How Jesus Knew the Scriptures
By Matt Townsend
Have you ever wondered, how did Jesus study the Scriptures? What did His formation in the scriptures actually look like?
Thankfully, we’re not left guessing. Drawing from sources like the Mishnah, the historian Josephus, and modern scholars such as N.T. Wright, we have a remarkably clear picture of how Jewish boys were trained in the Scriptures during Jesus’ day. And when we see how Jesus was likely formed by the Word, it becomes a powerful mirror for how we should pursue it ourselves.
I had hoped to unpack some of this on Sunday, but preaching requires the painful discipline of deciding not only what to say — but which insights to let go.
So indulge me for a moment. Let’s nerd out together and step into the world that shaped the mind of Jesus.
Ages 5–10: Immersed in the Word
In Jewish culture, young boys were steeped in Scripture from their earliest years. Their primary task was memorization — especially the Pentateuch, Genesis through Deuteronomy.
Think about that for a moment: by their early teenage years, many could recite the first five books of the Bible from memory. Wow!
One tradition captures the spirit of this training: parents would have their children trace the letters of scripture with honey. The lesson was unforgettable — God’s Word is sweet.
Just as the psalmist declared:
“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth.” — Psalm 119:103
Before Scripture shaped their theology, it captured their affection.
Ages 10–14: Learning to Think Biblically
The most promising students moved into a deeper stage of study. Here they learned the Prophets and the history of Israel. But this phase was about more than information — it was about interpretation.
They wrestled with the text. They asked questions. They debated. They connected themes and dots.
And interestingly, this is exactly where we find Jesus at age twelve — sitting among the teachers in the temple, listening, asking questions, astonishing the greatest minds of His day (Luke 2).
Is it any wonder, then, that when Satan confronted him in the wilderness, Scripture flowed from Jesus with clarity and precision? Under immense pressure, he didn’t grasp for rebuttals — he stood on the deeply internalized Word (Luke 4).
Age 15 and Beyond: Walking with a Rabbi
Only the very best students advanced to this level. They would attach themselves to a rabbi and follow him everywhere — learning his teaching, and imitating his life.
There was a famous blessing spoken over these disciples: “May you be covered in the dust of your rabbi.” In other words — stay so close to him that the dust from his sandals settles on you.
Which makes the response to Jesus all the more striking. When He taught, the rabbis didn’t hear someone leaning on borrowed authority. They heard something entirely different: “He taught as one who had authority.”
Jesus didn’t just interpret the Word, He embodied it.
So What Does This Mean for Us?
If we’re honest, many of us are far too easily satisfied with a shallow familiarity with Scripture. We know the stories but we struggle to trace the storyline.
One preacher said it this way: “Our knowledge is a mile wide and an inch deep.”
Another observed: “We are content raking leaves when God invites us to mine for treasure.”
Church — if we are to be what Scripture calls “the pillar and guardian of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15), shouldn’t we seek not just to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, and strength but also our mind?
Here’s something that really stands out to me from Luke 4, especially in relation to our children: Jesus was not accidentally prepared for the wilderness, He had been formed long before He was tested. Will the same be true of us?
The depth of your Scripture intake today is an indicator of the strength of your faith tomorrow. So let’s not settle for spiritual fast food when a feast has been set before us. Let’s be people of the Word, just like Jesus.