jesus time's school

jesus's family

Family Structure

The husband was the spiritual and legal head of the house. He was responsible for feeding, sheltering and protecting the family. Children were instructed early to honor their parents. A Jewish family lived by very strict moral, social and religious rules. Parents, unmarried children, and a married son and spouse would often all live under one roof.

In one house, uncles, unties, grandparents are all live in together. They all live in together so they can have better economy and women in the house can share their job.


The Role of Women:
In first century Israel, women were considered second-class citizens, akin to slaves. The fact that they are mentioned as avid followers of Jesus is unusual – both that they would be allowed to follow him with his disciples, and unusual that the authors of Jesus’ biographies would mention their presence at all.

Jesus’ Family life:
Joseph (Jesus’ father) was a carpenter, making their family a part of the middle class. Mary (Jesus’ mother) was a teenager who was “promised” by her parents to be married to Joseph (at the time when Jesus was considered to be miraculously conceived). Following their marriage, and Jesus’ birth, Mary and Joseph had other children as well.

Family Structure:

The husband was usually the head of the house. He was responsible for providing shelter, food and keeping the family safe. Children were to respect there parents, to love and to honour. A jewish family would be very strict to moral, social and religious rules.

Education

Young Jewish boys started formal education at the age of 5, learning to read and write. At age 10, boys would start to learn about the Jewish law. Formal education was complete by age 18.

Young girls would learn at home from their mothers and other women. Young men were educated by a Rabbi (teacher) from the local synagogue.

The Jewish education emphasized law, ethics, and history for the purpose of right, normal living. In contrast, the Greek education system called “gymnasium” emphasized science, arts, linguistics and bodily training.

For Jews, the “Torah”, translated “law” was the source of all learning – religion, history and ethics. The Torah includes the first five books of the modern Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy)

For the first century Jew, religion, law, history, ethics and education were inseparable. Through both written (Torah) and oral (Mishna) law, teaching was passed from generation to generation. Rabbi's (teachers) and synagogues were highly esteemed aspects of society.

Most Roman citizens were influenced by the teachings of different philosophical systems; the two major philosophies of the time being Stoicism and Cynicism.

The “synagogue” translated “house of assembly” was the Jewish place of both worship and education

Young men, seeking advanced education as “scribes” or doctors of the law, could study a broader range of topics with a religious motivation in mind.

Jesus studied at the synagogue – in one instance when Jesus was 12 years old as recorded in Jesus’ biography by Luke, the author says “They (Jesus’ parents) found him (Jesus) in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.” (Luke 2:46-47)