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Why do we wear the Tzitzit?
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Why do we wear the
tzitzit? Num
15:37 And the YHWH3068 spoke559 unto413
Moses,4872 saying,559 Num 15:38 Speak1696 unto413 the children1121 of
Israel,3478 and bid559, 413 them that they make6213 them
fringes6734 in5921 the borders3671 of their garments899 throughout
their generations,1755 and that they put5414 upon5921 the fringe6734 of the borders3671
a ribbon6616 of blue:8504 Num 15:39 And it shall be1961 unto you for a fringe,6734
that ye may look upon7200 it, and remember2142 (853) all3605 the commandments4687
of YHWH,3068 and do6213 them; and that ye seek8446 not3808 after310
your own heart3824 and your own eyes,5869 after310 which834 ye859 use
to go a whoring:2181 Num 15:40 That4616 ye may remember,2142 and do6213 (853) all3605
my commandments,4687 and be1961 holy6918 unto your Elohim.430 Num 15:41 I589 am YHWH3068
your Elohim,430 which834 brought you out3318, (853) of the land4480, 776 of Egypt,4714 to be1961 your Elohim:430 I589 am YHWH3068 your
Elohim.430 So we see here in verse
38 that YHWH told Moses to tell the children of Yisra’el to make fringes6734 in the
borders3671 of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders
a ribbon of blue: But why? Reading on we see, Num 15:39 And it shall be to you for a fringe,
that you may look upon it and remember all the commands of YHWH, and do them; and so
that you do not seek after your own heart and your own eyes, after which you prostitute
yourself, Num 15:40
that you may remember and do all My commands, and be set apart to your Elohim. Here are some important words of point to consider in these verses, “look upon, remember, all, of YHWH, do them, do not seek own heart, own eyes,
prostitute self, be set apart to your Elohim”, and two times in these two verses,
“remember all the commands of YHWH/ My commands”. But why do I need a reminder? He just told you! “so that you do not seek after your own heart and your own eyes,
after which you prostitute yourself,” This is YHWH speaking, not
me! Is this
fringe or tassel anywhere else in Scripture? Deu 22:12 Thou shalt make6213 thee
fringes1434 upon5921 the four702 quarters3671 of thy vesture,3682
wherewith834 thou coverest3680 thyself. Zec 8:23 Thus3541 saith559 YHWH3068
of hosts;6635 In those1992 days3117 it shall come to
pass, that834 ten6235 men376 shall take hold2388 out of all4480,
3605 languages3956 of the nations,1471 even shall take hold2388 of the skirt3671
of him376 that is a Jew,3064 saying,559 We will go1980 with5973 you:
for3588 we have heard8085 that Elohim430 is with5973 you. What are these fringes # 6734? According to
Strong’s, tsee-tseeth' Feminine of H6731; a floral or wing like projection, that is, a fore
lock of hair, a tassel: - fringe, lock. According to Brown-Driver-Briggs’tsi^ytsith BDB Definition: 1) fringe, tassel, lock Part
of Speech: noun feminine A Related
Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: from H6731
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What is
this border #3671According to Strong’s, kaw-nawf' From H3670; an edge or extremity; specifically (of a bird or army) a wing,
(of a garment or bed clothing) a flap, (of the earth) a quarter, (of a building) a pinnacle: - + bird, border, corner, end, feather [-ed], X flying, + (one an-) other, overspreading,
X quarters, skirt, X sort, uttermost part, wing ([-ed]). According to Brown-Driver-Briggska^na^ph BDB Definition: 1) wing, extremity, edge, winged, border, corner, shirt 1a) wing 1b) extremity 1b1) skirt, corner (of garment) Part
of Speech: noun feminine A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: from H3670 Are women supposed
to wear them? Well, to tell you the truth most translations render it similar to the way that the King James does
here, Num 15:38 Speak unto the “children of Israel”,
and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put
upon the fringe of the borders a ribbon of blue: Some translations say, “people of Israel”
or “the Israelites” but not the “sons of Israel”.
Then, there are some translations that do render it “sons of Israel” but not most. The Hebrew word in question here is Strong’s number H1121 (pronounced
“bane” and usually spelled “ben”). It has a long list of definitions of which “son” and
“children” are only two. You can study it out for yourself; but one has to ask, were the Ten Commandments only
for the men or all of the children of Israel? Was Passover only for the men or was it for all of the children of Israel? Were the Prophets only for the sons or were they for all of the children of Israel? Are the men the only ones who need a reminder to keep all that YHWH has commanded? I don’t
think so. The women need it just as much as the men. The Torah applies to the women just as much as it does to the men. I
can find no real evidence that this is a “man thing”. This is a, “YHWH thing” and I believe that the
women are expected to wear them just as much as the men. If someone has evidence to the contrary we would love to see it.
We are about truth, not our own opinions. What about in the “New Testament”? Mat 9:20 And,2532 behold,2400 a woman,1135 which was diseased with an issue of
blood131 twelve1427 years,2094 came4334 behind3693 him, and
touched680 the3588 hem2899 of his846 garment:2440 Mat 9:21 For1063 she said3004
within1722 herself,1438 If1437 I may but3440 touch680 his846
garment,2440 I shall be whole.4982 Mat 9:22 But1161 Yahuahua2424 turned him about,1994 and2532
when he saw1492 her,846 he said,2036 Daughter,2364 be of good comfort;2293
thy4675 faith4102 hath made thee whole.4982, 4571 And2532 the3588 woman1135
was made whole4982 from575 that1565 hour.5610 Luk 8:43 And2532
a woman1135 having5607 an(1722) issue4511 of blood129 twelve1427
years,2094 which3748 had spent4321 all3650 her living979 upon1519
physicians,2395 neither3756 could2480 be healed2323 of5259 any,3762
Luk 8:44
Came4334 behind3693 him, and touched680 the3588 border2899
of his846 garment:2440 and2532 immediately3916 her846 issue4511
of blood129 staunched.2476 Luk 8:45 And2532 Yahuahua2424 said,2036 Who5101 touched680
me?3450 When1161 all3956 denied,720 Peter4074 and2532 they3588
that were with3326 him846 said,2036 Master,1988 the3588 multitude3793
throng4912 thee4571 and2532 press598 thee, and2532 sayest3004
thou, Who5101 touched680 me?3450 Luk
8:46 And1161 Yahuahua2424 said,2036
Somebody5100 hath touched680 me:3450 for1063 I1473 perceive1097
that virtue1411 is gone1831 out of575 me.1700 Luk 8:47 And1161 when the3588 woman1135
saw1492 that3754 she was not3756 hid,2990 she came2064 trembling,5141
and2532 falling down before4363 him,846 she declared518 unto him836
before1799 all3956 the3588 people2992 for1223 what3739 cause156
she had touched680 him,846 and2532 how5613 she was healed2390 immediately.3916
Luk 8:48
And1161 he3588 said2036 unto her,846 Daughter,2364 be of good
comfort:2293 thy4675 faith4102 hath made thee whole;4982, 4571 go4198
in1519 peace.1515 “Your faith has made you whole”… Faith in what? Well, did she not touch that thing which was Yahushua’s own personal
reminder of YHWH’s standard of righteousness, His commands? She wanted to touch Yahushua’s reminder. His life
and obedience to YHWH’s laws demonstrated His own righteousness! Mat 14:34 And2532 when they were gone
over,1276 they came2064 into1519 the3588 land1093 of Gennesaret.1082
Mat 14:35 And2532
when the3588 men435 of that1565 place5117 had knowledge1921 of him,846
they sent out649 into1519 all3650 that1565 country round about,4066
and2532 brought4374 unto him846 all3956 that were diseased;2192, 2560
Mat 14:36
And2532 besought3870 him846 that2443 they might only3440 touch680
the3588 hem2899 of his846 garment:2440 and2532 as many as3745
touched680 were made perfectly whole.1295, 8 What is this hem/border #G2899?According to Strong’s, kraspedon kras'-ped-on Of uncertain derivation; a margin, that
is, (specifically) a fringe or tassel: - border, hem.
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WWJD? We see this all the time these days on wristbands,
bookmarks, tee shirts, car tags, etc. (of course we know it should be WWYD, What Would Yahushua Do?). Are we not to follow
His example? If we want to know WWYD in order to follow His example then we need to ask WDYD, (What Did Yahushua Do?)
and do likewise. Did Yahushua wear the tzitzit? Yep! He sure did. Why?
Because it is a command from Elohim! I know a minister that says, “You can put them on if you think that you need a reminder”. Let us get something clear here. YHWH does not
say, “You can put them on If you think that you need a reminder”, that is a man using humanism to substantiate
his reluctance to obey. YHWH said to wear them because YHWH thinks that we need a reminder. Let’s use that same
line of logic on some other commands shall we? Would you say to someone, “you can observe the Sabbath if you think that
you need a day of rest to set apart to YHWH”? How about this one; “You can love your neighbor as yourself if you
think that you need to love them as yourself”. Do you see where this line of thinking leads? Lawlessness. It is really
a pretty arrogant excuse not to obey YHWH when you stop and think about it, isn’t it? YHWH is big on reminders, even
for Himself! Gen 9:13 "I shall set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and
the earth. Gen 9:14
"And it shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud, Gen 9:15 and I shall remember My covenant which is
between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh, and never again let the waters become a flood to destroy all flesh.
Gen 9:16
"And the rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I shall see it, to remember the everlasting covenant between Elohim
and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth." Gen
9:17 And Elohim said to Noah, "This is the sign of
the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth." Lev 26:41 and that I also have walked contrary to
them and have brought them into the land of their enemies - if their uncircumcised heart is then humbled, and they accept
the punishment of their crookedness, Lev 26:42
then I shall remember My covenant with Ya’aqob, and also My covenant with Yitshaq, and also remember My covenant
with Abraham, and remember the land. I know people who say, they don’t have to wear the tzitzit because Yahushua is their tzitzit! How absurd! Ask them to show where the Scripture
says anything at all about Yahushua being a tzitzit! I think that they will be hard pressed to show you the verse where it
says that. Also ask them how is anyone supposed to look upon their tzitzit and
remember all that YHWH has commanded if Yahushua is his tzitzit. This is just another flimsy excuse for being disobedient
to YHWH’s command based on humanistic reasoning. Lets apply it to a few other commands since we’re picking and
choosing, shall we? I have actually heard this next one as well. Yahushua is my Sabbath so I don’t have to keep the
seventh day Sabbath, I can keep Sunday now. Again, show me where it says in the Scripture that Yahushua is your Sabbath. But
let’s keep going okay? How about, Yahushua is my fidelity, so I don’t have to be faithful to my spouse! Yahushua
is my honesty, so I can bear false witness if I want! Yahushua is my contentment, so I can covet everything that belongs to
my neighbor, including his wife! Yahushua is my respect for the property of others, so I can steal your belongings if I want!
Yahushua is my clean meats, so I can eat a pig a dog a buzzard a rat! How silly! Using a line of reasoning like that a person
could make Yahushua anything that they wanted and commit any and every sin that is an abomination to Elohim even murder! Remember,
if it is not in the Scripture its unscriptural…duh! I am always amazed at the people who say, “I don’t
have to obey the law because I have a circumcised heart” yet they wander constantly after the ways of the uncircumcised!
If your life does not display a circumcised lifestyle it’s pretty unlikely that you truly have a circumcised heart.
You can’t have it both ways. If you have a circumcised heart you will desire to do the things of the circumcised, it’s
that simple! Yahushua is not a liar! When He says heaven and earth will pass away before one jot or title be struck from the
law, that’s what He means. When you hear people make statements like “Yahushua is my tzitzit” or “that’s
been done away with” it is usually people twisting the words of Paul (Sha’ul). But remember what Peter (Kepha)
said about this. 2Pe 3:14 So then, beloved ones, looking forward to this, do your utmost
to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, 2Pe 3:15 and
reckon the patience of our Master as deliverance, as also our beloved brother Sha’ul (Paul) wrote to you, according to the wisdom given to him, 2Pe
3:16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them concerning these matters, in
which some are hard to understand, which those who are untaught and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do also
the other Scriptures. 2Pe 3:17 You, then,
beloved ones, being forewarned, watch, lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with
the delusion of the lawless, The command
to wear the tzitzit is sort of a “catch 22”. The fact that a person decides to take it off is evidence that
he needs to put it on. You see, at the point in which he takes it off he has just stopped keeping all that YHWH has commanded
and demonstrates the fact that he needs a reminder. What kind of reminder? Oh I don’t know…um…let’s
see…what kind of reminder should he use…hmmm…maybe he could use something like a…like a…like
a…hmm… I got it! He could wear a tzitzit! Why? It’s perfect!
It’s already YHWH
approved! I have heard some people say that they don’t have to wear them because
“I have the law written on my heart”. Ask yourself this; did Yahushua have the Law written on His heart? I would say yes He did! Did Yahushua
wear the tzi-tzit as well? He sure did! Are we more righteous than Yahushua?
See above paragraph about the command to wear the tzi-tzit is a catch 22.
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Well isn’t this a statute or a precept or a judgment and not actually a law? The following three passages are
from the MKJV because the ISRV uses the words, ” laws” and “right-rulings” instead of the words, “statutes
and judgements”. Lev 26:14 But if you
will not listen to Me, and will not do all these commandments, Lev
26:15 and if you shall despise My statutes, or if your soul
hates My judgments, so that you will not do all My commandments, so that you break My covenant;
Lev 26:16 I will also do
this to you: I will even appoint terror over you, consumption, and burning fever, consuming the eyes and causing sorrow of
heart. And you shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. Lev
26:17 And I will set My face against you, and you shall be slain before your
enemies. They that hate you shall reign over you. And you shall flee when none pursues you. Lev 26:18 And if you will not yet listen to Me for all this, then I will
punish you seven times more for your sins. Mal 4:4 Remember the Law of Moses My servant, which I commanded to him in Horeb for all Israel, the statutes and judgments. Eze 18:5 But a man that is just and does what is just and right, Eze 18:6 and has not eaten on the mountains, nor has
lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, nor has defiled his
neighbor's wife, nor has come near a menstruating woman, Eze 18:7 and has not ill-treated any man, but has given the debtor's pledge back to
him, has robbed none by violence, has given his bread to the hungry and has covered the naked with a garment; Eze 18:8 he has not given out on usury, nor has taken
any increase, he has withdrawn his hand from iniquity, has done judgment between man and man, Eze 18:9 has walked in My statutes, and has kept My judgments to deal truly, he
is righteous, he shall surely live, says Yah YHWH. Though men will try, YHWH does not make a distinction; regardless
of the category they are still commands. But won’t this make me look funny? Are we asking the wrong question here? I mean, how
many times in the Scripture can we find where YHWH has asked His people to fit in and try to be just like everybody else.
The tzitzit is not a fashion statement. I take that back; it does make the statement that we are to remember to walk in a
righteous fashion, so I guess it is a righteous fashion statement. I stand corrected! One cannot base their level of obedience
on how they will be viewed by the world. Regardless of the issue, we need to stand with YHWH and Yahushua and not worry so
much about what the world thinks. Luk 12:9 "But he
that has denied Me before men shall be denied before the messengers of Elohim. Jam 4:4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with Elohim?
Whoever therefore intends to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of Elohim. Doesn’t it bring attention to me? It can if that’s where your heart is; but what it should be bringing is attention to the commands
of YHWH! Remember? That’s what it is for. Remember? So it will be a reminder. Remember? To keep all that YHWH has commanded.
Remember? So that you do not seek after your own heart and your own eyes, after which you prostitute yourself. Remember? So
just in case you should forget, put them on! Remember! YHWH says that we need a reminder. I believe YHWH knows best. He made
us and He knows what makes us work best! HalleluYah! Psa
147:5 Great is our Master and mighty
in power, There is no limit to His understanding. I actually know and know of people
who will use Matthew 6:1-2 as an excuse to either wear the tzitzit under their clothes, or not wear them at all for
fear of drawing attention to themselves. Mat 6:1 "Beware of doing your kind deeds before men, in order
to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in the heavens. Mat 6:2 "Thus,
when you do a kind deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do, in the congregations and in the streets,
to be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. This Scripture is taken very much out of context in order to support
their pretext for disobedience. Take note: what Yahushua is warning against here is doing things to draw attention to yourself
in order that others will esteem you. He is not talking about being obedient in secret.
If you are going to use this Scripture to say that you have to hide (or not wear at all) YHWH’s reminder the
tzitzit, lest you risk someone seeing you, then neither can you congregate on Shabbat! Someone might see you doing a righteous
act! You can’t be seen carrying the Scriptures! Someone might see you doing a righteous act! You can’t open the
door for a person with their arms full of groceries or help someone broke down on the side of the road because someone might
see you doing a righteous act! This is not what Yahushua was talking about. This particular Scripture was taken from
the Sermon on the Mount and as a matter of fact just a few verses before in Matthew 5, Yahushua
says, Mat 5:14 "You are the light of the world. It is impossible for a city to be hidden on
a mountain. Mat 5:15 "Nor do they light a lamp and put
it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it shines to all those in the house. Mat
5:16 "Let
your light so shine before men, so that they see your good works and praise your Father who is in the heavens.
What Yahushua is warning about here is the same attitude or state of the
heart that he condemns later in Mat 23:5 But they do all their works in order to be seen of men. They make their phylacteries
broad and enlarge the borders (or tzitzit) of their garments. Yahushua does not condemn
the wearing of the tzitzit (He wore them Himself!); He condemns making them large in an
attempt to get praise from other people under the pretense that a larger tzitzit translates into greater attention to the
Torah by the wearer and thus means that he is more righteous than the next guy. All the while doing it “in order
to be seen of men”.
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