This weekend, there was a lot of hype about Jake Paul fighting legendary boxer Mike Tyson. It was a battle between old-school and new-school, youth and strength versus wisdom and power.
The fight disappointed most people. Although Jake Paul won the fight, the broadcast was full of technical issues that frustrated viewers. The fight didn’t live up to the hype. But fans of the sport wanted to see if the proud Jake Paul could take out Mike Tyson. Mr. Paul has a notorious reputation around the world and in the boxing community.
- Controversial
- Arrogant
- Disrespectful
- Flashy
Jake Paul claims to have learned a lot from Mike Tyson about the sport, hopefully, he can also learn from Tyson’s mistakes. Mr. Paul has shared about his Christian faith and his desire to inspire others and change the world. He is of Jewish ancestry as well. But, you’d never know it by the lifestyle Mr. Paul lives.
Mr. Paul talks the talk but fails to walk the walk. He believes he can change the world by being like the world. This conflict of faith contradicts the basic teachings of both Judaism and Jesus. Unfortunately, many students of the Word forget to use what they learn from their teacher (Proverbs 1:7-9, James 1:22.)
Teachers
Teachers play an important role in society, beyond education, teachers educate and discipline younger generations to help prepare them for life in a crazy world. Teachers are defined as, “One whose occupation is to instruct; one who teaches.”
Our teachers play different roles in life, and we all benefit from learning from others. Learning doesn’t always feel good, because it requires discipline to move beyond the old and to learn something new.
Due to our sinful nature, we are inclined to do bad things and have to be taught to do what is right. Parents experience this firsthand every day; parents are the first teachers we ever meet.
Christianity has a lot to say about teachers and teaching because the spiritual disciplines of Christianity go against the natural bent of man’s heart (Romans 8:5-17.) God’s people must be taught to live by the Spirit and not their flesh.
Everything about Christianity contradicts our sinful nature (Romans 7:15-23, 1 Peter 2:11.) Every inch of our flesh is wicked and I don’t mean just sexually. God’s people must be taught and disciplined not to live by their flesh like this corrupt world (Hebrews 12:11.) In Judaism this evil nature is Yetzer Hara and we must be trained to fight against it (1 Timothy 4:8.)
Christianity emphasizes the need to teach and train our bodies and others to live by God’s standards and not the world’s (Luke 6:40, Romans 2:21; 15:4; 16:17, Galatians 6:6, Ephesians 4:11-16; 6:4, Philippians 4:9, 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 4:2, Titus 2:2, 11-12.) The Apostle Paul remembered his Jewish education about the importance of discipline and teaching.
Rabbi
The Old Testament is tells us of ancient scribes and interpreters of the law who were responsible for teaching God’s people the Torah and the ways of God. Education is a big deal in Judaism, because that is how God’s people learn to be different and set apart from the world we live in.
God Himself is seen as the first teacher in Judaism because He instructs and leads His people in His ways (Exodus 24:12, Deuteronomy 8:3; 11:19, Psalm 23:1-6; 25:8-9; 32:8; 86:11, Proverbs 4:11.) A Holy God requires a holy people.
The New Testament refers to Jewish teachers as rabbis, taken from the Greek word rav which means great or chief. Rabbi means, “My teacher,” and it can also mean my master or my great one, depending on the context. The idea is we teach people to become great by teaching them the ways of God, not this fallen world.
The Old Testament charged teachers, priests, prophets, and interpreters to teach the Torah to God’s people, Jewish teachers were seen as great leaders and voices of God. In the New Testament rabbis have similar roles and responsibilities for the people of God.
- Teaching and learning
- Rabbinic readings
- Torah
- Human wisdom
- Lead religious services
- Community support
- Social and Philanthropic Leadership
- Spiritual guidance
- Legal decisions
For thousands of years, the Messiah was prophesied to be an expert on the law and would use the Word to teach and rule the world (Isaiah 11:2; 59:21.) The New Testament writers describe Jesus as the Word made flesh (John 1:14, Colossians 2:9.)
Bob Briner writes, “More than anything else during His earthly ministry Jesus was called Rabbi, or teacher.”
The New Testament writers also refer to Jesus as both Master and Teacher because He continued to teach God’s people the ways of God, even when they contradicted their own religious teachings (Matthew 7:28-29; 23:1-39, Luke 10:25-37, John 13:13.)
True to the Rabbinic process, Jesus sent His Disciples out to teach others everything that He had taught them (Matthew 28:16-20.) Discipleship like education plays a very important role in Judaism.
Judaism
As God’s holy people, Israel was charged with being different from the world and Judaism is a monotheistic religion devoted to the ways and teachings of God. As the salt and light of the world, God’s people are to change it and not become like it (Leviticus 2:13; 11:44-45, Deuteronomy 7:6.)
God’s people are to live and follow in the ways of their teacher and not the world (Exodus 23:2, Romans 12:2.) We are to teach God’s truth to the world and reflect His nature (Psalm 25:5, Hebrews 1:3.) That is why all of God’s people must practice the disciplines of God.
- Love others
- Forgive
- Correct
- Teach
When we fail to do these, we fail to be the salt and light of the world and we fail to be different from it. We aren’t holy if we are worldly (1 Peter 1:15-16.).” When we live out the gospel and obey God, we are teaching like a Rabbi (Luke 6:46.)
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