who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth" (1Peter 2:22). Sin is transgression of the law; and Peter said that Jesus did not sin.

What did youthful Jesus look like between twelve and thirty? Was he clean shaven? Leviticus 19:27 gives details regarding the Jewish male. Ultra Orthodox communities have a tradition about Jewish boys until the age of three. They are not given the first haircut until three years old. Some time later they are introduced to the scripture in Leviticus 19:27, which says: Ye shall not round the corners of your head, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard. This is explained as not "cutting the side burns" (peyot).

Now you know why Jesus and Orthodox Jews had those long dangling side burns along with their beards. Yes, imagine Jesus at thirty years with long dangling uncut side burns. Its never difficult when you know this, to distinguish whether a Jewish male is Orthodox, Conservative, or Reform.

more to come...