Matthew 19:14
Yeshua said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them.
The Torah requires that we teach it to our children, and Grandchildren. Yes, after we are done raising our children, as Grand-parents we are also responsible to teach our Grandchildren. When we fail to do so, we break the system and eventually have a generation that does not know Torah, a world oblivious to God's ways. The ramifications of this are 'ginormous'. The idea is that the Torah contains within itself the message of godliness, ethics, godly living, warning, and prophecy for every generation. When we fail to pass it on, we break the chain and take a chance on those of future generations.
Jewish sages declare that teaching the Torah to one's son is the one thing for which a man is rewarded in this world and in the World to Come. Our sages also lament that Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed only because people failed to teach Torah to their children; (may we reverse that trend!)
In a world where the idea of faithful obedience to God's commandments is viewed as old fashioned and even according to some religious views: 'obsolete', I'd like to bring forth the fatherly advice of renowned Biblical sages such as Solomon who prefaced Torah teaching to his son with, My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. Say to wisdom, "You are my sister," and call insight your intimate friend, to keep you from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress (Revelations 17) with her smooth words (Proverbs 1-5).Solomon knew these things from his father David who taught him that, The Torah of Adonai is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of Adonai is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of Adonai are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of Adonai is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of Adonai is clean, enduring forever; the rules of Adonai are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward (Psalms 19:8-11).
As Moses addressed his spiritual children in the desert he even assured them of the wisdom of Torah with, See, I have taught you statutes and rules, as Adonai my God commanded me, that you should do them in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.' For what great nation is there that has a God so near to it as Adonai our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? And what great nation is there, that has statutes and rules so righteous as all this Torah that I set before you today (Deuteronomy 4:5-8)?
Our world falls deeper and deeper into moral darkness, abjectness, confusion, and instability as it distances itself from the Godly wisdom that would preserve it. As the two pillars of God's way and man's way grow apart, the roof suddenly falls on their temple of confusion (Judges 16:29-30). May we in our clinging to His commands be a light shining in the darkness, a witness to His greatness, order, beauty, and wisdom.
Yeshua said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them.
The Torah requires that we teach it to our children, and Grandchildren. Yes, after we are done raising our children, as Grand-parents we are also responsible to teach our Grandchildren. When we fail to do so, we break the system and eventually have a generation that does not know Torah, a world oblivious to God's ways. The ramifications of this are 'ginormous'. The idea is that the Torah contains within itself the message of godliness, ethics, godly living, warning, and prophecy for every generation. When we fail to pass it on, we break the chain and take a chance on those of future generations.
Jewish sages declare that teaching the Torah to one's son is the one thing for which a man is rewarded in this world and in the World to Come. Our sages also lament that Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed only because people failed to teach Torah to their children; (may we reverse that trend!)
In a world where the idea of faithful obedience to God's commandments is viewed as old fashioned and even according to some religious views: 'obsolete', I'd like to bring forth the fatherly advice of renowned Biblical sages such as Solomon who prefaced Torah teaching to his son with, My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. Say to wisdom, "You are my sister," and call insight your intimate friend, to keep you from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress (Revelations 17) with her smooth words (Proverbs 1-5).Solomon knew these things from his father David who taught him that, The Torah of Adonai is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of Adonai is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of Adonai are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of Adonai is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of Adonai is clean, enduring forever; the rules of Adonai are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward (Psalms 19:8-11).
As Moses addressed his spiritual children in the desert he even assured them of the wisdom of Torah with, See, I have taught you statutes and rules, as Adonai my God commanded me, that you should do them in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.' For what great nation is there that has a God so near to it as Adonai our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? And what great nation is there, that has statutes and rules so righteous as all this Torah that I set before you today (Deuteronomy 4:5-8)?
Our world falls deeper and deeper into moral darkness, abjectness, confusion, and instability as it distances itself from the Godly wisdom that would preserve it. As the two pillars of God's way and man's way grow apart, the roof suddenly falls on their temple of confusion (Judges 16:29-30). May we in our clinging to His commands be a light shining in the darkness, a witness to His greatness, order, beauty, and wisdom.
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