This sage advice comes from a collection of rabbinic sayings called the Pirkei Avot–or “Ethics of the Fathers”: a part of the Mishnah, the written record of Judaism’s oral tradition which was passed down from generation to generation (beginning before Christ was born). In the quote above, Rabbi Yose ben Yoezer provides instruction on how to study Torah.

We know from scripture that Jesus’ followers opened their homes to him and invited others to hear him speak and to ask questions. Matthew, one of Jesus’ disciples, invited “tax collectors and sinners” to his home in Capernaum. (Matt 9:10, Mark 2:15, Luke 5:29).

At Simon the Leper’s home in Bethany, a woman anointed Jesus with oil. (Matt. 26:6, Mark 14:3).   Jesus even famously invited himself to Zacchaeus’s Jericho home, where he was welcomed gladly (Luke 19:5-6).

Mary, Martha, and Lazarus frequently welcomed Jesus to their home in Bethany. On one occasion, Mary sat close to Jesus–close enough to get dusty–so she wouldn’t miss a word of what he said (Luke 10:38-42).

Jesus’ timeless message to the Samaritan woman resonates with believers today: “…whoever drinks of the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14)

As followers of our rabbi, Jesus, we do well to follow Yose ben Yoezer’s timeless advice:

• Do you welcome Jesus into your home or leave him standing in the church parking lot?
• Do you attend so closely to his teachings, asking questions and seeking his counsel, that you are “covered with the dust of his feet?”
• Do you pray and study with a thirst that only he can satisfy?

Get out of your rut and get into the Word. Get ready.

It’s time to get dusty.