01/29/2014 TEACH
Deuteronomy 6:4-7 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our GOD is one LORD: And thou shall love the LORD thy GOD with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. [ King James translation]
Scripture Discussed
Many people believe that the secular education of their children is the responsibility of the nation's school system. If they are Christians, many also believe that the religious education of their children can be assigned to their church or a church Sunday school. However, the book of Deuteronomy makes it clear that the education of children must also occur in the home. Children must be taught at home.
Deuteronomy 6:4 is called the Shema, a word which translated means "Hear," the word that begins the verse. It is as if the speaker is emphatically telling its audience to "LISTEN UP!" because what is about to follow is really important. And what follows is what some consider the "heart" of Judaism-- the basic principles of the Jewish religious faith.
First GOD is ONE. Harkening back to this same principle, Ephesians 4:5 states: "One LORD, one faith, one baptism, One GOD and FATHER of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." Deuteronomy then commands that we should love GOD with all our heart, all our soul and all our might. Second, the scripture state that we shall teach the children diligently. Diligence is characterized by steady, earnest, painstaking, energetic effort. The teaching shall occur through conversation. Teaching shall occur by observation, as when children observe a parent interact with others and teaching shall occur through the parent's worship of GOD---in other words by the children observing a parent's prayer life. Before a parent lies down, a child should be able to observe parents in prayer. When a parent rises in the morning, a child should be able to observe a parent in prayer. By observing parents, a child should learn that GOD is the beginning and the end—of each day, all plans, each meal and every decision. A parent's dependence on GOD and demonstration of love must be not only verbally but visually taught. This kind of education does not occur in the classroom or just on Sunday but has to occur every day.
The goal is that by teaching a child what GOD means in the parent's life, the child will follow suit. This kind of teaching is rudimentary to the survival of the faith! "The apple cannot fall far from the tree unless the tree itself grows and blooms." A child's Christian education begins at home.