Dust and Water
Follow Me
The people where Jesus grew up had a very deep understanding of Scripture, and most lived according to God’s teachings. The Mishnah describes the educational process for a young Jewish boy in Jesus’ time.
“At five years old [one is fit] for the Scripture, at ten years the Mishnah (oral Torah, interpretations) at thirteen for the fulfilling of the commandments, at fifteen the Talmud (making Rabbinic interpretations), at eighteen the bride-chamber, at twenty pursuing a vocation, at thirty for authority (able to teach others)” - That the World May Know. (n.d.). Rabbi and Talmidim1
In the New Testament, a Rabbi would call a new disciple by saying, “Follow me.2” It meant from that time forward their life would change drastically as they would be dead to their old life and alive to their new life3. This is why Jesus used the phrase, “Come, follow me4,” when he called the apostles, and His apostles understood what He was doing. We all see that the timing for the start of Christ’s ministry, at 30 years old, was another testimony that Jesus was truly a rabbi5.
Dry as Dust
We
know that Israel, like much of the Middle East, has very arid places. These places that receive little water are hot, dry, and dusty. So, a common admonition to the disciples of rabbis, during Jesus’ earthly ministry, was, “Cover yourself in the dust of his feet and drink in his words thirstily.” This meant to follow your teacher so closely that the dust from his feet covers you, and to drink in his words as you would water in a dry and dusty land6.
“And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.” - Matthew 10:42
In reading Matthew 10:42, the Jews would have understood “these little ones” as referring to scholars of a rabbi, and the rabbi was Jesus. So, in the context in which Jesus is speaking, He is telling the listeners that His “little ones” would appreciate a cup of cold water, meaning any help someone would give them, since disciples follow in the dust of the feet of their rabbi. A disciple’s focus is not on providing for themselves, but on learning from their master.
Elevated Believers
Later, we gain a deeper understanding in Matthew, when Jesus states:
“And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ “ - Matthew 25:40
From Matthew 25:40, we learn that Christ sees acts of kindness done to even the weakest believer and rewards them as if they had done the kindness to Jesus Himself. For believers, our love and compassion must not be limited to fellow believers, yet it must first be shown to those of the household of faith.
“So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” - Galatians 6:10
God does not dismiss acts of love, no matter how seemingly insignificant, especially towards His children. God loves all, but elevates His children.
Two Thoughts
There are two thoughts I hope we all take away from this lesson. The first is that we who have received Jesus should follow Him so closely that we taste the dust from His feet. The second is that Jesus knows our sacrifices and has made provision for us, so much so that He established a binding law. That law is whoever gives even the smallest help to one of His “little ones” is counted as a person who directly did it for Jesus. I thank God for that.
Photo credit: Chris Yarzab on Visualhunt.com / CC BY
Footnotes
“The Mishnah contains rabbinic interpretations of Scripture written down during the second century AD. Jewish scholars believe it contains the oral traditions present during the 1st century BC to 1st century AD and therefore would reflect what was true during Jesus’ lifetime.: - That the World May Know. (n.d.). Rabbi and Talmidim. Retrieved February 21, 2026, from https://www.thattheworldmayknow.com/rabbi-and-talmidim
“In the Dust of the Rabbi”: Living as a Disciple of Jesus. (2020, October 8). FOCUS Equip. Retrieved February 21, 2026, from https://focusequip.org/in-the-dust-of-the-rabbi-living-as-a-disciple-of-jesus/
Sidney Daily News. (2016, October 19). May you be covered with the dust of your Rabbi. Sidney Daily News. https://www.sidneydailynews.com/2016/10/19/may-you-be-covered-with-the-dust-of-your-rabbi/
Matthew 4:19 - The First Disciples. (n.d.). Bible Hub. Retrieved February 21, 2026, from https://biblehub.com/matthew/4-19.htm
Mark 9:5 - The Transfiguration. (n.d.). Bible Hub. Retrieved February 21, 2026, from https://biblehub.com/mark/9-5.htm
“In the Dust of the Rabbi”: Living as a Disciple of Jesus. (2020, October 8). FOCUS Equip. https://focusequip.org/in-the-dust-of-the-rabbi-living-as-a-disciple-of-jesus/