Understanding Jewish Phrases and Terms

First came the written Torah; the books of Moses as given to him by Yahweh, and they were set and unchangeable laws. But in time there became an Oral Torah, which was a combination of; interpretations of the Law as it might apply to various situations (much like the supreme court interprets the constitution to make rulings in various situations), religious traditions, and sayings of Rabbis who were held in high esteem. The Oral Torah eventually became written and was titled; the Talmud. In order to understand some of the sayings in the Bible, we need to refer back to some of the Hebraic teachings in the Talmud that give us an understanding.

One of the New Testament quotes that is better understood by knowing some of the Talmud is given in Luke 10:10-11;

“But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, “Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you…”

Rabbis taught from village to village and in the countrysides. They taught in temples, in homes, under a shade tree or anywhere people would gather to be taught. In order to learn from a Rabbi, to be more fully taught by him, his followers (students/disciples) had to travel with him on his journeys in order to continue on with their learning. To follow a Rabbi was a total commitment because it meant leaving everything behind including, at least temporarily, their livelihood and their families. The Rabbi, as well as his students, were dependent on people of the area to care for them with food, lodging if possible, and a place to meet if their homes were large enough. Since Israel is a dry place, much fine dust would surround the group as they walked; so to travel with a Rabbi meant to be covered with the dust of his feet. Thus, this was considered a good thing. It obviously meant you following a Rabbi while being taught by him. A Hebraic saying says;

“Let your home be a meeting house for sages (Rabbis) and cover yourself with the dust of their feet, and drink in their words thirstily”

To be covered with the dust of a Rabbi was a good thing; for it meant you were being taught by him the Torah and the ways of God. The proclamation Jesus gave in Luke 10:10-11 was simply to declare to those who would not receive them, that they rejected those whom God had sent to profit them spiritually.

Profiting from Teaching God’s Word

Rabbis were forbidden to charge a fee for teaching scriptures, for it says in m.Avot 4:5 “He who makes profit from the words of Torah has brought about his own destruction” And Derek Eretz Zuta 3:3 says “Do not charge for teaching Torah, accept no remuneration for it.” Those who taught scripture were not to charge a fee for doing so, but they ate and were sustained by those whom they taught. In the Old Testament; the priests lived on a certain number of the flock and grain brought to the temple. This same standard of not charging a fee for teaching was carried over into the New Testament era. In Luke 10:4-10 Jesus instructed not only to take no money, but not even to carry a purse (to put money in);

“Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.”

Jesus also said in Matthew 10:8; “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.” This is a recurrent doctrine of both old and new testaments and is also mentioned in Peters letters to the Elders of the churches to; “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind…” (1 Peter 5:2).

Followers of Rabbis Often Referred to as ‘Sons’

The Rabbi became like a father to his followers, having a special relationship of honor that was even above one’s own earthly father. Disciples were often called ‘sons’ of the Rabbi; just as those who followed the great Prophets were called the “sons of the prophets”. This tradition of being considered a ‘son’ began with Elijah and Elisha,
(2 Kings 2:1-12) where not only does scripture speak of Elijah’s followers being called sons (51 sons to be exact) but Elisha even referred to Elijah as ‘father’. This is why Jesus referred to those who followed the teaching of the Pharisees as ‘their sons’ ( Luke 11:18-19). It is also also why Jesus referred to the Pharisees as sons of Satan, and declared that their father was Satan, in John 8:44, because by their actions they were followers of Satan; “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”

When we are truly born again, through the baptism of the Holy Spirit, that same indwelling Spirit becomes our guide and our teacher; therefore we are followers of God. Therefore we call no man on earth our father (concerning spiritual matters) as did those who followed Rabbis. We are no longer called sons of the prophet or sons of Rabbis but sons of God. We follow only Him. That’s why Jesus said in Mt 23:8-10; “But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.” Jesus said this for we are to be the sons of God, not followers of men. 1 John 2:27 affirms (written to spirit-filled believers); “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.” That’s why
John 1:12 says; “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God…” No longer does God lead His children through others, that they might be called ‘their’ sons, but we must be led by God to be called ‘His Sons’. Romans 8:14 says; “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” (See also Phil 2:15 and 1 Jn 3:2).

Taking the Yoke

‘Taking the yoke of Torah’ was a rabbinic expression for accepting God’s reign over one’s life – to live according to His Will. It means to submit your life to the obedience of God’s word. A disciple was expected to place himself in obedience and dedication to the Rabbi and to the Rabbis teaching of scripture. This is how a disciple “takes the Yoke” of the Rabbi; which, if the Rabbi taught the Torah correctly, equates to the yoke of the God’s Word.

As we know however, what eventually became taught was a combination of not only the written Torah, but the Oral one as well. Since the oral one was rabbinic rulings based on interpretations of the written one, the oral one became equal to the written with the passing of time and in many cases began to supercede the written word. Eventually, the Oral even became contradictory to the written; yet it was the oral Torah (the Talmud) that was adhered to. In this manner man effectually ‘made their own religion’ through misinterpretations and corruptions of scripture that was originally pure and from God Himself. (Sounds like what has happened in the churches of today, doesn’t it? Church groups pick and choose only certain scriptures that they misinterpret in order to validate their own beliefs and doctrines, while carefully avoiding any and all scriptures that contradict their teaching!). One if the instances where Jesus addressed the issue of the Talmud being taught although it was overriding scripture is found in Mark 7:1-13;

1 “Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. 2 And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault. 3 For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. 4 And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables. 5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? 6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. 9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. 10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: 11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. 12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; 13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.”

Remember though, the Oral Torah which became the Talmud was also from the sayings of great and wise teachers and they contained many of the idioms of expression that even Jesus also used. To discount the Talmud in all points would be a huge mistake.

Binding and Loosing

Binding and loosing refer to decrees made by the interpreters of the Torah. Whatever ruling they made concerning a question became ‘binding’. It became a law. The adherents of the Law then, were ‘bound’ to it. This is much the same as any contract we have in the world today that is said to be ‘binding’. Loosing, then, is to set one free of an obligation. It can also be the rescinding of a decree. Over the centuries and millenniums, many of the multitude of decrees in the Talmud were not only contrary to scripture but there were literally thousands of them! The Talmud has roughly 6000 pages. Jesus spoke of the Pharisees and some of their unrighteous decrees and said of them; “…they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders…” referring to all the decrees now being such heavy burdens (as an ox under a heavy load), grievous to be borne (hard to live under) and lay them on men’s shoulders (the YOKE) (Matthew 23:4). Jesus came to ‘set the record straight’ as we say. He came to set right what had gone astray with the Law. While He was in the process of doing this the Pharisees were continually accusing Him of violating the ‘Law’; at least, the law as they knew it. After all, the Talmud had been passed down for centuries. They accused Him of healing on the Sabbath day in violation of the Law. They accused Him and His disciples of not washing their hands before eating; another violation. At one point they asked Him, “Art thou come to destroy the Law?” To this question Jesus answered; “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” (Mt 5:17-18). Let me explain these two verses in detail with a clearer explanation of the words, ‘I am come’ and the words ‘fulfill’. “I am come” denotes purpose. This is certainly one of God’s reasons for His coming into the world; “I am come…to fulfill the law”. The word ‘fulfill’ here means to sustain, to correctly interpret, to establish. In other words He was saying He had no intention whatsoever in doing away with or undermine the Law at all, but His purpose was to correctly interpret the written word. He further said in verse 18 that the Law would not pass away but would outlive the earth itself! “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” The word ‘fulfilled’ at the end of the sentence is clearer defined as ‘accomplished’…’till all be accomplished’ and of course that does not take place until this present world is destroyed.

Take My Yoke Upon You

Jesus, the great teacher, the Rabbi of Rabbis, gave an invitation; “come unto me” and “learn of me.”

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Mt 11: 28-30).

It was an invitation to cast off the heavy burden of yoke of the Pharisees that needlessly overburdened the people, and take HIS yoke which is easy and light; which is a return to unadulterated scripture given as God intended. No, it does not do away with the Laws as given to Moses, it simply gives a correct understanding of them.

“And I will give you rest” Jesus said.” Surely, this casting away of man’s rulings and a return to God’s word is a fulfillment of God’s calling that was given in Jeremiah 6:16;
“Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.”

Said another way, ‘take my yoke upon you,’ we have to remember who Jesus was; the Word of God made flesh. To take His yoke, was once again an expression for accepting God’s reign over one’s life – to live according to His Word and His Will. Even as it says in 2 Corinthians 5:15; “And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”

The more I study the Old Testament the more I realize that both Testaments say the same thing; only the wording is different. The part of ‘The Law’ that was done away with was the continual sacrifices for sin and ordinances that Jesus accomplished ‘once and for all’ the scriptures say. Even in these things that are no longer in effect because of Christ,
It was only because those Old Testament directives were metaphors that pointed to Jesus and the new covenant in the first place. They were a shadow of things to come, whereas Jesus was what they were alluding to all along. The bible isn’t two books containing the Old and the New Testaments; they are one book. The Old was not complete until the New. In fact, calling the ‘New Testament’ by its current name is something man did, not God. The New Testament is more of an ‘explanation’ of the Old Testament. It would be better to call the ‘New Testament’ the New Covenant; after all, that’s what the bible calls it.

I hope you have enjoyed this information as much I have in discovering these things!