Luke 14:26 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. 27 And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.... 33 In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.
Some demands were more than his followers were able or willing to abide.
John 6:60 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?" ...66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. 67 "You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve. 68 Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
Those who remained with him held the title disciple, which generally describes the close (sincere) follower of a respected teacher.
Most Christians' first encounter with disciples is in reading the New Testament, but discipleship was not an innovation of Jesus or even of the Late Second Temple Period. As the Jewish historian Josephus notes, this arrangement had existed for hundreds of years, at least since the time of Moses. Moreover, other religious figures, besides Jesus, also had disciples (John the Baptist, Pharisees).
Disciples came from a variety of backgrounds, both occupationally and educationally. Jesus accepted disciples who were...
- Fishermen
- Taxmen
- Scribes
- Militants
- Politicians
Some disciples were in training for a specific position:
- Prophet
- Apostle
- Evangelist
The rabbi generally chose the position he thought best suited the student.
Although most disciples were male, Jesus had several female followers. They were not called disciples and may not have been (officially) considered as such, that term being applicable only to males (so their distinction from "the Twelve").
Luke 8:1 After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.
Women were present at Jesus' crucifixion—an event not for the faint of heart nor for those without commitment—and three of them were ready to perform the final duty of disciples, preparing their rabbi's body for its final interment.
While crowds attend Jesus' public discourses, he accepts only a few (twelve) to receive his private instruction. To be the disciple of a learned teacher is a great honor, and the sages encourage the finding of such a rabbi. Paul's teacher...
Avot 1: 16a Rabban Gamaliel [mid 1st c.] says, "Get [lit, make] a master for yourself."
The talmid has the privilege of studying from one well-acquainted with scripture, one whose mastery can help him understand God's word. If the talmid remains under a rabbi's tutelage, his name will be linked with that rabbi so that what the talmid says later will have the added weight of his rabbi's reputation: "Rabbi so-and-so received from Rabbi such-and-such...." is a phrase that appears countless times in rabbinic literature, one that marks a person's academic pedigree.
The relationship between rabbi and talmid is more like that between parent and child than between (present-day) teacher and student (Daube 1972-73:3; see n. 8 Timothy and Titus, disciples of Paul).
- Whereas a student may spend a semester or two with a particular teacher, a talmid spends years with a particular rabbi.
- Whereas a student has contact with a teacher primarily in a classroom, a talmid sees his rabbi in a variety of settings.
The rabbi-talmid relationship may even take precedence over the parent-child relationship. This is so for the student and for the teacher.
Matt 10:37a Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me;
Matt 12:47 Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you." 48 He replied to him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" 49 Pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."
Both teacher and student may face difficult decisions that test family ties.
The rabbi has responsibilities toward his talmid. He nurtures and trains the student by formal interaction and by personal example.
- Formal instruction's
Luke 11:1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples."
- Personal example
Matt 10:24 A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25a It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master.
He also looks out for the student's interests, defending him against unjust accusations and, when appropriate, referring him to another rabbi for further training.
- Defending him
Matt 12:2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, "Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath." 3 He answered, "Haven't you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?
- Referring him
John 1:35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!" 37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?" They said, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?" 39a-b "Come," he replied, "and you will see." So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him.
In ways such as these, a rabbi demonstrates concern for his talmidim.
The talmid, in turn, has responsibilities toward his rabbi. He must heed the teacher's instruction."
- Understanding
Matt 16:11 How is it you don't understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees." 12 Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
- Obediences
John 8:31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.
- Productivity
John 15:8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
The rabbis instruct their talmidim in God's expectations for His people, which they call the "yoke" of Torah. The requirements rabbis lay upon their talmidim in the application of God's law vary. That is, not every rabbi's instruction about the "yoke" of the law is the same. Describing certain "teachers of the law," Jesus said...
Matt.23:4 They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
Jesus makes a point of stating that his requirements are considerably less than what some other rabbis expect, inviting potential disciples who feel themselves overburdened to become his disciples.-
Immediately after this statement, two cases arise to illustrate Jesus' point that some rabbis have a stricter view of the law's requirements than others, a stricter view than the law requires, especially as it pertains to "Sabbath Observance."Matt 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
- The first case concerns the legality of harvesting on the Sabbath: Was the disciples' action permitted or prohibited?
Matt 12:1 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. 2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, "Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath."
- The second case concerns the legality of healing on the Sabbath: Was the rabbi's action permitted or prohibited?
Matt 12:9 Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, 10 and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, they asked him, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?" 11 He said to them, "If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath." 13 Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.
While Jesus disagrees with the extreme positions these Pharisees take, in neither case does he contradict what the law (whether oral or written) actually states.
In addition to heeding instruction, the talmid has other responsibilities toward his rabbi. He must strive to meet the teacher's needs.
- Personal
Matt 3:11b But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry.
- Food
John 4:8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) ...31 Meanwhile his disciples urged him, "Rabbi, eat something."
- Company
Matt 9:19 Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples.
- Transportation
Matt 21:2 saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me.
- Crowd control25
Luke 9:14 (About five thousand men were there.) But he said to his disciples, "Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each." 15 The disciples did so, and everybody sat down.
- Security
Luke 22:38 The disciples said, "See, Lord, here are two swords." "That is enough," he replied.
- Communication
Matt 11:2 When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples
- Accounting
John 12:4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages." 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
- Scheduling
John 12:20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus." 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
- Family
John 19:26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," 27 and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
- Burial
Matt 14:12a [= Mark 6:29] John's disciples came and took his body and buried it.
In addition to meeting his teacher's needs, the talmid has other responsibilities. He must strive to meet the teacher's expectations, some of which may seem extreme.
- Honor
John 13:13 "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am.
- Loyalty
Matt 10:32 Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven....
- Sacrifice
Luke 14:26 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. 27 And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.... 33 any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.
At some point, later in his training, a talmid 'graduates' and assumes the greater responsibilities of seniority. He must propagate the teacher's ministry.
- Preaching
Mark 3:14 He appointed twelve—designating them apostles—that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach
- Discipling
Matt 28:19 ...make disciples of all nations, baptizing them... 20a and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
After Jesus' ascension, the number of his disciples, as well as their geographical distribution, increased significantly.
How does "The Rabbi-Talmid Relationship" exist today? What does it mean to be a talmid, and how much of this description still applies?
In addition to the ways rabbi and talmid relate to each other, Jesus tells his followers how they should relate among themselves, instruction that may be unique to Jesus' disciples.
John 13:35 ...you are my disciples, if you love one another.
The extent to which you are meeting the expectations for discipleship determines success in your rabbi-talmid relationship with Jesus.
For the Bibliography and Endnotes see the pdf here.
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Jim Skaggs