Mereas Beit Midrash

The following is the introductory session of our women's small group Bible fellowship.  It might be helpful as you begin to study the Hebraic roots of our faith in the context of a group of like-minded Sisters in the Mashiach!  Shalom aleichem!

The Meaning Behind ‘Merea’

Bid the older women similarly to be reverent and devout in their 

deportment as becomes those engaged in sacred service, not slanderers or 

slaves to drink. They are to give good counsel and be teachers of what is 

right and noble, So that they will wisely train the young women to be 

[a]sane and sober of mind (temperate, disciplined) and to love their hus- 

bands and their children, To be self-controlled, chaste, homemakers, good- 

natured (kindhearted), adapting and subordinating themselves to their 

husbands, that the word of God may not be exposed to reproach 

(blasphemed or discredited).                                                                             

~ Titus 2:3-5 (AMP)

Mishpachah and Mereas 

While many in Christian fellowships would say that mentoring is Biblical, there are very few who are actually doing what God has commanded.  As we return to our Hebrew roots, we will gain a better understanding of how ADONAI expects His mishpachah (family) to operate.  We as women have been given a glorious role in the Body of the Mashiach!

‘Merea’ means ‘trusted friend/companion’.  It comes from the root word ‘ra’ah’ which means to tend, nurture, and feed.   and ‘mishpachah’ (family).  

First, let us study the Greek word origin of mentorship.  The word MENTOR has its roots in Greek mythology.  The Oxford English Dictionary gives mentor as:  

"allusively, one who fulfills the office which the supposed Mentor fulfilled towards Telemachus. b. Hence, as common noun: An experienced and trusted advisor." Men is ‘one who thinks’, ‘tor’ is the masculine suffix, ‘trix’ the feminine. Therefore, mentor means a man who thinks, and Mentrix, a woman who thinks. The first recorded usage - and the first time that it was anthropomor- phised - was in Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey.  ".....Odysseus, a great royal warrior, has been away fighting the Trojan war, and has entrusted his son, Telemachus, to his friend and adviser, Mentor.  Mentor has been charged with advising and serving as guardian to the entire royal household." 

Mentoring is an ‘intentional’ process, as Mentor deliberately and carefully carried out his duties towards 

Telemachus; and mentoring is a ‘nurturing’ process as it was Mentor’s duty to ‘draw forth the full potential in Telemachus’.  It was Mentor’s task to help Telemachus ‘grow in wisdom without rebellion’, and mentoring is a ‘supportive, nurturing process’ - as Telemachus was to respond to the advice of Mentor with advising and serving as guardian to the entire royal household." 

However, the Hebrew revelation of friends and family within the Body of The Mashiach goes much deeper.  The Hebrew word ‘Merea’ describes who we are as Sisters in the family of the LORD (nurturers of one another) as well as what He has commanded us to do in the strength He supplies.  Merea means ‘trusted friend and companion; one who feeds, tends and nurtures another’.  

Additionally, a healthy ‘mishpachah’ cares for, tends and nurtures one another into ‘good and Godly choices’.  Without the love, prayers, guidance, wisdom, and admonition (Greek ‘nouthesia’ - to put into ones’ mind) of a Godly Merea encouraging us to ‘choose well’, we often lack the motivation to make right choices in life.  Receiving ‘mereaship’ into one’s life, then, is to experience wisdom without pain.  And no one can fulfill both the duties and delights of a ‘Merea’ without building healthy, vibrant and trustworthy relationships with other women for the sole purpose ‘that the Word of God would not be exposed to reproach.’ (Titus 2:5) 

What Does Scripture Teach? 

Scripture unveils that the Apostle Paul admonished Pastor Titus to teach the foundational Truths of Sound Doctrine to three groups.  Namely, 1.) Older Men 2.) Older Women and to encourage 3.) Young Men.  Notice that the Young Women are excluded!  These special young women are to be taught, trained, disciplined and corrected by the Older Women (teachers of good).  The Greek word is sophronizo meaning ‘teach to be of a sound, sober mind’.  Where there is teaching involved, there is also learning.  These ordained Teachers have been anointed and appointed by the God of order Himself, to teach the younger generation of women to be of a sound mind (mind of the Messiah) so that in doing so, they may learn to love their husbands and children, among other Godly behaviors.  

The 3 Circles of Mishpachah

Imagine three circles, one within the other.  The innermost circle is ‘Holy Fellowship’.  That is the springboard for ‘Growing Relationship’.  And growing relationship then progresses to our purpose, ‘Fruitful Discipleship’.  

Yeshua said, ‘By this My Father is glorified, in your bearing MUCH FRUIT...’(John 15:8).  Our purpose is to glorify God by bearing MUCH FRUIT.  That does not happen outside of ADONAI’s Mishpacha.  It takes ‘Growing Relationship’ which begins with ‘Holy Fellowship’.

Can you see and hear the Maschiah’s ‘High Priestly Prayer’ and how The Father is and will continue to answer His Son’s request to ‘make us one as We (They) are one?’ (John 17)

3 Glorious Reasons Why Studying our Hebraic Roots causes THE WORD OF GOD TO COME ALIVE in YOU!

1.)  From Genesis to Revelation, The Holy Scriptures (Breathed out by God - 2 Timothy 3:16) were written by Hebrew people!  Scripture declares that it was to the Jews that the oracles of God were given.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 - 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God (Greek  ‘theopneustos’  meaning: ‘Theo’ - God and ‘pneo’ - to breathe out hard), and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Romans 3:1-2 - 1 What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? 2 Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God. 

2.)  In order to more fully understand Scripture, we must begin to DILIGENTLY STUDY (DRASH!) the Word not like a 21st century Gentile (Hebrew ‘Goyim’), but as a 1st Century Jew! 

And, in order to understand these 1st century Jewish customs/culture, which are the ROOTS holding up our ‘Goyim’ branches, we must dig down past the surface to grasp what the Holy Spirit Inspired writers of Scriptures already knew.  It is then that we begin to comprehend who and Whose we really are!  

* The Hebrew word for Holy Spirit is ‘Ruach HaKodesh’.  ‘Ruach’ means ‘Spirit or Breath’.  ‘HaKodesh’ means ‘holy’ which literally means ‘set-apart’.  Thus, Ruach HaKodesh translates to ‘The Set-Apart Breath’ of God!!

3.)  Finally, This God-Breathed Word proclaims that HE is a Rewarder of those who DILIGENTLY seek HIM!  And that Word is found in HEBREWS 11:6!

Hebrews 11:6 - But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out].

Without a proper understanding of the Hebraic roots which holds up, feeds, and sustains the branches, DIVISIONS of every kind and rampant MISINTERPRETATIONS of Scripture within the Catholic/Protestant ‘Church’ have been the product.

There can be no proper understanding of these Hebrew Scriptures without digging down to our Hebrew roots...and that kind of diligence, my Friends, God REWARDS!  Are you ready to INHALE what ADONAI ELOHIM (The LORD God) is exhaling?

Discussion Questions:

1.) How has ADONAI used a Merea in your life recently?

2.) How would you describe your relationship with your Heavenly Father?  Are you growing in the grace and knowledge of the LORD? 2 Peter 3:17-18

17 But you, dear friends, since you know this in advance, guard yourselves; so that you will not be led away by the errors of the wicked and fall from your own secure position. 18 And keep growing in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Deliverer, Yeshua the Messiah. To him be the glory, both now and forever! Amen.

3.) Read 2 Timothy 3:1-7 Without the 3 Circles of the Mispachah that are built upon the Word of ADONAI, God’s people are prone to ‘always learning, but never able to come to the full knowledge of the Truth’.  What do you want most from this Beit Midrash?