Jesus' Bar Mitzvah
Enriched Understanding From Jewish Roots
by Karl D. Coke, Ph.D.

Contrary to conclusions reached by critics, studying the Jewish roots of Christianity does not lead one away from the essential biblical truths which support Jesus as the Messiah. In fact, just the opposite is true. For example, discovering Jesus in Genesis 22:1-19 makes the Gospel of John come alive. Why should any Christian want to discover Jesus from Genesis 22 and not the Gospel of John alone? Because Jesus said the Scriptures (Old Testament) testify about Him (John 5:39).

Studying about Jesus from both Genesis and John more fully enlightens the student. What, then, keeps believers from studying the Old Testament if it helps to reveal more about Jesus? Ecclesiastes 12:12 gives one answer. It says, "much study is a weariness of the flesh." In short, most believers don’t study because it is hard work. Years of worldwide experience has revealed to me that most people refuse to study the Bible any more deeply than (and for no other reason than) to get "saved." I have also discovered that once their lack of Bible knowledge is revealed, most will attempt to hide their ignorance by criticizing those who study their Jewish roots. The reason is that studying Christianity’s Jewish roots gives the student information unknown to most believers. Why, then, are so many fearful of studying to show themselves approved unto God, workmen rightly dividing God's Word? (2 Timothy 2:15).

Why Study Christianity’s Jewish Roots?

Learning about Christianity's Jewish roots from the Old Testament seems required by Romans 11:16-18. How? First it says, "since the root [biblical Judaism] is holy, so are the branches [Christianity] which have been ‘grafted’ in." Grafted into what? Second, both are said to "partake of the root and fatness of the same olive tree." Which olive tree? Last, "the root [biblical Judaism] supports the branch [Christianity]," not the reverse. What support, and how does it support?

Christianity was not birthed out of a vacuum. It came directly out of the root of the Jewish olive tree–the "root of Jesse" (Romans 15:12). Romans 15:12 is based upon Isaiah 11:10 which says, "And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand as an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious." The Hebrew word translated "ensign" is snE (neys) which means "to be lifted up, a banner." This passage indicates that the Messiah (the root of Jesse) will be sought by the Gentiles when He is "lifted up." This is what Jesus quotes in John 12:32, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." This word, "neys," is also the root verb to the compound name Jehovah-Nissi found in Exodus 17:15.

Why wouldn’t all believers obey the apparent mandate of Romans 11:16-18 and study their Jewish roots? It seems more than obvious that the revelation contained in the New Testament is made clearer with each discovery from its Old Testament roots. The problem is that to study the Jewish roots of Christianity requires, as a minimum, the learning of Hebrew. The study of Hebrew has been seen as difficult and only required of theologians. The result of not having all believers study Hebrew has been tragic. Unfortunately, it has led the Church to "over-study" Koine Greek. This wrong emphasis has led most of Christianity away from the study of her Jewish roots. This has been a choice with dire consequence. That consequence is blinding ignorance. For centuries, this ignorance has produced anti-Semitism, replacement theology, dualism, and a Church filled with platonic theology. Why not study Hebrew? Is it too late?

Dr. Douglas Wheeler said on page 166 of his work, The Influence of the Hebrew Language, History and Culture on the New Covenant, "It can be seen in this appendix that those Bible colleges and seminaries teach more Greek than Hebrew. Further, several do not even require the study of the Hebrew language." Among the American schools listed were Yale Divinity School, University of Notre Dame, Fuller Theological Seminary, Abilene Christian College, Harvard Divinity School, Dallas Theological Seminary, Princeton Theological Seminary, and Luther Theological Seminary. The point is that few require even one semester of Hebrew. Even when Bible colleges and seminaries do require a semester of Introduction to Hebrew, it is taught as though unnecessary and is never taught within the "must-learn" imperative. None require mastering Hebrew grammar for graduation. What is more to the point, all require Greek!

Greek Language, Greek Philosophy

Mastering Koine (ancient) Greek has not helped the Church. It has actually helped create the Church’s problem of refusing to study her Jewish roots. One must realize that studying Koine Greek is accompanied by the study of Greek philosophy. It is impossible to intently study one without assimilating the thoughts of the other. Therefore, the Church, unwittingly or deliberately, has replaced her Jewish roots with Greek philosophical conclusions. Because of this, the once pure Jewish Gospel has been mixed with Philo’s mysticism–making "experiencing" God more important than knowing God; Socrates’ full knowledge of ultimate truth–eliminating the need to know all of God’s Word; Plotinus’ philosophy–helping Christians experience "ecstasy" in order to become one with God–causing believers to move from one experience to the next without ever changing; Aristotle’s "immortal soul"–creating confusing variations in the doctrine of Christ’s return; and, Plato’s "actual things are copies of transcendent ideas"–leading to the "naming and claiming of things."

The person who "married" Greek philosophy to Christianity was Saint Augustine. According to the encyclopedia Encarta 95, "The process of reconciling the Greek emphasis on reason with the emphasis on religious emotion in the teachings of Christ and the apostles found eloquent expression in the writings of Saint Augustine. He developed a system of thought that, through subsequent amendments and elaborations, eventually became the authoritative doctrine of Christianity. Largely as the result of his influence, Christian thought was Platonic in spirit until the 13th century, when Aristotelian philosophy became dominant." To the very present, the Church continues to hold to her Greek philosophical marriage.

With the Church blinded by the grip of Greek philosophical thought for many centuries, she stopped studying her true root system, Hebraic Jewish roots. Recently, however, some believers have begun the study of Jewish roots. Incidentally, it has been their study which has been the source of revealing the Church’s past marriage to Greek philosophy. These revelations have put the spotlight on those in charge of today’s Hellenized Church making it appear that they endorse error. To hide from this embarrassment, some Church leaders have engaged in calling students of Jewish roots "names." This name calling is done to discredit Jewish roots students. Favorite among the names used are "cultist," "Judaizer," "legalist," and "heretic." These names are used against anyone who chooses to study rather than perpetuate bankrupt Greek philosophical platitudes couched in biblical terms.

Excuses for Not Studying Hebrew

Another problem suppressing the study of Christianity’s Jewish roots is that most ministers, desiring promotions over preaching the Gospel, simply parrot denominational cliches. They don’t want to be accused of "rocking the boat." They are unable to study the Bible Hebraically. Because of this, they don’t know the answers to these simple, basic questions: 1) What was Jesus fulfilling from His own words in Matthew 5:17?; 2) Why shouldn’t we know all that is to be fulfilled recorded in Acts 3:21?; 3) Why did Jesus tell some Jews that all of the "Scriptures" testified about Him in John 5:39 when the New Testament hadn’t yet been written?; 4) In Luke 24:44-45, why did Jesus open His disciples’ minds to understand the Law of Moses (Torah), the Prophets (Nevieem) and the Psalms (Ketoveem)?; and, 5) Why did Paul say in 2 Timothy 3:15-16, "All scripture (TaNaK) is given by inspiration of God," again, when the New Testament had not yet been written?

Questions must be asked, and asked now! Even if learning about Christianity's Jewish roots exposes biblical ignorance, it must begin. Remember, the ignorance exposed has been both in the pulpit and the pew. Neither has been doing much study. But ignorance must be removed by faithful and diligent study. As an encouragement to begin proper Bible study, I have found that discovering Jewish roots by members in the pew, liberates, excites, and answers long-asked questions. In the pulpit, this same discovery energizes sermons and makes Jesus come alive. Pulpits wanting to study this way need to reject, not avoid, criticism about "rocking boats." Remember, if the pulpit refuses to study, the pew will. In fact, the pew has left the pulpit far behind in this course of study. Believers all over the world have discovered Jesus alive and vibrant in the Old Testament. They are no longer satisfied with "party-line" sermons filled with quotes from Plato and Socrates. They want Jesus; the Jesus prophesied since Genesis 3:15. Again I say, the pulpit needs to become engaged in this study. There is no need for a war to "protect" and "control." Neither is there a need to call Jewish-roots scholars or church members "names" to discredit them. Nor is there a need to retreat from them in silence–hoping they will go away.

Acts 3:19-21 says, "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began." Let us all engage ourselves in the study of what all the prophets have spoken about our Lord, Jesus the Messiah, since the world began.

Lessons From Jesus’ Bar Mitzvah

The best passage in the New Testament to emphasize the need to discover Christ’s Jewish roots is Luke 2:41-52, the days following His bar mitzvah. Nothing in Greek culture, language, or philosophy can shed light on this purely Jewish passage. Only a look into our Jewish roots can reveal the truth contained in this passage.

In the Song of Moses (Exodus 15), it says in verse 2, "The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him." To "exalt" or "enshrine" God is carried out in the bar/bat mitzvah. The bar/bat mitzvah is the official recognition of the celebrant’s desire to begin a lifelong walk with God. It gives the celebrant an opportunity to "graduate" into a life-style of "walking with his/her God." Walking with God (halacha) is the ultimate goal of life. Walking with God is what Adam and Eve lost in Eden as the result of sin. It is what all men desire. The doorway into a walk with God is Jesus Christ. He said in John 14:6, "No one comes to the Father except through me." A bar/bat mitzvah is not just a "rite of passage" acknowledging reaching puberty. The bar/bat mitzvah offers the individual the opportunity to celebrate his/her decision to "walk with God" in a new and living way. This decision includes pledging one’s life to the study of God’s Word with the view of obeying all that God says.

According to the Encyclopaedia Judaica Vol. 4, pp. 243-245, bar/bat mitzvah is "a term denoting both the attainment of religious and legal maturity as well as the occasion at which status is formally assumed for boys at the age of 13 plus one day, for girls at 12 plus one day. . . . literature gives many references for 13 as the turning point in the life of a young person, e.g., Abraham rejected the idols of his father at this age (PdRE 26), and at 13 Jacob and Esau went their separate ways, the former to study the Torah, the latter to idol worship (Gen. R. 63:10). Until 13 a son receives the merit of his father and is also liable to suffer for his parent’s sin; after that each one bears his own sin (Yal. Ruth 600). . . .A tradition recorded in the Talmudic literature (Sof. 18:7, ed. M. Higger 1937) alludes to the fact that in Jerusalem during the period of the Second Temple, it was customary for the sages to bless a child who had succeeded in completing his first fast day at 12 or 13, . . .The calling up to the reading of the Torah is a symbol of a boy’s (girl’s) attaining maturity. This is the first public demonstration of his new role as a full member of the community. . . . When the boy’s (girl’s) father is called to the Torah, he recites the benediction, ‘Blessed is He who has now freed me from the responsibility of this one.’ . . . The major ritual innovation obligatory on a boy reaching bar mitzvah is that henceforth he is required to put on T'fillin for the morning prayer."

Only Luke records the events following the bar mitzvah of Jesus. This is recorded in Luke 2:41-52. It is important to know that a Jewish child in Bible times had three teachers. The mother was the child’s teacher until weaned. The father was the child’s second teacher until he/she reached puberty. The Torah, with all its Mitzvot, was the third and final teacher for each child. Therefore this celebration noted the change from the teachings of one’s earthly father to his/her Heavenly Father. "Bar" means "adopted son." "Mitzvah" is the word best understood as "law." Therefore, "bar mitzvah" means "adopted son of the law." The Apostle Paul followed this same process in "founding," "establishing," and "releasing" the young church at Thessalonica. In I Thessalonians 2:7, he was like a "mother." In 2:11 he was like a "father." In 2:13 the church was taught by the "Word" (Torah) itself.

Now, more "Jewish roots" to specifically help us understand Luke 2:41-45. Notice that verse 41 tells us that Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem "every year" for the Feast of the Passover. One must now know Deuteronomy 16:16 and Exodus 23:14-17 to know that Jews were required to be in Jerusalem three times each year–Unleavened Bread (Passover), Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), and, Tabernacles (Booths). One might also know Exodus 34:23-24 where the Lord promises to protect farms while people are in Jerusalem during God's Feasts.

Luke 2:42 makes a point of saying, "When he [Jesus] was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom." That is, now that Jesus had become a man, he was joining his parents on this annually required trek to Jerusalem. This explains the Hebrew text of verse 49 (below) and the reason his parents did not look for him until after they had started home for Nazareth.

Luke 2:46-47 fits perfectly with the activity of a young man following his bar mitzvah. We find Jesus actually carrying out the purpose of his bar mitzvah. Jesus did not see this simply as a "rite of passage" into manhood. His purpose was to "exalt" or "enshrine" God by having a bar mitzvah. Following his bar mitzvah it was Jesus’ intent to "walk with God" and have the Torah as his third and final teacher. He was, in fact, sitting with the teachers of the Law asking and answering questions! He had been for five days when his parents found him. He was "listening" to his teachers as they explained Torah. "Listening" is the Hebrew word (Shema) which means "to hear with the view of obeying."

The key verse in this passage is Luke 2:49. The King James version of the Bible says, ". . . wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" The New International version says, "Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?" Neither translation makes even the Greek text, oujk.h]deite o}ti ejn toi'" tou}.patrov".mou dei' ei'naiv me clear. The Greek text clearly says, "knew [past tense] ye not that in the [affairs] of my Father it behooves to me be?" The words "house" and "business" are not in this text. The word "knew" (past tense) is used, not "know." This indicates that Jesus and his parents had already agreed about what would follow his bar mitzvah. The Hebrew text of Luke 2:49 makes this crystal clear: (Hebrew fonts are not included in this website reproduction) making the following an exact translation, "Did you [plural, meaning both parents] not consensually know that I would become guided in my Father?"

Mary had taught Jesus until he was weaned. Joseph had taught Jesus until he reached manhood. Obviously, in Nazareth, before "they" three went to Jerusalem to honor Deuteronomy 16:16, Jesus had received "consensual" agreement from his parents that, following his bar mitzvah, he would begin having God (the Torah) as his teacher. The silence of Joseph at this scene supports the idea that he may have already offered a blessing over Jesus similar to, "Blessed is He who has now freed me from the responsibility of this one." Joseph’s silence reveals that he understood Jesus’ new "walk with God" on his own. The fact that it began in Jerusalem and not Nazareth may have been the only surprise.

The Hebrew text of Luke 2:52 reveals that Jesus "took possession of" and "was made strong in" both wisdom and stature. Further, it indicates that his growth was witnessed by both God and man as he faced them. You see, when God’s Torah becomes the direct teacher for any man, and that man "listens" and "obeys" God’s Word, both God and man will see the growth. Saints of God, take possession of and be made strong by God’s Word. Is this the reason why John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, said in 1 John 2:26-27, "I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit–just as it has taught you, remain in him."

Dr. Karl D. Coke is a Hebrew teacher whose understanding of the original languages, the history, and the culture of the peoples of Holy Scripture causes the Bible to come alive for his audiences and readers. He is president of Redirection, a ministry that establishes the home as the center for spiritual development among Christian communions. Karl, his wife Karen, and their daughter Kristin live in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he pastors Family Restoration Fellowship.

Dr. Coke offers many tape audio albums, teaching details of the Hebrew roots of Christian faith. Other audio albums, including "Tithing" and "The Twelve Tribes of Israel" and scores of individual audio cassettes are also available. Video cassettes, including "The Prayer Shawl," "The Feasts of the Lord," are also available. For a complete catalogue and prices, call or write: Dr. Karl D. Coke, PO Box 10285, Charlotte, NC 28212, USA. Telephone (704) 568-KCEA *Fax *(704) 532-9990

The Timothy Program International
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For more information Write to Dr. Karl Coke c/o The Timothy Program, PO Box 10285, Charlotte, NC 28212-5668 USA. Telephone (704) 568-5232 *Fax (704) 432-9990

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