To begin, let us look at Numbers 15:37-41,
The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites, and tell them to make fringes on the corners of their garments throughout their generations and to put a blue cord on the fringe at each corner. You have the fringe so that, when you see it, you will remember all the commandments of the Lord and do them and not follow the lust of your own heart and your own eyes. So you shall remember and do all my commandments, and you shall be holy to your God. I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I am the Lord your God.”
Some Christians use what is called a prayer shawl, however, they originated in ancient times with the above verses. I want us to learn the history and look at the differences in modern Jewish fringes compared to the ones Jesus followers use.
The Jewish Virtual Library had this to say about their version called “tallit”,
“TALLIT (Heb. טַלִּית, pl. tallitot; Yid. tales, pl. talesim), prayer shawl. Originally the word meant “gown” or “cloak.” This was a rectangular mantle that looked like a blanket and was worn by men in ancient times. At the four corners of the tallit tassels were attached in fulfillment of the biblical commandment of *ẓiẓit (Num. 15:38–41). The tallit was usually made either of wool or of linen (Men. 39b) and probably resembled the abbayah (“blanket”) still worn by Bedouin for protection against the weather. The tallit made of finer quality was similar to the Roman pallium and was worn mostly by the wealthy and by distinguished rabbis and scholars (BB 98a). The length of the mantle was to be a handbreadth shorter than that of the garment under it (BB 57b). After the exile of the Jews from Ereẓ Israel and their dispersion, they came to adopt the fashions of their gentile neighbors more readily. The tallit was discarded as a daily habit and it became a religious garment for prayer; hence its later meaning of prayer shawl.
The tallit is usually white and made either of wool, cotton, or silk, although *Maimonides and *Alfasi objected to the use of the latter. Strictly observant Jews prefer tallitot made of coarse half-bleached lamb’s wool. In remembrance of the blue thread of the ẓiẓit (see *Tekhelet ), most tallitot have several blue stripes woven into the white material (see Zohar, Num. 227a). Until a few decades ago, however, they only had black stripes.
Frequently the upper part of the tallit around the neck and on the shoulders has a special piece of cloth sewn with silver threads (called atarah, “diadem”), to mark the upper (i.e., the “collar”) and the outer parts of the four-cornered prayer shawl. Some tallitot have the benediction, recited when putting on the tallit, woven into the atarah. Others, especially those made of silk, are often richly embroidered and some have the benediction woven into the entire cloth of the tallit. The minimum size of a tallit is that which would suffice to clothe a small child able to walk (Sh. Ar., OḤ 16:1).
The tallit is worn by males during the morning prayers (except on the Ninth of *Av , when it is worn at the afternoon service), as well as during all *Day of Atonement services. The ḥazzan, however, according to some rites, wears the tallit also during the afternoon and evening services (as does the reader from the Torah during the Minḥah prayer on fast days). Before putting on the prayer shawl, the following benediction is said: “Blessed art Thou, O Lord, our God, King of the universe, Who hast sanctified us by Thy commandments, and hast commanded us to wrap ourselves in the fringed garment.” When the tallit is put on, the head is first covered with it and the four corners thrown over the left shoulder (a movement called atifat Yishme’elim, “after the manner of the Arabs”). After a short pause, the four corners are allowed to fall back into their original position: two are suspended on each side. On weekdays, the tallit is donned before putting on the *tefillin . Among strictly observant Jews, it was the custom to put on tallit and tefillin at home and to walk in them to the synagogue (Isserles, to Sh. Ar., OḤ 25:2). They also pray with the tallit covering their head; to be enfolded by the tallit is regarded as being enveloped by the holiness of the commandments of the Torah, denoting a symbolic subjection to the Divine Will (see also RH 17b). Generally, however, people pray with the tallit resting on their shoulders only. The kohanim, however, cover their heads with the tallit during their recital of the *Priestly Blessing . It is customary in the morning service to press the fringes to the eyes and to kiss them three times during the recital of the last section of the *Shema (Num. 15:37–41) which deals with the commandment of ẓiẓit (Sh. Ar., OḤ 24:4).
The custom of wearing the tallit differs in many communities. In the Ashkenazi ritual, small children under bar mitzvah age dress in tallitot made according to their size, whereas in the Polish-Sephardi ritual only married men wear them (Kid. 29b). In most Oriental rites, unmarried men wear tallitot.
In *Reform synagogues , the tallit is part of the synagogue service garments of the rabbi and the cantor. For male congregants, the wearing of a small prayer shawl, resembling a scarf and worn around the neck, is optional. Those called to the reading from the Torah, however, always don a tallit.
In some communities, it is customary for the bridegroom to dress in a tallit during the *ḥuppah ceremony. It is likewise customary to bury male Jews in their tallit from which the fringes have been removed or torn (see *Burial).
The *ẓiẓit worn by men with their daily dress is known as *tallit katan (“small tallit“).”
A Christian prayer shawl is much shorter and only covers their shoulders. It shares many similar features as the Jewish tallit such as blue cords on the fringes. However, the prayer shawl is viewed as a symbolic prayer covering and even retaines modesty benefits. We do not view it as having mystical powers as some in certain Jewish sects believe.
Did you know that Jesus himself wore fringes on his cloak? Just look at Matthew 9:20-22,
Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from a flow of blood 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 cloak, I will be made well.” Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that moment.
The simple act of a woman having so much faith that all she did was touch the tassels on Jesus’ cloak and she was healed! Can you imagine?!
So, what does this have to do with the sermon title “Word of God”? Well, I want to define it and the prayer shawl is a good place to start. You see, wearing a prayer shawl in the old covenant was a commandment (law) from God to the Israelites. And according to the Bible, the Law is the Word of God!
A great article to read on this is from GotQuestions.org,
“The phrase “word of God” appears often in the Bible and can have a slightly different meaning depending on context and the Hebrew or Greek word used. John 1:1-2 says, “In the beginning was the Word. And the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” Here, Word is a title of the Lord Jesus. The term translated “Word” is logos, which basically means “the expression of a thought.” Logos can be thought of as the total message of God to man (Acts 11:1; 1 Thessalonians 2:13). Jesus embodied that total message, and that is why He is called the “Logos,” or “Word,” of God (Colossians 1:19; 2:9).
Logos is also used many times when referring to the written message of God (John 17:17; 1 Timothy 4:5; Revelation 1:2; Colossians 1:25). Hebrews 4:12 says, “The word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Jesus showed a link between the written Word of God and Himself, in that He is the subject of the written Word: “You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me” (John 5:39).
Another Greek word used for “word” is rhema. Rhema refers to the actual spoken/written words of God (Hebrews 6:5). When Jesus was being tempted by Satan, He answered, “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word [rhema] that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). We are told in Ephesians 6:17 to “take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word [rhema] of God.” Jesus demonstrated we need the actual recorded words of God to overcome Satan’s attacks.
The phrase “word of God” means more than the printed words on a page. God is a communicator and has been speaking into the human realm since the beginning. He speaks through His creation (Psalm 19:1), through ancient prophets (Hosea 12:10; Hebrews 1:1), through the Holy Spirit (John 16:13; Acts 16:6), through Scripture (Hebrews 4:12), and through the Person of His Son, Jesus Christ (John 14:9). We can learn to know God better by seeking to hear Him in every way that He speaks.”
The Word of God can manifest in different ways:
- The Written Word (Commandments/Law)
- Title
- John 1:1-2, “ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.”
- Spoken/Living
- Hebrews 4:12, “Indeed, the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
Now that we have determined the concept of the Word of God let’s put it all together.
- The Law = The Word of God
- Jesus = The Word of God
- Fringes are meant to remind us The Law
- Fringes are meant to remind us of The Word of God
- Fringes are meant to remind us of JESUS!
All together now!
WHO is the Word of God? JESUS is!
The fringes are for him!
The prayer shawl is to remind us of Jesus!
Throughout the Bible it was and is ALWAYS pointing to Christ!!!