A Biblical View of Education

John 7:14, 15 NIV "Not until halfway through the Feast did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach. The Jews were amazed and asked, 'How did this man get such learning without having studied?'” or “How does he know so much without being schooled?" (MSG)

Most of us spent our formative years in school, and it seems that this is the way it’s always been: Kids of a certain age must attend school in order to be educated. Even in Jesus’ time, people thought one had to be schooled in order to be wise, to read and understand books, to be able to reason and discuss such things as theology, and especially in order to be able to teach others.

Several hundred years before Christ, when the Greeks ruled the world, Socrates, Plato and other philosophers had come up with the idea that humans, generally speaking, were devoid of wisdom and must therefore be “trained”, in the sense that one trains and domesticates an animal, in order to be provided with culture and shielded from sophistry. The philosophers gathered their disciples, or students, around them and taught that these were especially chosen ones; that when they had completed their course of studies, they would be qualified to go out and share this precious knowledge with others.

But the Hebrews did not think this way. In the beginning the Jewish people believed that each of them individually was responsible before God and that, like Abraham and Moses and the fathers, they must each one learn for himself, relying on lessons from nature and the constant study of the Torah and other inspired writings, in order to find out the will of God. They loved to gather at the city gates and have profound discussions, where each one was expected to contribute what he had learned through individual study. This attitude toward learning is expressed in Proverbs 2:3-12; 3:13-17:

"If you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. …Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you. Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men… Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace."

What child would say this describes how he feels in the classroom? Proverbs isn’t talking about finding the right school or the right teacher; it says we must find wisdom herself.

Two kinds of education
So we see that there are two ways to learn. One is to plant yourself at the feet of some great teacher or professor and wait for him to impart to you his knowledge and finally his approbation. And when you have prepared your thesis—a synopsis of what other worthies have said about your subject—then you will be qualified to be a teacher in your own right. But your own thoughts and experience are to be considered of little value until that point.

The second way is the way we all learn as little children: we observe and consider. "Then I beheld, and considered well; I saw, and received instruction" (Proverbs 24:32 ASV), or as the NIV has it, "I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw." The dictionary says to consider means: “to think about carefully, weigh”. This is the way great thinkers and innovators gain knowledge. The process of learning has been defined as “the extraction from confusion of meaningful patterns” (Leslie A. Hart). In school one can find very little actual information, only what the teacher can provide amid all the other activities. But outside of school one finds a vast amount of information and a great variety of knowledge from which to draw patterns—just what the brain needs so we can observe and consider.

The Bible does not leave us in the dark about what is the best education. In Zachariah 9:13 the prophet quotes God who promised: "I will bend Judah as I bend my bow and fill it with Ephraim. I will rouse your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece, and make you like a warrior’s sword." Could it be that the sons of Zion had a better form of education? They observe and consider, while the sons of Greece are taught by others. Now, of course, most of the “sons of Zion” are enrolled in schools, all of which follow the Greek philosophy and methods. "The path of the just is like the first gleam of dawn, shinning ever brighter until the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble." (Proverbs 4:18,19)

Personal experience
When my first child was three months old, I started thinking about his education. I wanted to be sure he received the very best. One day I came across the following paragraphs from the book “Education”:

"The educators of the time sought to command respect by display and ostentation. To all this the life of Jesus presented a marked contrast. His life demonstrated the worthlessness of those things that men regarded as life's great essentials. Born amidst surroundings the rudest, sharing a peasant's home, a peasant's fare, a craftsman's occupation, living a life of obscurity, identifying Himself with the world's unknown toilers,--amidst these conditions and surroundings,-- Jesus followed the divine plan of education. The schools of His time, with their magnifying of things small and their belittling of things great, He did not seek. His education was gained directly from the Heaven-appointed sources; from useful work, from the study of the Scriptures and of nature, and from the experiences of life-- God's lesson books, full of instruction to all who bring to them the willing hand, the seeing eye, and the understanding heart." (page 77)

"As a little child He was daily at His mother's knee taught from the scrolls of the prophets. In His youth the early morning and the evening twilight often found Him alone on the mountainside or among the trees of the forest, spending a quiet hour in prayer and the study of God's word. During His ministry His intimate acquaintance with the Scriptures testifies to His diligence in their study. And since He gained knowledge as we may gain it, His wonderful power, both mental and spiritual, is a testimony to the value of the Bible as a means of education." (page185)

I decided that if homeschooling was what God provided for his own Son, it would surely be the best I could do for my child. I read many biographies of great men and women in history and found that many of them also were educated at home or were self-educated. I began to study the Scriptures to learn how to do this. That is, what methods did the Bible advocate, which I could adapt for use in educating my child. Here is what I found:

§ You can learn by asking God and he will give generously if you ask him for wisdom: "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given him." James 1:5 (He doesn’t even grade us—"without finding fault"!)

§ Studying the Scriptures gives us insight and understanding: "I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts. …I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." (Psalm 119:99-105)

§ Nature serves as a textbook: "But ask the animals, and they will teach you, and the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you." (Job 12:7,8)

What is the purpose of education?
The word “educate” is from a Latin verb educare, according to some dictionaries, and means: “To form or instruct someone.” But that definition gives the impression that children come to us as lumps of clay, which someone must mold and form into something useful. Other dictionaries draw attention to an older Latin word: educere, which means “to draw out,” and the example is given of assisting at the birth. Then the definition given for “educate” is “to direct or guide”.

When a midwife assists at a birth, she doesn’t give form to the baby; she only directs or assists it to emerge from its mother. In the same way, we parents must regard our role as educators, keeping in mind that our children come to us already formed in some measure, and that our job is to guide them and help them to emerge from the security of the home to take their place in society.

Proverbs 22:6 The promise is: "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." From this, many parents have assumed that it is their duty to decide what that way is to be. Later they are distressed when their child does depart from the way the parents chose for it. But if we studied our children, and made a serious effort to learn what is their way ─what are their aptitudes and interests, in order to help them follow in the direction of the God-given purpose to which they were born─ then the promise would be fulfilled that they will not depart from it.

How are children to be educated
Solomon, the wisest man, said: "When I was a boy in my father’s house, still tender, and an only child of my mother, he taught me…(Proverbs 4:3, 4) Then he wrote to his own son: Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching… My son, do not forget my teaching…." (Proverbs 1:8; 3:1)

Through the ages, children have always been educated at home. There were trade schools such as the schools of the prophets, but these were designed for older youths who wanted to learn a profession. But educational institutions for little children were practically unknown until the sixteenth century. At that time, Martin Luther, the great protestant reformer, persuaded some of the German princes to establish schools where children might learn to read the newly translated Scriptures. However, near the end of his life, Luther repented of these institutions, seeing that they had become corrupted. He counseled people not to send their children to school, finally recognizing that they had become dangerous to the spirituality of the youth.

How do schools teach?
See if this list sounds like anything you experienced in school:
1. In the first place, it is assumed that no one knows anything unless it was taught in class. So the teacher stands before his or her pupils and exercises authority over them.
2. You have to be quiet, and at the same time you must pay attention—two mutually exclusive conditions in children. Scientific evidence shows that lack of sufficient wiggling in childhood may even cause osteoporosis later in life. Anyone who has taught a class of adolescents knows that as soon as they sit down and shut up, they become zombies.
3. Paying attention in class is more important than any other activity; one must learn to ignore bodily functions and needs, and this leads to low self-esteem and detachment.
4. Everyone must progress at the same speed; those who learn fast or too slowly become misfits and are marked for life; anyone who stands out cannot be a team player.
5. It is very important that everyone study the same things, at the same time, to the same degree—even though they may have different aptitudes, interests, and abilities.
6. What you observe is not important, only what is written in a book has value. Personal experience doesn’t count if it differs from what is being taught.
7. Those who ask questions are stupid, and an embarrassment to the teacher.

What educational methods did Jesus use?
"After calling his disciples, one by one, Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people." (Matthew 4:23) So here we see Jesus and his Disciples College strolling through the land, sometimes offering lectures in the synagogues, or preaching from a boat. But note that he did not usually dictate classes to the disciples. They accompanied him, observed everything, asked questions and had many intimate conversations with him.

Jesus not only preached. He also healed every disease and sickness among the people. Before beginning to teach, he looked after their bodily needs, their health (see Matt. 5:19), and sometimes he even gave them food when they were hungry. And I ask, How can a child learn if he is hungry, thirsty, cold, or is ill, uncomfortable, or discouraged? And note that he didn’t spend so much time in the synagogues and the temple. More often he went out in the fields, out of doors where children love to be. Yet the people followed him. This Teacher was not like others, who would stand in the synagogues and give long, pompous discourses that were hard to understand. Let us draw a little closer and observe his methods.

Matthew 5:1 and forward. "Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down." That is, Jesus got down on a level with the people. Another version says he sat among them. We could say he conversed with them, which is not the same as preaching to them. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Please note that the beatitudes were not given as a new set of rules to learn and follow. Jesus was blessing, or we could say, praising the people.

Praise goes farther than criticism
In all that crowd there were doubtless quite a few folks who were poor in spirit. The Greek term (according to Strong’s) means mendicant soul or cringing beggar, the kind of person despised by most. But Jesus was calling them blessed, saying theirs was the kingdom of heaven and they should feel happy.

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." Oh, how often parents try to hush their children when they cry! But Jesus said they are blessed for they will be comforted.

"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." Of course there were many meek people in that crowd, for the Greek word means gentle, humble; today we would use the word timid. He promised them a wonderful inheritance.

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." Israel, in the time of Christ was plagued with political movements. Undoubtedly everyone looked for justice and to be liberated from the Roman oppression. However, Jesus is referring here to those who hunger and thirst for being righteous; that is to say, people who long to be vindicated, who desire with all their hearts to be justified. How often have our children tried to exonerate themselves, and have tried to convince us that our displeasure with them was unjustified! How important it is that we work to fulfill their need to be justified! Then they will surely feel blessed.

And Jesus continued with his beatitudes, approving and honoring his listeners group by group, while each person strained to hear if he or she might find themselves among the rewarded and the blessed.

Jesus made a place for each one
The students in Jesus’ university had a variety of aptitudes, and it should be noted that he did not treat them all alike. It seems that Matthew and Judas were the mathematicians of the group; at least they could manage the money. Peter always seemed to have a ready answer, loved a Q & A format, so Jesus furnished him with many opportunities to shine. Our children are like that, they want to show off their stuff and gain our approval. We should make sure they get to.

John was the curious one, he was one to ask the question that was on everyone’s mind, which maybe they were afraid to ask. Jesus patiently answered each question and invited this, the youngest of the twelve, as well as the others to use their reasoning powers and make an effort to understand things for themselves. For example, Matthew 18:12 "What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go look for the one that wandered off?" Jesus not only respected individual differences among his students, but he looked for opportunities to challenge the individuality of each one.

His authority was based on logic
Matthew 7:28, 29 "When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law." What does this mean? In what way was the authority of Jesus so outstanding that the crowds were amazed? The accustomed way, as used by the teachers of the law, consisted in calling up the fathers of the nation, quoting their forebears, and referring to Moses and tradition (precedent). "Then Jesus told them: You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell." Matthew 5:21, 22 NASB

Here and in other similar passages Jesus seems to make fun of the authorities whom the Jews hold in such high regard. It is as if he is saying: You threaten murderers with the court of Rome, but I tell you that everyone who gets angry with his brother should be taken to court for then he wouldn’t go on to commit murder; and he that insults his brother should be tried by your own community; however he who damns his brother will be condemned in God’s judgment. Jesus, in his lessons, appealed to the logic of what he was proposing. For example: "Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. …Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them." Matthew 7:18, 20. The people could recognize that his words made sense and they saw the contrast with the empty and illogical words of the masters and teachers of the law. That is why they said Jesus taught with authority, as someone who knew what he was talking about without needing to lean on the authority of others.

He waited for and provoked questions
When God wanted the Israelites to remember an important event, he told them to erect a monument—a pile of rocks. Joshua 4:6, 7 "In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them…" the story, in this case of how the ark and the people crossed over Jordan on dry land. Jesus also used this system to create curiosity.

One day he went out with his disciples very early, probably before breakfast. And when they had covered a good part of the road to Jerusalem, he saw in the distance a fig tree. Hungrily, he hurried over to it and looked among its leaves, but found not a single fig. "May you never bear fruit again!" He said to the tree. The next morning they again went passed the fig tree and found that it had dried up clear down to its roots. "When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. ‘How did the fig tree wither so quickly?’ they asked." (Matthew 21:18-20; Mark 11:20) Now they were prepared to listen to the lesson. They had asked, their minds were focused, and Jesus explained the meaning of what he had done. We’re talking about creating opportunities for questions, for they tell us that the mind is ready to absorb that information.

But there were also times when Jesus had to take into account the condition of his students. When he wanted to tell them about the sacrifice he was about to make, they were all worrying about the kingdom they imagined he was going to set up, and they were debating who would be the highest ranking officials. There was no use disappointing them just yet, so he simply said: "I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear." (John 16:12) When Peter refused to have his feet washed, "Jesus replied, ‘You don’t understand now why I am doing it; someday you will.’" ( John 13:7 NLT) We could say that a few good lessons well learned, are more valuable than many studies promptly forgotten.

Lessons taken from life
Jesus took advantage of every opportunity to engrave on the minds of his students the lessons that would help them in their daily lives. And the opportunities were many, as they are yet today. Here are a few that he used:

A grain of mustard: Faith
Leavening (or yeast): The kingdom of heaven; also hypocrisy
The fishing net: The final judgment
Lilies: God’s care for us
Salt: The influence of the gospel
Oil: The gift of the Spirit
Wine: The saving blood of Jesus; doctrine

By means of stories (The Good Samaritan, The Ten Virgins), and through scenes of everyday life that presented themselves to him, Jesus delighted his listeners and at the same time was able to help them learn important lessons that would free them from the intellectual tyranny of their traditional teachers. As he walked along the roads of Capernaum or visited in the homes of his friends, in the streets of Jerusalem and even in the darkness of night, Jesus continued to impart knowledge about the good news of the gospel and the principles of his kingdom to all who drew near to listen to him. In all these lessons he invited them to observe and consider.

How did Jesus relate to children?
Perhaps one of the hardest lessons for us to accept was the way Jesus related to children. Parents, and of course teachers, try to get children to do things: learn their multiplication tables, make their beds, behave themselves. But Jesus said: ‘Let the children alone, don’t prevent them…’. (Matthew 19:14 MSG) Little children are always interested in whatever their parents are doing, so they also wanted to see Jesus. But when the mothers and children drew near, the disciples scolded them. "When Jesus saw this, he became angry and said, ‘Let the children come to me! Don’t try stop them.’ …Then Jesus took the children in his arms and blessed them." (Mark 10:14, 16 CEV)

The disciples had judged wrongly. They thought that the children were a bother. After all, Jesus was preaching; how could they think to interrupt him like that? In scolding them, the disciples no doubt thought to teach them a lesson about the importance of adults, relative to children. But Jesus assured the people that only children, and those who became like them, could enter into, or receive, the kingdom of God.

And, how do children learn?
If we don’t forbid them, what will they do? They learn to walk and talk…without anyone doing much about it. They learn to whistle or ride a bike, spending hours and hours practicing. They learn to read and write at some point because they see their parents do it. Of course they won’t do it when we expect them to, but let us remember that we must learn to be like them and not require them to become like us. If when washing the dishes, they play submarine with the forks or baptize the saucers, if they insist on counting the raisins before eating them, if they only read the Sunday comics instead of serious literature, or spend weeks on end mastering tricks on their bike or new chords on the guitar, if they write dozens of pages in their diary but reject doing their homework, …well if children are simply being children—let us learn from them, because otherwise we will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

The great geniuses among men have been precisely those who, in their manner of being, most resembled children. For example Albert Einstein and Ludwig van Beethoven had a childish sense of order. They did not worry about their appearance, but they knew how to make the most out of life. Einstein skipped school, even paying a friend to answer roll call for him, in order to stay home and build with his blocks—yet became one of the world’s greatest scientists, although he never mastered the multiplication tables. Beethoven had no patience for other mortals, preferring to walk bareheaded in a thunderstorm along country lanes—but his infinite patience for developing a musical theme is legendary and his symphonies and quartets remain unequaled. Abraham Lincoln, an awful speller, had a childlike ability to defuse difficult encounters by simply telling an amusing story.

If we all learned as children do, we would specialize in that which is our gift and would refuse to waste time on that for which we have no aptitude. The Lord himself, while still a youth of twelve, refused to follow his parents until he had completed his task of greatest interest at the moment, that of debating in the temple with the teachers of the law. It was precisely one of the important activities that would occupy him later in life. We cannot do better by our children than to encourage them to follow the example of the Master.

In conclusion
We see that there are two types of education. One makes us dependent on the teaching of men and exalts human knowledge, but grades and devalues the individual and limits his responsibility. The other depends on our own effort to learn by observing, and by our thoughtful considering of God’s textbooks. It is within everyone’s reach; indeed, it is the natural learning of children.

Luke 10:21 "At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, ‘I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and have revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure."

by Kathleen McCurdy Burotto
Copyright © 2005