Welcome!

Welcome to The House of Jesus School!

As I'm sure you're wondering, let's start with the basics - "What is the House of Jesus School?" The House of Jesus School blog and podcast are an effort to inspire the kind of "iron-sharpens-iron" study that leads to a deeper understanding of the biblical text, with the goal of establishing sharp and effective building tools in the House of Jesus. The name, "House of Jesus," derives from Matthew 16:18:". . . upon this rock I will build my house of the called out" (Sandra Williams Version); I’ll cover this more later in this post.

Era of Zugot

The concept of House of Jesus School borrows from the era of Zugot, the two-hundred-year “Era of the Pairs” when spiritual leadership was in the hands of five successions of “pairs” of scholars who ruled the Sanhedrin (the supreme court of the Jews) in the roles of Nasi (meaning prince or president) and chief justice. The last of the Zugots were Hillel the Elder and Shammai. Each of the pairs developed and led their own schools of thought, the last being the House of Hillel and the House of Shammai. These two schools had vigorous debates on matters of ritual practice, ethics, and theology, which were critical for the shaping of the Oral Law and Judaism as it is today.

Within each house of study were pairs of disciples. The House of Hillel is said to have had eighty pairs of disciples. Pairing in study was viewed as an “iron-sharpening-iron” effect in biblical exposition. Proverbs 27:17 illustrates this effect perfectly: “Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (NASB). In the Ancient Near East, one iron blade was used to sharpen another blade until both became more effective tools. It was impossible for one tool to become sharper without the presence of the other. Left alone, both blades remained dull and useless.

The Talmud also extols the value of pairs learning. In Ta’anit 7a, we find the following: “Two scholars sharpen one another,” meaning two scholars, through discussion and debate, help to sharpen each other’s insight into the text.

Italian commentator, Ovadiah Seforno, interpreted Ecclesiastes 4:10-11 as referring to pairs study: “Two are better off than one, in that they derive greater benefit from their efforts. For if they should fall, the one will raise up the other, as opposed to if one falls when there is no one to raise him.” Seforno explained that two people learning together are better than one learning alone, because if one makes a mistake, the other will correct him, whereas if one learns alone there will be no one to correct him.

Spanish commentator, Don Yitzhak Abravanel, in his support of pairs study, offered Mishnah Avot 1:6: “Make for yourself a rabbi and acquire for yourself a friend.” Abravenel saw this passage as meaning that one should learn both with a teacher and with another student.

Unlike a teacher-student relationship, in which the student memorizes and repeats the material back in tests, pairs-style learning puts each student in the position of analyzing the text, organizing his thoughts into logical arguments, explaining his reasoning to his partner, hearing out his partner's reasoning, and questioning and sharpening each other's ideas, often arriving at entirely new insights into the meaning of the text.

The ascendancy of Hillel to Nasi or President is attributed to this very method of pairs learning or debate, when Hillel succeeded in settling a question concerning the sacrificial ritual in a manner that showed his superiority over the Bnei Bathyra, who then voluntarily resigned their position as Nasi in favor of Hillel. After their resignation, Hillel was recognized as the highest authority among the Pharisees.

Jesus, Final Nasi

We later see this same dynamic repeated between Jesus and the Sanhedrin, with Jesus emerging as Final Nasi, Final Authority, Our Great High Priest, The Prince, The Master, who declares in Matthew 16:18, “upon this rock I will build my house of the called out.” Most English versions present this passage as “I will build my church”; however, “church” was not a concept with which Jesus’ audience would have been familiar. Assembly, gathering, congregation or synagogue would have been more appropriate references; however, even these terms fall short in an examination of the Greek Text. If you examine the Greek Text from which English versions are translated, you will see the phrase οἰκοδομήσω μου τὴν ἐκκλησίαν.

οἰκοδομήσω is from the root word οἰκοδομή - with οἰκο meaning house and δομή (δῶμα; from the root demo) meaning build. οἰκοδομήσω is the future active indicative / first person singular rendering, meaning “I will build house”. The μου that follows οἰκοδομήσω is “my”; therefore, the correct rendering is “I will build my house.” τὴν ἐκκλησίαν follows, with τὴν the definite article (accusative feminine singular) and ἐκκλησίαν the noun from the compound of ἐκ, meaning “out”, and καλέω, meaning “called.” Therefore, the correct translation of what Jesus said is “I will build my house of the called out.” This is more in line with what would have been familiar to Jesus and His audience since the system of Zugot and houses of study extended up to the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry.

The House of Hillel extended to 10 CE, and the House of Shammai, who succeeded Hillel after his death, to 30 CE, also the year of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. Jesus is Final Nasi, Prince or President, and we, the called out, are His students.

God The Father calls – “flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father in Heaven” (Matt 16:17). Jesus The Son builds – “upon this rock I will build my house of the called out” (Matt 16:18); The Holy Spirit helps: “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you” (John 14:26).

The Present Model

What has emerged in present-day biblical scholarship is a deviation from pairs learning that leaves too many of us in Jesus’ “house of the called out” dull and useless. Houses of worship are led by pastors or priests who have absolute authority in the dissemination of biblical exposition, and it is considered inappropriate, even disrespectful, to challenge these revered leaders on any topic. Is there any wonder, then, that the blades of the “called out” have become dull and useless, so much so that many today are looking outside the House of Jesus for life instruction?

Some seminaries offer opportunities for pairs learning; however, these experiences are limited to only the few who are privileged to attend these institutions. More commonly, these institutions are simply training grounds for those seeking to attain leadership positions and titles like pastor, teacher, evangelist, titles that Jesus specifically discouraged in Matthew 23:8-11: “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.” Master, Father, Teacher and like titles are discouraged by Jesus.

The Jewish Orthodox version translates the passage as follows: “But you are not to have pretentious titles like Rebbe, for One is your Rebbe [Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach], and all of you are Achim b’Moshiach. And do not refer to anyone in the Olam Hazeh as your Abba, for One is your Av shbaShomayim. Neither be called Moreinu, for One is your Moreh (teacher) the Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach [Moreinu].

A more fluid rendering is as follows: “But you are not to have pretentious titles like spiritual leader, for one is your spiritual leader, The Spiritual Leader King, The Messiah (The Anointed King), and all of you are brothers (or siblings) of Messiah, brothers of The Anointed King. And do not refer to anyone in the present physical world as your father, for One is your father, The Father of Heaven.

And to be clear, this is not a dig at those who use such titles; not at all. I have been tremendously blessed by the teachings of many who use these titles. Would I have listened to and learned from these expositors had credentialing titles not preceded their names? Perhaps not. Therefore, titles are useful in gaining the attention of “those who have an ear” to hear. But at the same time, there have been views offered by credentialed expositors that I have not agreed with, albeit without any standing to offer a different viewpoint and facilitate discussion toward a sharper understanding by all. It is this system of absolute authority that I believe Jesus was guarding against when he admonished us not to take on these titles, and not merely the titles themselves. The titles are not the problem, but rather the system they have perpetuated; a system of absolute authority in biblical exposition, where dissent is viewed as disrespectful and distasteful, rather than as an iron-sharpening-iron opportunity. Even pastors, teachers, and evangelists need sharpening from time to time, and not just in seminaries, where exposition is often guided by specific religious theologies and dogmas. The greater and more frequent the dialogue from opposing views, the sharper will be both leader and laity. And that is what we need in Jesus’ house of the called out, sharp tools that are ready and able to be used in the building of the House to its intended completion.

Barrier

The biggest barrier to understanding the biblical text today is that we are so far removed from the era in which it was written. We must understand the teachings of Jesus from the perspective of a First Century Jewish Teacher, King, and Master. This requires that we sharpen our understanding of history, culture, language, tradition – all of the layers that shroud what Jesus is saying to us today, because over 2,000 years later, His Word IS alive and active, sharper than any two-edged sword. Such understanding is imperative if we are to arrive at actually “doing the works that Jesus did and greater works” to the glory of God. We have been trained to accept what we’re fed and not to ask, seek, or knock; therefore, we remain dull and useless implements in the work of the Kingdom.

We are to be lifelong students in the House of Jesus, The Messiah, The Anointed King. He is The King Moreh, The King Teacher (Matt 23:8a), through whom all knowledge and wisdom flows. And we are His siblings, siblings of The Messiah (Matt 23:8b). And if siblings, then joint heirs with The Messiah (Rom 8:17).

Sharpening Tools

Sharpening tools for building the House of Jesus through pairs style learning, therefore, is the focus of this blog and podcast. I look forward to being sharpened by all who participate in these studies, and I pray that you will be sharpened also. We will begin with your responses to the passages of Scripture presented in this introductory blog and podcast. I invite you to post your questions or comments below. I look forward to hearing from you.

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Shalom!