The Christian Letter, Volume One: Chapter 14, Part 1 of 6
At first I did not know what the hem of His garment, the tzitzit (pronounced: teat-zeat, or tzitziyot for plural), was, until I read, “And Yahoweh spoke to Mosheh, saying, ‘Speak to the children of Yisra’el, and you shall say to them to make tzitziyot on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue cord in the tzitzit of the corners. And it shall be to you for a tzitzit, and you shall see it, and shall remember all the commands of Yahoweh and shall do them, and not search after your own heart and your own eyes after which you went whoring, so that you remember, and shall do all My commands, and be set-apart unto your Elohim. I am Yahoweh your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Mitsrayim, to be your Elohim. I am Yahoweh your Elohim.’” (Numbers 15:37-41). A tzitzit is a fringe or tassel, and in this traditionally white tassel is a single blue thread that looks like two.
(Before you consider abandoning this simply because it says, “Speak to the children of Yisra’el,” I urge you to consider who else was around at the time. I fear for those who proclaim this as their means of trespass, for what of the letters to the Corinthians? Should I, one who desires to emulate the Messiah, claim, “Oh, that was only for people who lived in Jerusalem.” The tzitzit was given right after we see a man put to death for breaking the Sabbath. The tzitzit is a reminder of all the commandments for all people, as there is only One Torah given for both native and stranger. Please give His Word a chance.)
(Why a reminder: People in every culture have something they wear to remind them of something they should never forget. As odd as this is, it cannot be denied that we think this way. We wear a wedding ring, although I doubt we would ever forget we are married. We may have a necklace that was our grandmother’s, or perhaps a shirt from our old school; most of us have at least a few pieces of clothing or accessories that remind us of something special. The wedding ring is to remind us of our commitment to our spouse by being faithful and loving. The tzitzit is to remind us of our commitment to Yahoweh by keeping His commandments—by being faithful and loving. In essence, the tzitzit is a part of the garment you wrap around yourself, a part of a ring, and a commandment in itself.)
(Why the blue: The blue reminds some of Heaven’s floor as mentioned in Exodus 24:9-11, and others look to the supplementary threads, typically white, as a reminder of the wedding garments in Matthew 22:1-14, but the tzitzit with the blue thread is to reminded us to keep His Commandments. Since I began wearing the tzitzit, many people have asked me why I wear them, and I have thus been able to share the hope within. However, after finding this passage, it took me months of considering before I finally did wear the tzitziyot. If I could go back in time I would have worn them the moment I found this gem in His Word. It was foolish of me to wait so long before following Him.)
Can we find anyone in Scripture wearing a tzitzit? We can. One such occurrence is in 1 Samuel 24. David was afraid for his life, as he knew Saul was plotting against him. We see in this Scripture that David cut off the corner of Saul’s cloak. He did this to show Saul that he could have killed him, and thus deserved Saul’s trust. We also see that, immediately after David cut this fringe off Saul’s cloak, he felt as though his own heart was crushed. Why? Because David removed the tzitzit, a reminder of the Word of Yahoweh, from the Almighty’s anointed.
In Matthew 9:20 we see a woman grabbing the tzitzit of the Messiah. This woman was impure with a blood infection, and thus was not to even be in the city according to Scripture. She knew, though, of the passage in Malachi 4:2 prophesying that healing power will be in the tzitzit, or wings, of the Messiah (the word “wings” means tzitzit). If this prophecy was true, and He was indeed the Messiah, she would be healed; if not, she could be stoned to death. She chose belief, and when the woman touched the hem of His garment, Yahoshuah, our gracious King, replied, “Take courage, daughter, your belief has healed you.” A broken woman, now healed, stood beside the Messiah in that crowd of people, and I can only imagine that she shone with thankfulness and awe. Certainly she hugged her children that very day, and gave the Word her tongue for the rest of her life. (We see a similar event in Matthew 14:34-36).
The Messiah often spoke to many thousands of people at a time. Those in the back of five thousand people likely would not be able to hear the Messiah speak. How would they know what His message was? Why would they follow Him? Some of the people may not have been able to understand Hebrew, or another language He may have been speaking in. What of the message for them? By this: A man clear in the back would be able to look at the Messiah, see His tzitzit, and know that this One, by the very act of wearing them, daily proclaimed the Whole Torah!
Now, for certain, there may have been a man who said, “So what? The Pharisees wear tzitzit as well. What makes this One’s message about the Law any different?”
Only to have his friend reply: “Say, isn’t that your five year old daughter who just sat on His knee?”
The man would have then seen the disciples try to move the children away from the Messiah, only to see Yahoshuah welcome all the children—even if it meant He had to push His disciples away to do so—and at that moment, the people, yes even the people who could not hear His message … knew His message. The man in the back may well have announced aloud, “I do not know His language. I cannot hear His words, but I know what He is saying. Love. Love Yahoweh with all your heart, mind, and soul, and love your neighbour as yourself.”
Do you think that girl would have grabbed those tassels? Of course she did, but do we need to wear the tassels any longer since we have the Holy Spirit to remind us of His commandments? “But the Helper, the Set-apart Spirit, whom the Father shall send in My Name, He shall teach you all, and remind you of all that I said to you.” (John 14:26). If the Holy Spirit reminds us of His commandments, then He will indeed remind us to emulate the Messiah in the wearing of tzitzit. “Make tassels on the four corners of the garment with which you cover yourself.” (Deuteronomy 22:12).
The remembrance of His Word though observation is our continual utterance of, “I do.” Who, in Scripture, has professed this? “Yahoweh repay your work, and your reward is complete from Yahoweh Elohim of Yisra’el, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge.” (Ruth 2:12). Ruth became a Jew when she took refuge under the “wings” of Yahoweh, or under the corner of His garment, by entering a marriage covenant with Him. (This may or may not be where people came up with the notion that the messengers of Yahoweh, or angels, have wings like a bird, when in reality a messenger of His Word is sure to have a different kind of wings: wings of remembrance, the forgotten tzitzit.)
“And he said, ‘Who are you?’ And she answered, ‘I am Ruth, your female servant. Now you shall spread your covering over your female servant—for you are a redeemer.’” (Ruth 3:9). This was a request for marriage from Ruth to Boaz by her asking him to spread the corners of his garment, his tzitzit, over her.
“‘Again I passed by you and looked upon you and saw that your time was the time of love. And I spread My skirt over you and covered your nakedness. And I swore an oath to you and entered into a covenant with you, and you became Mine,’ declares the Master Yahoweh.” (Ezekiel 16:8). Here we see Yahoweh put His skirt (corners of a garment) over us, His tzitzit, His Guidance, and covered our nakedness, our sin. Even the Father Himself adorns the tzitzit. After all, our Father never said, “Do as I say, not as I do.”
The main purpose of the tzitzit, though, is to remind all who see them to walk in the ways of Elohim. Zechariah 8:23 speaks about the tzitzit concerning us. “Thus said Yahoweh of hosts, ‘In those days ten men from all languages of the nations take hold, yea, they shall take hold of the edge of the garment of a man, a Yehudite, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that Elohim is with you.”’” Should we then not ask the Jew to minister to us by taking hold of Yahoshuah’s tzitzit?
One day my wife forgot to wear tzitziyot. She said, “In all the rush, I forgot about that command today for some reason.” So I told her, “Maybe you should wear a reminder of His commandments then.” Get it? Okay, well, I thought it was funny anyway.
We see that many people wore tzitzit, and that our Saviour does to this very day. So what do you think, men and women? Should we wear them? If so, then how? While one practice is to wear them on a special garment called a tallit, which is a similar to a shirt (possibly found in Deuteronomy 22:12) I personally put them on my belt loops or pin them to the fabric if there are no loops. What do you think? And more importantly, what would please the Father? Should we give His Word a chance? I say yes. However, do remember Matthew 23:5 where the Messiah warns against, not the wearing of, but rather the boosting of the tzitzit. Do not make them long or with much boasting, as some tzitzit, or boarders, during this time, were so long they almost touched the ground.
Imagine if all of Yahoweh’s people would keep the commandment to wear tzitzit. We would be able to recognize one another instantly. Those around us would know that we serve Yahoweh. Unbelieving Jews would ask why we are wearing them because many of them also wear tassels, only without the blue cord. The doors would open to share that Yahoshuah did not abolish the Torah, and that He would never accept the way in which mainstream Christianity portrays Him. It is robbery to others to not wear the tzitzit, to not share with them the Good News.
Other people might also ask what the tzitzit is, causing an opportunity to share the testimony of Yahoshuah, that He wore them, and that they are to remind us of the commandments of Yahoweh. Most people of a Christian background are amazed that they are even in Scripture! Every opportunity to share of His miracles with a person, who has asked to know, is a special blessing. But the tzitzit doesn’t just minister to others. Every time a sin I desire stares me down I—I become aware of the tzitzit, reminding me to flee from sin and take hold of His Hand. I cannot explain it. It is like they become a little heavier, like One Who loves me very much is tugging on them ever so slightly. You may think me crazy, but it is nonetheless true.
“Why don’t most Christians wear them?” Well, for me, it was because I never knew about them. However, even when I did not know about tzitzit, I knew I needed something, but the W.W.J.D. (What Would Jesus Do) bracelets and t-shirts just were not it, even though I tried to make them be “it.” Alas, the other main reason is that some are under the impression that we are freed from this Torah, this Teaching, never knowing that it is a freedom to wear the tzitzit and to walk in the footsteps of the Messiah.
We emulate to worship. On a lower level, some people may wear a jersey of a sportsman. Well, the tzitzit is, in essence, the jersey of One I love more than all: Yahoshuah. It is what He wore, and I am no more ashamed of wearing tzitzit than I am of the One Whom also wears them: our blessed Saviour.
“For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Adam shall be ashamed when He comes in His esteem, and in His Father’s, and of the set-apart messengers.” (Luke 9:26). Let us then not be ashamed of the Words of the Messiah. I am sure there is no shortage of excuses as to why we need not obey His commandments, but it is high time that we make a stand and declare the awesome calling of living by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of Yahoweh! Be not ashamed. Be honored. And may the tzitzit remind you to live just as the One with Healing power in His wings forever will.
“For I am not ashamed of the Good News of Messiah, for it is the power of Elohim for deliverance to everyone who believes, to the Yehudite first and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16).
(To make your own tzitzit: Jasmine makes ours with a cotton cord, such as embroidery or sturdy crocheting thread. I get the whitest white and the richest, deepest blue. See the pictures for a guide on how to make your own. However, if you find you can’t make them this way that is fine. He never said, “Thou shalt make ‘em super pretty, and exactly like this.” Before Jasmine and I were married, I made my own. There was one knot and no braid, but I wore them. There are many traditions people have started, such as making mathematical representations in the tzitzit to come out to six hundred thirteen, while others see the four knots representing the Name Yahoweh. There is no set way to make these that I know of, but the wording does indicate a chain like braid, and they each must have a blue thread.)
This is not just a historical lesson about something the Jews do. This is our walk. This is our heritage, privilege, and joy. Don’t let your minister tell you to not walk as the Saviour walks. Don’t let yourself, either. This is the chance of a lifetime! Today—right now—you can walk as He walked. We are called in the Scriptures to remember. Let us take a moment, and pray an honest prayer as we remember this important truth: We are followers of the Messiah, not the world, the church, or even ourselves. Let us walk as He walked.
Be Blessed and be a Blessing.
Shalom
-Valentine Thalken Billingsley
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