Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus: How the Jewish Words of Jesus Can Change Your Life

by Lois Tverberg

What difference does it make that Jesus was Jewish? In Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus , Lois Tverberg challenges readers to follow their Rabbi more closely by re-examining his words in the light of their Jewish context. Doing so will provide a richer, deeper understanding of his ministry, compelling us to live differently, to become more Christ-like. We'll begin to understand why his first Jewish disciples abandoned everything to follow him, to live out his commands.

What wisdom can we glean from Jesus' Eastern, biblical attitude toward life? How can knowing him within this context shed light on his teachings for us today? In Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus we'll journey back in time to consider how hearing Rabbi Jesus with the ears of a first-century disciple can bring new meaning to our faith.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Religion, Faith, Christianity, Christian Living, Theology

240 pages, Hardcover

First published December 7, 2010

About the author

Lois Tverberg has been speaking and writing about the Jewish background of Christianity for the past twenty years. Her passion is to translate the Bible’s ancient setting into fresh insights that deepen and strengthen Christian faith.

Lois grew up with plenty of Sunday school knowledge, but it wasn’t until after she had earned a PhD in biology and was teaching as a college professor that her fascination for biblical study was ignited by a seminar at her church. She has since studied several times in Israel, taking courses in biblical Hebrew, Koine Greek, and in the physical and cultural context of the Bible.

In 2009 Lois partnered with Ann Spangler to write the bestselling Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus (Zondervan). Together they explored his first-century world of rabbis and disciples, festivals, prayers and the Torah, and discovered how restoring Jesus to his Jewish reality sheds light on his life and ministry.

Later Lois followed up with Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus (Zondervan, 2012), where she challenged her audience to follow their Rabbi more closely by hearing his teachings in light of Jewish thought.

She released her latest book in 2018: Reading the Bible with Rabbi Jesus (Baker). By showing how the Bible communicated ideas within a Middle Eastern, Jewish cultural context, it equips its audience to read the Scriptures more like first-century disciples and give them tools to explore it more deeply.

Lois brings to her writing a surprising set of tools from her training as a scientist. She received her BA in physics at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and her PhD in Molecular Physiology from the University of Iowa. She has published several scientific papers and holds a patent from her PhD research. For several years she taught biology at Hope College in Holland, Michigan.

In 2001 she cofounded the En-Gedi Resource Center (EnGediResourceCenter.com), an educational ministry with a goal of deepening Christian understanding of the Bible in its context. There she published her first book, Listening to the Language of the Bible (En-Gedi Resource Center, 2004), a devotional guide to Hebrew words and ideas.

Lois currently writes from her home in Holland, Michigan. Along with writing, she speaks at churches, conferences, and retreats. Her current news and articles are available on her website, Our Rabbi Jesus: His Jewish Life and Teaching, at http://OurRabbiJesus.com.

Reviews

[Ed · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a lot of fascinating information in this book; it made me want to learn more about Jewish culture and the Old Testament. It is too easy to put Jesus into a 21 Century context and lose out what is being said. However, it is difficult to avoid this without a good understanding of the culture in which he lived. This is a book with so much information that it could bear multiple readings. Tverberg does a great job of emphasizing the richness of the Jewish religious texts and I feel guilty of my superficial attempts at learning from the Old Testament. I previously have found it difficult to understand and often repellent but never took the time to look further. It is a mix of laziness and arrogance that it should be so easy to glean the wealth of scriptures through such a casual reading, one that is probably a result of the culture in which I live. Tverberg's book provides a valuable first step in correcting this.

[Robin Hatcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing. It opened my eyes to a new understanding of so many passages in the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments. It changed many of my perceptions. I promptly purchased the book that came before it, Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus, as well as the book that was published after it, Reading the Bible with Rabbi Jesus. Highly recommended, especially to serious students of the Bible.

[Marty Solomon · Rating 4 out of 5]

With Tverberg's incredible insight and down-to-earth way of communicating complex subjects, she has nailed another great book on the contextual world of Jesus.

One of the things that I just love about Tverberg's writing is that she is able to bring what I call the 'Jewish Hermeneutic' into a our world and explain it in a way that is so easy to understand, even if you're not used to all of the "lingo" that is often assumed within such conversations. I can confidently recommend this book to any student or parishioner that "wants to start reading about that kind of stuff" and know that they will be given a great introductory work without being overwhelmed.

Tverberg seemed to strike at my heart with every chapter as she dissected yet another Hebrew word or phrase or rabbinic technique and I realized how practical the lesson was for my life.

The book was so close to five stars. I was not a fan of chapter 12 (seemed inconsistent with the rest of her theology throughout) and thought the book lost some steam toward the end, but overall this was a fantastic read that I enjoyed very much.

[Harold Cameron · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Examining the words of Rabbi Jesus in the light of their Jewish context will provide a richer, deeper understanding of Jesus' ministry, compelling us to live differently, to become more Christ-like." (From the Zondervan Publishing Company Website).

About the Author: Lois Tverberg, PhD, has been writing and teaching about the Jewish background of Christianity for the past fifteen years. With Ann Spangler she coauthored the bestseller, Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus. She is also the author of Listening to the Language of the Bible. Co-founder of the En-Gedi Resource Center, an educational ministry with a goal of deepening Christian understanding of the Bible in its cultural context, she now writes full time from her home in Holland, Michigan. For more, see her website: Our Rabbi Jesus: His Jewish Life and Teaching at ourrabbijesus.com

My Thoughts About the Book" Reading the book Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus is like taking a literal journey back to the time of Christ and walking with him as he walked. The esteemed scholar Lois Tverberg takes a close look at the Jewish context of some of the most significant words that Jesus spoke during his earthly ministry. To fully understand the Words of Christ you must understand the time in which he entered the world, (His Jewish World) and what life was like back then. Context is what is most important to properly understanding and then applying the words of Rabbi Jesus to our lives personally today.

There are three sections to the book: "Hearing our Rabbi's Words with New Ears," "Living out the Words of Rabbi Jesus," and Studying the Word of Rabbi Jesus." And it is in the three sections of her book that author Tverberg reveals to us just who the real Jesus was and is and what His words really meant and still mean for us today.

Our journey with the author and Jesus in his dust is no boring one to be sure, but rather, it is one that is highly informative, incredibly edifying and faith building, and fully impacting to our faith and life as the reader. So, if you really want to understand some of the most significant words of our Lord and what they mean you will want to take a walk..."A walk in the dust of and with Rabbi Jesus." And I can assure you it will be a walk you will truly find delight in as I did if you are a lover and disciple of Christ.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the book at no cost from the Zondervan Publishing Company for review purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

[Christine Bierma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazed...this book has transformed the way I read the Bible. Tverberg skillfully weaves her understanding of Jewish culture and context in with illustrations that anyone who grew up in the western hemisphere will understand. She teaches and stretches the reader in each page of this book but also allows the reader to draw their own conclusions. This is a book that will challenge and inspire both a new and veteran reader of the scriptures. Tverberg's Rabbi Jesus series is one to keep on your bookshelf and refer to often.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some time last year I had a “Well, duh” moment. Truthfully I have lots of those moments, but this one was a doozy. I won’t go into what triggered it and will just say that because of that epiphany I made a resolution to learn more about the Jewish roots of Jesus. Reading this book is the result of that “well duh” moment, and I’m very much richer for it.

Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus attempts to enrich and deepen our understanding of Jesus in three ways.

1. How understanding Jewish idioms and expressions can help us better grasp what Jesus was saying
The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! Matthew 6:22-23
2. How viewing Jesus within the context of Middle Eastern culture can enliven his parables in surprising new ways
3. How the Jewish world of Jesus can teach us many wise insights, like how to pray with chutzpah or think with both hands

I particularly enjoyed the explanations of Jewish idioms and see how understanding these intricacies makes the meaning of passages more clear. For example, the idiom using ‘eye’ as in a good eye and a bad eye and how they relate to our relationship with God in Matthew 6:22-23
- Hebrew language uses “eye” in several idioms to describe a person’s attitude toward others.
- Jesus compares a “good eye” (akin tovah - to look out for the needs of others, be generous) with a “bad eye” (akin ra’ah- to be greedy/self-centered, blind to other’s needs.
- Jesus uses “bad eye” in parable about the farmer who hires works for the day and pays them all the same at the end of the day. “…is your eye bad because I am generous?” Matthew 20:15
- Proverbs: 28:22 and in 22:9
- A Hebrew idiom used today when someone knocks on the door asking for a donation would be: ten b’ayin yaffa (give with a beautiful eye). I love this idiom by the way! What a wonderful way to express charity.
- ‘to see’ idiom is a reflection of our attitude and responses to others (a mental activity tied to a physical outcome)
- Abraham’s mountain was named “The Lord Will Provide” when he provided a ram in place of Isaac but the phrase is literally “The Lord Will See” . In other words, God sees our need and responds, He has a ‘good eye.’

- First century teachers like Yohanan Ben Zakkai asked his students “What is the very best path to take in life?” One student: Having an ayin tovah (a good eye); another answered: Being a good friend. A third said: Being a good neighbor. And a fourth: Being wise about the future. The last said: Having a good heart. The teacher told them the last was the wisest answer because it included all the ones that came before. “If you have a good heart, you will have all the other things, including a ‘good eye.’

In reading the Matthew passage again with this meaning in mind this knowledge helps us to focus on the meaningJesus’s words: If you are generous, your whole life will show it. And if you are selfish, it will infect your soul. The verse immediately preceding 22-23 speaks of “storing your treasures in heaven” and is yet another idiom relating to giving to the poor and exhorting us that we cannot be slave to both God and money. So the entire passage is speaking to sharing our resources with others.

In short, your “eye” is more about your attitude toward money than anything else and brings cohesion between the “eye” lines and “body full of light” line. Now it makes more sense. Here, Jesus is exhorting his followers to cultivate a generosity toward others and warns us to not let ‘money’ be our ruler. More importantly, generosity towards others isn’t merely a habit we should nourish (sort of like a New Years resolution good for maybe a month and then discarded) but to know this trait, this charity toward others, is crucial to our character.

Another idiom nearby this Matthew passage in 6:1 speaks of ‘acts of righteousness’ and not doing them to impress others. At first glance it may appear these “acts” are meant in a general fashion, when in fact he is speaking of a very specific “righteousness” because of the Hebrew meaning of this idiom. “Righteousness” tzedakah pronounced zeh-dah-KAH means “charity” and Jesus’s next words - “But when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets (6:2) - gives a big clue as to exactly what he means. Tzedakah is an idiom which has referred to giving to the poor for two thousand years. He is telling us that charity is not something over and above, it is in fact what God expects us to do, the right thing to do. Jesus expects this of us as well because he did not say ‘if’ you give, he said ‘when.’ (67-70)

The eye idiom is therefore very significant and our “eye” reveals our relationship with money and therefore reveals our relationship with God. If you cling to what you have, maybe even fostering resentment toward those who may have more, and refuse to help those with less, then you most likely see God as stingy, and believe He is either unwilling or unable to care for you, to meet your needs, to ‘provide’/see for you. Additionally, it also shows how connected you are to others around you. Now knowing all of these, you can see why Jesus said you are full of darkness if you’re have cut yourself off from God and from others.

I truly enjoyed the section on praying with chutzpah. The author explains how Jesus likes boldness using the parable of the Persistent Widow. You remember the one? The widow who kept going to the judge (who neither feared God nor cared what people thought) pleading for justice against her adversary. The judge kept denying her plea and cared nothing about the needs of a widow. Unlike God who exhorts his people to always care for the aliens/strangers, the orphans, and the widows. In Psalm 68:5, God is described as “father to the fatherless, a defender of widows.” The word used for ‘defender’ is ‘shophet’ pronounced sho-FET and means ‘judge.’ A shophet brings justice in defending the helpless and vindicating the wrong. The judge in the parable is so far removed from God the ‘judge’ in Psalms it is laughable. In fact, the author says, Jesus probably couldn’t hold back a smirk or three as he related this parable in thinking of his Father the bringer of justice. She calls us to think about it this way: if this miserable excuse of a judge finally gives in and helps an old lady who keeps pestering him just to get rid of her incessant complaining, just think of how much more God our Father will help us. Jesus was telling us to be persistent like the widow, boldly keep coming to God in prayer.

Interestingly, the author points out Jesus’s use of a classic rabbinic method of reasoning here called kal va’homer pronounced kahl vah-ho-MAIR which literally means ‘light and heavy.’ This method is when he says ‘how much more…” or makes a contrast between a small thing and a greater thing in a parable. His point in the parable is brought into sharp focus as the irony in the comparison shines through.

Another example of this method is in the parable of the lazy neighbor who refuses to extend hospitality to a neighbor (Luke 11:5-8). Also here: “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will you give him a snake? If you, then though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:9-11). The irony again shines on the truth in this comparison: even a wicked man has love enough in heart to answer the pleas of his children, and the best father in the world pales in comparison to our Father in heaven. How, then, can we not be bold, be confident in the knowledge that He will answer us, respond with love, when we come to him in prayer? Because we know God is good, we know He is not at all like the lazy friend or the corrupt judge. By using irony and humor in these parables, Jesus has illustrated the true nature of God.

The author reminds us to be bold, be persistent in our prayers. Remember Abraham? Yes, that Abraham who actually haggles with God about Sodom and Gomorrah. His boldness here shows how much he trusts God, that though He may appear to be a stern father, He is really softie at heart and will listen to his child begging for a treat. It is even possible, says the author, that God began the conversation with Abraham in order to have a teachable moment with him, knowing that Abraham would argue about saving 50, 40, or even 10 good souls if it were possible. She intimates that God and Abraham are like a dad and his son having a tussling match. In this Abraham learns about wrestling with God and can then teach his children how to wrestle with God. She points out: “After all, the name Israel means ‘wrestles with God.’ I have to admit Jacob/Israel wrestling with God is one of my favorite passages, and one I have read over and over. It is surely one of the richest in meaning and always inspires in me more questions than answers after each reading. I love the image of God our Father as a dad tussling with his child and the way it fosters an intimacy and connection and loving familiarity in our relationship with God.

All in all I enjoyed this book very much and am excited to begin her other books: Reading the Bible with Rabbi Jesus and Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus.

[David Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating element in this book, is that it brings forth the multiple meanings in Hebrew words. The author is adept at bringing these various meanings forth that enrich texts from the Hebrew Scriptures, but also from the New Testament. The Glossary also is very valuable. (I am quite sure I will come back to it often.) Lois also chooses excellent stories, often at the beginning of a chapter, very engaging.
If someone were to ask me to choose my favorite chapter, I would not hesitate, Chapter 8. The headings within the chapter: “Judging” in Jewish Thought, Judging Favorably in Jewish Culture, Other Ways of Judging Negatively, and finally, Just Like Yourself, challenged me in so many ways. This chapter will occupy my discernment time in the future; they are packed.
Two aspects of my life affected my reading of this book. The first is my genealogy results which confirmed that I am more than 47 % Ashkenazi Jewish. The second is that I studied for an M.A. in Scripture at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and took a course in Jewish Mysticism.
I have been dedicated to continuing education. My most significant experience was a Study Trip to Israel, Turkey and Greece. A third event I would have to add is the publishing of my book, JESUS GARDENS ME.
I am a person who always looks at Bibliography. So I was interested to see if there was any overlap with authors I am familiar with and who Lois cites. In my book, Jesus Gardens me, I quote from Kenneth E. Bailey. I have some familiarity with David Flusser and Abraham Heschel, but that was the only overlap. I was delighted to learn of the many other authors she cites.
There was one statement that Lois made, found in footnote #13 in Chapter 8, that troubled me: “One of the major differences between Judaism and Christianity is, in fact, its assessment of humanity. Judaism believes that people can live fairly righteous lives, but Christians see humans as universally separated from God by sin. In my mind, the origin of this split comes from Jesus himself, who preached that God was extending a new ‘covenant for the forgiveness of sin’ through his atoning death." (Matthew 26:28.)
In parallel passages to Mt. 26:28, in Mark 14:24 and Luke 22:20 there is no mention of the phrase “for the forgiveness of sin”. This is a Matthean addition. The same phrase occurs in Mark 1:4 and Luke 3:3 as part of the preaching of John the Baptist. Matthew avoids it there. In the scholars I follow, for example Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan (The Last Week) state that the statement “Jesus is the substitutionary sacrifice” (Atonement) is horrific theology. For them (and for me) the message of the cross and Resurrection is that we are to imitate (participate in) the entire life of Jesus. From other Theologians I have come to embrace that Augustine and “Original Sin”, followed by Anselm, have given this "horrible" emphasis to Christianity. I subscribe to the work of Matthew Fox who teaches “Original Blessing.” Interestingly enough this coordinates with Judaism.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Lois Tverberg offers insights into Jesus' words by examining in the social context of the first century Middle East. In this particular book she looks at how Jesus' audience would understand the words He spoke to them. Our pastor frequently provides insights of this nature, and finding an author who offers similar insights presents a bonus. I want to read some of her other books as well as some of the books she cited in the text or notes.

[Rachelle Cobb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging and compelling! I learned a lot!

[BJ Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the Goodreads page for this book, two of the four recommendations are Jesus through Middle Eastern Eyes, and Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes. These suggestions are spot on. Like both of those books, Walking in the Dust attempts to pull away our modern cultural blinders when reading scripture to better understand how Jesus' early audience would have understood him. When we do this, we are better able to see the core principles and how they apply to our lives today. We are also less likely to misread or misunderstand Him because of our modern cultural biases. Of the three books, Jesus through Middle Eastern Eyes is still my favorite, but that might just be because it was the one I read first and thus had the greatest impact on the trajectory of my life and how I understood scripture.

Some quotables from this book:

"We realized that sometimes what we call frugality is actually stinginess. Being frugal is when we deny ourselves something in order to save money. But when we deny others what is due them, by underpaying workers or giving miserly tips, or even bargaining excessively, then we are selfishly saving at others’ expense."

"The fact that a good God does not destroy evil is not because he’s impotent; it’s because he’s merciful."

[Shirley Brosius · Rating 5 out of 5]

As in her previous book, Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus, author Lois Tverberg believes that understanding the culture of the ancient world is critical to interpreting and applying the Bible to our own lives. For instance, while we may puzzle over phrases such as “the kingdom of God has arrived,” Jewish people would have understood that to proclaim the kingdom was in fact announcing the expected Messiah had arrived.

The title of the book refers to the fact that disciples of a rabbi were encouraged to walk so closely by him as they traveled the dusty roads of Israel that they literally walked in his dust. And they not only walked with him, they lived with him as “apprentices,” observing and absorbing the fabric of his faith and life.

Did you know that Jesus’ reply to the lawyer who inquired about the greatest commandment began with the first line of the “Shema,” passages of scripture that were repeated twice daily to remind the Jewish people of their commitment to God? The entire Shema is included in the book’s back matter. And Jesus’ subsequent statement to love your neighbor comes straight from Leviticus.
I found it fascinating to learn that Jews saw biblical commands as “teaching” rather than “law,” and were eager to study and learn. Each chapter ends with questions to apply the teaching to your own life. And the book concludes with extensive notes, a glossary, recommended resources, a scripture index and a general index.

This book will be an important addition to your library because it equips you to read the Bible with fresh eyes, open to truths you previously overlooked. Tverberg writes in an easy, understandable style. She has been writing and teaching about the Jewish background of Christianity for 15 years and cofounded the En-Gedi Resource Center, which seeks to deepen Christian understanding of the Bible in its cultural context. Her website is ourrabbijesus.com.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus by author Lois Tverberg is the sequel to Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus and it is a book that every serious student of the Bible needs to have on their shelf.

There is so much valuable information in this book that opened my eyes to many strange things that Jesus talked about, that it is hard to pin-point just one selection. Tverberg, has done an incredible job of getting into the Jewish mind and interpreting Scripture as Jesus would. Her knowledge of Jewish history, geography, language and their culture helps the reader to understand clearly many of the things Jesus said.

The author has taken the time to give us the Hebrew meaning of many words from both the Old and New Testaments. More importantly, she shows us the culture - the mindset of the Jewish people Jesus was preaching to. The author states: "As Christians, we long to think the thoughts of Christ. But the stories he knew, the songs he sang, and the prophecies that shaped his earthly mission lie in the Old Testament, which we've hardly cracked open. Over the centuries, Jews have saturated their lives with these Scriptures. In their minds, study is essential to loving God and living life as He intends."

It is so important for us not to disregard the Old Testament, for in it we will find the heart of God and His plan for us as it unfolded through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. If you buy a book this year for your collection, make it this one!

[Sherri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting read of Jewish language. It puts customs and language into a different view point for me. This was not an easy, quick read but great history and language lesson.

[Angela Blount · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great addition to the Rabbi Jesus installments--working well both as a stand-alone work or building onto what was covered in Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus.

For anyone seeking to know better and understand Jesus, his Jewish roots are a logical place to look. And Tverberg is just the kind of engaging, humble teacher to help explain the cultural and religious context of both Jesus day--and of the Rabbinical title he held.

A portion of this book (perhaps my favorite) is spent on relevant Jewish sayings and idioms.
For example: Biblical Hebrew turns up a number of uses for the word "eye"--describing our attitudes toward others, our relationship with God, and/or our sense of generosity vs. greed.
*akin tovah="good eye"
*akin ra’ah="bad eye"
For me, this added some revelatory meaning to passages like Matthew 6:22-23 "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!"
While I think I've always known intuitively that there was symbolism going on, the explanation the author gives really helped the whole thing click into place.

Another invaluable aspect of this book is its examination of Jesus' rabbinical teaching style. For some reason, I always assumed Jesus was some wild anomaly, as rabbis go (perhaps based on Him being, you know, the living fulfillment of prophecy.) But that isn't reason enough to think His methods would be wholly unique. It actually makes sense for Him to have utilized tools His audience would have found familiar--i.e. parables, and the sometimes humorous comparisons and contrasts contained within many of them.

The divide between Western and Middle Eastern thought is wider than many suppose. It's books like this that help fill in that self-centric gap we Westerners have inadvertently perpetuated.

[Aaron Case · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful, enriching book. This book came to me as one suggested by a friend in a reading group. If truth be told I was not excited about reading it. I have read other books like it I thought. Books that will no doubt enlighten my understanding of scripture, but will most likely be dry and academic. Sometimes I enjoy dry and academic, but I was just not in the mood for that... however I prejudged this book so poorly. It was indeed full on enlightening insight into the world in which Jesus walked, but so full of life as well! Tverberg's storytelling is enticing. This book includes humor, sadness, joy, and soul. From this book I have deepened my understanding of God the Father's emotional depth, and the smirking nature of Jesus as a teacher. Perhaps more than anything I have learned the practice of praying with chutzpa. I am now praying bold, audacious prayers full of chutzpa to my loving heavenly Father who wants only good for his children. I will read everything this author writes from here on out. Highly recommended.

[Bethany Farrar · Rating 2 out of 5]

The heart of the author is really beautiful & I love where she wanted to go. I’m not sure where we ended up, but it wasn’t covered in the dust of rabbi Jesus nor was it life-changing……. as the front cover says.

My main issues with the book are:
1) This book was nothing like Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus. The titles were similar, but the parallels end there. As a sequel, it missed the mark.
2) Somewhere about half-way through the book the author seemed to run out of Jesus’ Jewish words, and she shifted to other ideas.
3) If the book had been edited down to half of what it was, I think it could have worked. Each chapter had so many, many words & the power of the point became very watered down.

After Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus, I remember coming away with a higher, more beautiful, more awe-inspired view of Jesus that impacted how I read Scripture & interacted with the text. The sequel fell short in that regard…… and that is the most important thing a Christian author can give her audience….. Jesus.

[Erin Laramore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another outstanding book by Lois Tverberg, bringing to life the culture and context in which Jesus taught. Though my preference in books is always for fiction, non-fiction books like these refresh my soul and bring to light the Scriptures in a whole new perspective. I love learning about the Hebrew language and what the words REALLY mean since our English translations are not always fully accurate. Digging into the cultural elements, hearing what other rabbis of the day were teaching brings Christ's words and actions into a whole new light. If you're looking for a book that will enrich the Scriptures for you and bring a great deal of depth and meat to your reading, I can't recommend this one enough!

[Ariel Lovewell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ate this up. This is an excellent resource for any Christian that gives some invaluable glimmers of insight into the importance of the Jewish roots of the One who we put our faith in. Tverberg inserted so many golden nuggets about the clarifying cultural and religious background of Jesus's words, all of which were immediately applicable. She writes in a perfectly non-judgmental, open-hearted, and explaining-with-plain-English way as it should be for people like me who did not grow up with a thorough knowledge of Jewish terminology, customs, etc., but value the truths and want to discover more. Tverberg laid some really fantastic foundations with what was shared here and also whet my appetite to learn more. I loved the clever, captivating quotes from rabbis and others throughout to supplement her thoughts, and found many gamechanger ideas in here that will continue to turn my thoughts for times to come. Read this, friends!

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series that examines Jesus' teachings within the Jewish context that he lived in. It was fantastic. There is so much to learn when you don't read the Bible as a 21st century American with no contextual background on what happened two millennia ago. From examining the Shema to various parables, the author does a great job relating everything to the context it was taken from in the Tanakh. I plan on getting the third book in the series as well.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful points + framework! Particularly appreciated the explanation of how Hebrew verbs work; how at times, their extensive meanings can be lost in English translation of the Bible.

For a non-fiction book though, this sometimes heads into exaggeration territory / metaphors that shouldn’t be taken literally or as wholly representative of the concepts described. But overall, a helpful book if able to read critically at these points.

[Rebecca Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another book I am catching up on with a rating. I read this book a couple of years ago, as well as one of Lois's other books she coauthored with Ann Spangler: Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus. Loved this one, too! It gives me a greater understanding of the Jewish context of Jesus' words and helps to preserve the true meaning as we make application to our lives.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. It is a look at Jewish thought and teachings at the time of Jesus. When we know how Jesus thought we can understand his teaching so much better. Quite a few convicting chapters. Recommend to all believers.

[Jon Anderson]

Insightful book on reading the Scriptures from a Hebraic perspective. Section where the author considers some difficult teachings of Jesus that make way more sense when understanding the Jewish background or context was especially good.

[Jill Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy learning the Jewish background of scripture. Insightful! I will read the next in the series.

[Jake Owen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cannot recommend this book enough. It gives a fantastic overview of reading Jesus in his Jewish context in a very accessible way. This is the first book I would give to someone wanting to learn more about the first century Jewish world Jesus inhabited. Read this book.

[Kayla Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book! Fascinating details to help one put the words of scripture into their original context. It's amazing to see the difference this context has on the meaning of various scriptures!

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciate the content, it was very interesting but I felt it was just random information without a common purpose.

[Candy Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

What depth this information brings! I cannot say enough. It’s interestingly written and brings the scripture to life.

[Janet Ferguson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed learning more about the culture and times of Jesus and before. I believe it adds richness to studying the Scripture.

[Grace Scheel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wait, Jesus was a Jew ?!? Such a useful and beautiful book. It was equally insightful and approachable - I only wish it was long.