Please understand that it is not my intention to condemn or criticize my brothers and sisters (In YESHUA) who feel compelled to wear “tzit tzit”, or as they are more commonly called “tassels” today. The Commandment is clearly written so there can’t be anything wrong with believers wearing them simply because HE says so, can there?  I would say “no” unless HIS intentions pertaining to what is written in Torah have actually been personified and fulfilled in a more glorious fashion! Let’s take a look and see…

Numbers 15:37-40 says, “Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 38“Speak to the children of Israel: Tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue thread in the tassels of the corners. 39And you shall have the tassel, that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of the LORD and do them, and that you may not follow the harlotry to which your own heart and your own eyes are inclined, 40and that you may remember and do all My commandments, and be holy for your God. 41I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the LORD your God.”

Deuteronomy 22:12 says, “You shall make tassels on the four corners of the clothing with which you cover yourself.”

From these two portions of Scripture we must deduce:

  1. The children of Israel are to make tassels to help them remember all the Commandments of the Lord.
  2. The children of Israel are to “make tassels of/on the (four) corners of the clothing” that they wear.
  3. The tassels are to have “blue” thread in them.

Contemporary Messianics have debated issues surrounding the tassels for quite some time. This debate has resulted in several variations of the above verses. A few of these variations include (but are not limited to);

  1. Wearing varying lengths of tassels…
  2. Wearing “the wrong length” of tassels as stated by those who supposedly wear the right length… :>)
  3. Wearing varying colors of blue in their tassels…
  4. Wearing “the wrong shade of blue”, as stated by those who supposedly wear the “right shade of blue… :>)
  5. Wearing tassels tucked inside clothing…
  6. Wearing varying numbers of tassels. Anywhere from one to four…
  7. Wearing “key-ring” type clip on tassels…

The list goes on… Meanwhile instead of focusing on what IS written, there is division and debate without basis in The Scriptures… (Much like what takes place in traditional Judaism and traditional Christianity!) :>0

It seems that one of the hardest concepts for us to accept today is the concept of “fulfillment.”

For example, is there any question that MESSIAH YESHUA fulfilled to completion the rite of blood sacrifice as established in The Torah? Therefore wouldn’t the continuance of blood/animal sacrifice, (which typified and prophesied of THE Atoning Sacrifice of The LAMB of GOD), be an abomination? (Read Hebrews 10 – especially verse 10) “By that(GOD’S) will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (And verse 26) “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, (That YESHUA IS THE Atoning Sacrifice) there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.”

Also, the book of Hebrews establishes clearly that the Levitical Priesthood has been replaced by the Priesthood of YESHUA “according to the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 6:20 through chapter 10) So, wouldn’t it be accurate to say that a reinstated Levitical priesthood would suggest that MESSIAH’S Priesthood falls short of accomplishing YHWH’S will? (See article “It’s the Priesthood, stupid!”)

Also doesn’t Paul establish that believers in MESSIAH YESHUA ARE the Temple (The Dwelling Place) of YHWH? (1 Cor. 3:16-17 & 6:19 and 2 Cor. 6:16) Isn’t that confirmed by Peter in 1 Peter 2:5?

So, if the Commandments of YHWH, as stated in Torah concerning blood sacrifice, the Levitical Priesthood and the Dwelling Place of YAH have been fulfilled in MESSIAH YESHUA and HIS followers, is it such a stretch to consider that the wearing of tassels (for believers) in Numbers 15 could be fulfilled as well?

Again, what was the wearing of tassels supposed to accomplish? They were to “help them remember all of the Commandments of the LORD.”

And what did YESHUA say was the primary ministry of HIS SPIRIT? Lets read it together. John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”

Notice once again the specific wording and the similarities in Numbers 15:37 and John 14:26.

Is it such a stretch for us to consider that the HOLY SPIRIT could also fulfill a Commandment because HE is more glorious and capable than tassels in bringing ALL of HIS Commandments to our remembrance?

It isn’t a stretch if it was always the intention of YHWH to do so!

Ezekiel 36:27 “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.”

May HIS Blessings be upon us as we seek to personify HIS intentions!

This entry was posted on Sunday, August 1st, 2010 at 8:28 am and is filed under Application, Scriptures, Traditions. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.