I Want to Sit At His Feet

TINK (Things I Never Knew)

I recently discovered something very interesting.   When a Jewish Rabbi wants to teach his disciples, he sits down. He sits down, and his followers know that he has something to teach them, and they gather around to listen and learn. This is quite different from our modern-day preachers who stand up in front at an elevated podium. 

Imagine my surprise when we first attended a Messianic synagogue and the rabbi sat down when it came time to deliver a sermon.  I thought, “What? Is he tired or something?”  Honestly, I even thought it a bit too casual, from my mainstream way of thinking. 

The 1st-century rabbinical style of teaching was to sit down, and have the students ask questions to lead the discussion.  The Jews of Jesus’ day would gather together and discuss scripture and it’s interpretation.  Especially gifted teachers would walk from town to town teaching the scriptures.  Jesus, the ultimate preacher, most certainly fits the description of a rabbi.  He traveled from town to town and He would have sat down and gathered them around Him to teach.

With this new understanding, several passages in the New Testament become more clear.  Picture these familiar verses in light of this new information.  

“When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain and sat down. His disciples came to Him,” Matthew 5:1 

“And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.” John 6:3

“And large crowds gathered to Him, so He got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd was standing on the beach.”  Matthew 13:2

“He began to teach again by the sea And such a very large crowd gathered to Him that He got into a boat in the sea and sat down; and the whole crowd was by the sea on the land.”  Mark 4:1

“At that time Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a robber? Every day I used to sit in the temple teaching and you did not seize Me.”  Matthew 26:55

“Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” Mark 9:35

“Early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to teach them.” John 8:2

Remember when Jesus was lost at the age of 12? Where did his parents find him?

“After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. ” Luke 2:46

Remember Paul explaining how he was taught by Gamaliel?

““I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but raised in this city. I was educated at the feet of Gamaliel in strict conformity to the law of our fathers. I am just as zealous for God as any of you here today.””Acts 22:3

This was a common rabbinical phrase describing one being taught… “sitting at the feet”

We can’t forget the story of Mary and Martha. Where do we find Mary?

“She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to His message.” Luke 10:39

Jesus is still teaching us today and guess where He is…..He’s seated….at the right hand of the Father. 🙂

Blessings.

This famous painting of the Sermon on the Mount by Carl Bloch has so much more meaning now.

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Kimberly Eady

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