Yeshua Explored
August 2021
Study
Is study more important than prayer?
Here’s a statement made by many a Christian theologian; “Thirty minutes on your knees in prayer is time better spent than three hours of study in a book.” It seems wise, but is it true? To a Jew at the time of Jesus, this would have been an odd statement to make because, for him, studying Torah was the chief duty and greatest privilege of every Jew. Consider this:
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)
Also, when asked what was the greatest of all the commandments, his answer was one that any pious Jew would give, the Shema, (Deuteronomy 6:4):
He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’” (Luke 10:27)
