A Humble Reminder: Why I Wear Tassels Today
Reminders are used by everyone in the world today. Everything from sticky notes to alerts on phones are used day in and day out to help us remember what we need to remember and to do what we need to do. As believers in Yeshua, we constantly need reminders so that we can remember and do what Yahweh has called us to do. Yahweh knew that as humans we would forget things and make mistakes, so He has given us outward actions in His word so that we can be empowered to remember to do what He asks. An example of this that is done by every church today would be partaking of the bread and cup. Christians eat unleavened bread to represent Yeshua’s sinless body and drink the fruit of the vine to represent the blood that He poured out for our sins. This is simply not some ritual act that we do to gain Yahweh’s favor, but we do it so that we can remember what our Lord and Savior has done for us! Another reminder in Yahweh’s word, for me, is tassels. Maybe you’ve seen me wearing them and have wondered what they were. So let’s begin to dive into what tassels are and why I wear them.
Tassels are chain like or braided strings with loose threads tied to the four corners of a garment. The Hebrew word is Tzitzit and means, “fringe, tassel, lock.” Scripture tells us that there are to be four tassels, each with a single cord of blue, attatched to the bottom corners of our garments (Deuteromony 22:12). They are seen most often within orthodox Jewish communities, yet there are many Messianics and Hebrew Roots believers who wear them as well.
You may be asking, “If this is a “Jewish” thing, then why in the world would you choose to wear them?” This is a really good question that deserves a good answer, because if tassels truly are only for the Jews, then I really shouldn’t be wearing them. But they are not just for the Jewish community, but are for ALL of Yahweh's people to “look at and remember all the commandments of the LORD...” (Num. 15:39; NASB) This can be seen in Exodus 12:49 which says, “There is one Torah for the native-born and for the stranger who sojourns among you.” Yahweh does not have two different standards for different people groups. Yeshua himself said, “I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be ONE flock with ONE shepherd.” (John 10:16) This same concept is all throughout scripture, but it would be an entire blog post if I mentioned every single one. However, here is a list of verses to check out! {Lev 18:26; Lev 24:22; Num 15:29-30; Ezek 47:22; Rom 2:11-13}
The command to wear tassels on our garments is found in Numbers 15:37-41, “The LORD also spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to the sons of Israel, and tell them that they shall make for themselves tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and that they shall put on the tassel of each corner a cord of blue. It shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the LORD, so as to do them and not follow after your own heart and your own eyes, after which you played the harlot, so that you may remember to do all My commandments and be holy to your God. I am the LORD your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt to be your God; I am the LORD your God.’”
It’s interesting because right before the command to wear tassels was given, Numbers 15:32-36 deals with a man breaking Sabbath because he was picking up sticks. The Sabbath commandment was clear and the man chose to rebel against Yahweh. Now I don’t think it’s a coincidence that tassels are commanded immediately after this incident took place. Yahweh, being the gracious and loving God that He is, knew that it would be beneficial for His people to have something to look upon and remember His commands. This concept of having something to look at to remind oneself is actually very popular. The WWJD (What Would Jesus Do) bracelets were very popular when I was a kid and I still see many who wear them today. Also there are many who wear cross necklaces to do the same. While I think it’s a good idea to have a reminder, I believe that replacing what God has given us with something of our own choosing is clearly condemned in scripture (Deut 12:32; Mk 7:9-13). Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of things people use to help remind them to be the person Yahweh has called them to be, and that is perfectly fine. But when we think that our ways are better than Yahweh's and decide to throw out a specific command in favor of something of our own choosing, then that is sin.
In this verse Yahweh is very clear as to why he gave the command to wear tassels; “...so as to do them (the commands) and not follow after your own heart and your own eyes, after which you played the harlot...” As human beings we are inclined toward sin. We tend to be prideful, selfish, and autonomous. But these are all things that Yahweh wants to rid us of, so that we can be humble, selfless, and dependant on Him! Yeshua condemned the Pharisees because “they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they...lengthen the tassels of their garments.” (Matt 23:5) Many like to point out this verse and say that Yeshua was against tassels, but that is simply not true; for Yeshua Himself wore tassels! Yeshua was actually against the way that the Pharisees used them as a symbol of authority and social status. These Pharisees were showing their status by having extra long elaborate tassels (some dragging on the ground) to show that they were more spiritual than others. The problem here is that they were misusing this command, because that is NOT why tassels were given! Tassels should make people more humble because they realize that they are wearing them because they need a reminder, NOT to show off.
So far we’ve looked at what tassels are, who they are for, and why they are worn; but you still may be wondering why I have chosen to wear them. While all the reasons listed so far are good reasons, the biggest and most important reason is because...our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ wore them. Matthew 9:20-22 says, “And a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years, came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak; for she was saying to herself, ‘If I only touch His garment, I will get well.’ But Jesus turning and seeing her said, ‘Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well.’ At once the woman was made well.” This verse tells us that the woman touched the “fringe” of his cloak. The Greek word is Kraspedon and has the meaning, “a fringe or tassel:--border, hem”.
The Friberg Greek Lexicon has:
“kraspedon ou to (1) as the outer limit of someth.; of a garment hem, border, edge; (2) in Jewish usage, the tassel or fringe on the four corners of the outer garment, worn as a reminder to observe the commandments (cf. NU 15.38ff; DT 22.12).”
This shows us that Yeshua wore tassels and even brought about healing through them. But this is no coincidence, for it was prophesied that the Messiah would rise with “healing in his wings” (Mal 4:2). From these verses we know that our Messiah wore tassels, and that as believers we are called to “walk as He walked” (1 John 2:6), so I have come to the conclusion that I too should wear tassels. I realize that this may be new and kind of odd to most people (it sure was for me at first!), but I hope that you consider these things before Yahweh and come to your own conclusion like the Bereans who examined “the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” (Acts 17:11)
Posted By: Jeremy Gipe
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