General Information

Raise Up Many Disciples

In Matthew 28:19, Jesus instructs his followers to "make disciples of all nations." But he does not explain in detail how to carry out that instruction. Nor does he define for us what a disciple is.

The reason he doesn't explain it is because "disciple" (or in Hebrew, talmid) was a well known term at the time. Neither Jesus nor John the Baptist were the first Jewish teachers to have disciples. Discipleship was a well established traditional Jewish method of education long before the ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus.

This great commission even almost seems to echo a traditional proverb in Judaism that is attributed to the men of the Great Assembly (a council that was convened after the return from Babylon):

Be deliberate in judgment, raise up many disciples, and make a fence for the Torah. (Pirke Avot 1:1)

But today, the meaning of "disciple" has largely been forgotten. If we are supposed raise up "disciples" for Jesus, how do we do that in a way that is faithful to the sense of the word as it was used 2,000 years ago in Israel?

This is a prime example of where learning the ancient Jewish cultural, linguistic, and historical context--and applying it to our life--is essential. That is why resources such as HaYesod are so valuable for going deeper into our understanding and application of the Word.

The book Boundary Stones explains the concept of discipleship:

The call of discipleship in first-century Judaism was much more than Bible schooling. A rabbi taught his disciples how to live every aspect of life.... The job of a disciple was to imitate his teacher in every way, learning not only the way he understood Scripture but also how he ate, how he celebrated holidays, how he gave charity, and every detail of his life. The Master himself explains, "A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher" (Luke 6:40). (p.41)

As you can see, a true disciple is more than just a convert, a believer, a follower, or even a student. In Jewish culture, the teacher/disciple relationship is most often compared to a father and son or a master and slave!

Are you a talmid of Jesus? HaYesod is an extraordinary tool that can help you learn about how to imitate our Master's ways and understand his words in a new light.

How are you fulfilling your calling to make disciples of our Rabbi Jesus? HaYesod is an easy and effective tool to help lead others deeper in their faith and walk, helping you fulfill the Great Commission.