Do tzitzits (tassels) matter today?
Let’s see what Yehova has to say about it:
Numbers 15:37-40
Adonai spoke to Moses saying, 38 “Speak to Bnei-Yisrael. Say to them that they are to make for themselves tzitzit on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and they are to put a blue cord on each tzitzit. 39 It will be your own tzitzit—so whenever you look at them, you will remember all the mitzvot of Adonai and do them and not go spying out after your own hearts and your own eyes, prostituting yourselves. 40 This way you will remember and obey all My mitzvot and you will be holy to your God.
First of all, these are the words of your Creator.
Will you do what he says?
Secondly, our Creator has said to do this “throughout their generations.” People are still making babies, creating new generations. This is still in effect.
Third, tzitzits have a purpose. They are not decorations or a fashion accessory. They are there to remind us of His commands and to keep them. They are to set boundaries, to prevent us from chasing after the flesh, as we are prone to do.
These are to help us to be holy in the sight of Yehova!!
Some might say, “Well, this command was given to the children of Israel, so it only applies to their future generations.”
Do you have a desire to be in the Kingdom of Yehova?
If so, then you must be Israel. There are no other members of the Kingdom.
Don’t believe me?
Well, let’s see what scripture says:
Galatians 3:27-29
For all of you who were immersed in Messiah have clothed yourselves with Messiah. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female—for you are all one in Messiah Yeshua. 29 And if you belong to Messiah, then you are Abraham’s seed—heirs according to the promise.
If you are baptized into the Kingdom, then you are neither Greek nor Jew… You ARE the seed of Abraham and heirs to the promise.
Period. No questions asked.
“But I’ve never been taught that. I’m a Gentile believer, part of the New Covenant.”
Again, what does scripture say?
Hebrews 8:8
“Behold, days are coming,
says Adonai,
when I will inaugurate a new covenant
with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah.
The New Covenant is with the house of Judah and the house of Israel, making up the twelve tribes.
No Gentiles are mentioned.
“But that isn’t what I believe…”
Again, we go to scripture:
Hebrews 8:10 (in case you missed it in verse 8)
For this is the covenant that I will make
with the house of Israel
after those days, says Adonai.
I will put My Torah into their mind,
and upon their hearts I will write it.
And I will be their God,
and they shall be My people.
The covenant is with Israel. No Gentiles.
Not only that, but we are told “the law” (Torah instruction) will be placed on our hearts and minds.
But I’ve been taught “the law” is done away with…
What did our Messiah say?
John 14:15
“If you love me, keep My commandments.”
What else did Messiah say?
John 14:21
“He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me.”
What else did Messiah say?
Matthew 7:21-23
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, and drive out demons in Your name, and perform many miracles in Your name?’ 23 Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Get away from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’”
Does lawlessness define you? Or do you keep the law?
“But my pastor said the law is done away with…”
Did Messiah say anything about that?
Matthew 5:17-19
17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Torah or the Prophets! I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. 18 Amen, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or serif shall ever pass away from the Torah until all things come to pass. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever keeps and teaches them, this one shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”
Messiah said to keep and to teach others to keep the commandments.
Who will you listen to? Your Savior? or your pastor?
“But these are things I’ve never been taught. In fact, I’ve always been taught that “the law” is a curse and a burden. Do you really expect me to believe we are too keep “the law?”
Messiah tells us who the Saints are in Revelation 14:12
Here is the perseverance of the kedoshim—those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Yeshua.
Messiah tells us who the remnant of the church is in Revelation 12:17
So the dragon became enraged at the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her offspring—those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Yeshua.
Messiah tells us who will enter the city of New Jerusalem and who will have the right to the tree of life in Revelation 22:14
Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.
“But that isn’t what my church teaches…”
Will you believe direct quotes of your Messiah, or will you believe what some guy learned in college?
I started this post to indicate that wearing tzitzits (tassels) is important to Yehova, and therefore, is important to us.
But then I got on a roll.
I understand the things I’m showing you here are not what you’ve been taught your whole life.
Believe me, I know.
I was also not taught these things in church.
But then a funny thing happened.
I read my bible.
I found statements made by God in the Old Testament where He said to do these things forever, for all generations, a never ending and perpetual covenant, etc.
If we are to believe what churches teach, it makes God a liar.
But God can change His mind, right?
He can give us a better way, right?
Malachi 3:6
“For I am the Lord, I do not change…
Numbers 23:19
God is not man, that he should lie,
or a son of man, that he should change his mind.
So, if I’m saying the churches have it wrong, how could that have happened?
If you ask your pastors about following “the law” they will ALWAYS refer to the writings of Paul to prove it to you.
First of all, does Paul have the authority to change doctrine that God said will never change? No, he does not.
Secondly, we are warned against misunderstanding Paul’s writings:
2 Peter 3:14-18
Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. 15 And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, 16 as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. 17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
Did you catch that? Misrepresenting what Paul is teaching was a problem in the first century, just as it is today.
What are the consequences of doing so?
“twist to their own destruction”
Ohhh, that sounds bad.
Destruction.
Not cool.
Believe it or not, churches teach you destruction and death.
Not my words, but straight outta scripture.
Again, who will you believe?
God? (YHWH, Yehovah, Yahweh, Elohim)
Yeshua? (Messiah, our Savior, Jesus)
Or will you believe your pastor, who’s authority comes from a paper hanging on his office wall?
Does Yeshua (Jesus) have any authority?
Does Yeshua (Jesus) have any authority?
Matthew 28:18
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”
Oh, look at that. Yeshua has ALL of the authority, meaning your pastor has NONE of the authority.
Whom you choose to believe is your choice to make.
But the consequences of your choice are serious.
“…there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”