Does Our Elohim Command That We Should Wear Tzitzits Today? Part 2
Principles of Biblical Interpretation
Principle 4: Use the Bible to help interpret itself. Interpret difficult passages with clear ones. This is sometimes called the law of non-contradiction. Because the Bible is God’s word, and God is true, the Bible will not contradict itself.
This principle should also be used when attempting to avoid our own manmade thoughts, assumptions or imaginations that may contradict the commandments of Yahweh's Word.
2 Corinthians 10:5,"We tear down arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of Elohim; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Messiah. "
It's best to err on the side of the clear word of Yahweh as communicated to Moses. To avoid any mistake such as the Scribes and Pharisees, it's best to avoid our own unclear assumptions in favor of the already clearly expressed commandment of Yahweh.
Numbers 15:38-41 “Speak to the people of Israel, and tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a cord of blue on the tassel of each corner.
And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of Yahweh, to do them, not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to whore after. So you shall remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your Elohim. I am Yahweh your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your Elohim: I am Yahweh your Elohim.”
Deuteronomy 22:12 “You shall make tassels on the four corners of the clothing with which you cover yourself. Should Women Wear Tzitzits?
The question is simply this: Are all believers, including women, to wear tzitzits? OR is it just the men that are commanded to do so? Since sinning is defined as breaking the commandments of God (i.e. 1 John 3:4) and loving Elohim is defined as observing His commandments (i.e. 1 John 5:2-3), shouldn’t we agree that there is some sense of urgency in correctly understanding the scope and application of this commandment? There are two instances in the Law of Yahweh Elohim in which we find the commandment to wear tzitzits (tassels).
Numbers 15:37-40 Again Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel: Tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue thread in the tassels of the corners. And you shall have the tassel, that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of Yahweh and do them, and that you may not follow the harlotry to which your own heart and your own eyes are inclined, and that you may remember and do all My commandments, and be holy for your Elohim.”
Deuteronomy 22:12 “You shall make tassels on the four corners of the clothing with which you cover yourself. This is a unique commandment, as this commandment is designed to assist us in remembering to observe all commandments and thus be holy for our Elohim. Thus, if the premise and purpose of the commandment is established as such, logically we should conclude that the intent of the commandment should include women. If we were to test such logic to Scripture, it seems as though it would make sense to determine how the phrase “children of Israel” is applied as it relates to other commandments.
Here are a couple examples:
Leviticus 11:2 Speak to the children of Israel, saying, 'These are the animals which you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth:
Certainly, we know that the commandments governing what Elohim defines as food and not food also applies to women.
Leviticus 18:2 Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'I am Yahweh your Elohim….This opening statement leads into commandments speaking against incest and several other commandments. Again, we already know that these commandments are also intended for women. The very same Hebrew word that we have been reading for “children”, or sometimes translated as “sons” is the same in Leviticus 11:2 and Leviticus 18:2, as it is for the tzitzits (tsitsiyot) commandment in Numbers 15.
In just these examples, it is clear that the “children (ben – H1121) of Israel” is intended to address every Israelite, just like Numbers 15:37-40 says.
So why then is Numbers 15:37-40 uniquely interpreted to be a commandment solely intended for males? The unfortunate answer is that it seems to be simply a doctrine of tradition. At some point in history, the commandment became nullified for women because of tradition. As we should already know, the Scribes and the Pharisees were the common offenders of teaching such tradition and doctrines that nullified the Law of Moses. (see Mark 7 for example)
So, if someone suggests that women are not to wear tzitzits because the Hebrew word for “sons” or “children” is being used in Numbers 15, then by their very own logic and hermeneutics, women also have every right to eat pig and lobster (Leviticus 11) while not wearing their tzitzits.
We are not trying to be ridiculous in saying that, we are simply illustrating that the same Hebrew word is being used in Numbers 15 as well as Leviticus 11. And we cannot pick and choose how we apply it to different commandments or just for the sake of tradition. Yahshua, attempted to correct the Scribes and Pharisees and such error throughout His ministry.
For example, let’s look at Mark 7 now, in verse 6: Mark 7:6-7 He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men’” Mark 7:9 He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of Elohim, that you may keep your tradition.”Mark 7:13 “making the word of Elohim of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.”
It is the Word of Yahweh Elohim that we are to follow, not the doctrine and traditions of men. Even in Mark 7:10 specifically, we see that Yahweh is appealing to what was written by Moses as the Word of Elohim. We must remember that it is every word that came out of the mouth of Elohim which was food for us (Matthew 4:4). He also taught us to teach all nations to obey everything (not just some things) that He commanded.
Matthew 28:19-20 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you. Our Messiah Yahshua commanded us to observe and do what is read verbatim out of Moses’ Seat (the Law of Moses), but not do the traditions and doctrines that are against and nullify the Word of Elohim.
Mark 23:1-3 Then Yahshua spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.”
The Pharisees and the Scribes would read straight out of the Torah (the first five books of the Bible) to the people, but then when they left the Moses’ seat they would practice their traditions and commandments of men that were contrary to the Law of Moses. The consistent theme throughout the ministry of Yahshua was that true disciples should observe, do, and teach the Law of Elohim as written by Moses. If we start adding to or taking away from the Word of God (Deuteronomy 12:32) to satisfy our own traditions and commandments of men, then we are no better than the Pharisees whose righteousness we are to exceed.
Matthew 5:20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 23:28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. Thus, as it relates to whether tzitzits (tassels) are to be worn by male and female, it appears that the doctrine that declares that only men are to wear tzitzits, ultimately has no Biblical support, and strongly appears to be in Mark 7 and Matthew 23 territory.Examine these things for yourself to determine whether these things are true.
“Speak to the people of Israel”The King James Version translates the Hebrew word “ben” as children in the same place, among many others. The phrase “children of Israel” as used in Numbers 15 and many other places relates to all of Israel, both male and female. Thus I see no scripture indicating that a woman need not wear the tassels. It seems to me that just as men could use a reminder to keep Yahweh’s commandments, women could also. It also does not exclude the literal children.
There are some that argue that children should not wear tzitzits as they aren’t of the “age of accountability”.
The problem with that argument is that we’ve yet to see anywhere in Scripture that mentions a specific age at which people are accountable for their own actions and when they are not. If we look at the Torah, what we find is that if someone breaks the Law of Elohim, they are guilty, whether or not they are aware of it. There are sacrifices for sins as described in Leviticus 4. What seems to matter in terms of accountability, is being made aware of the sin. Breaking the Law of Elohim is always a sin, but awareness of it is what matters. For example, verses 27-28.
Leviticus 4:27-28 (ESV)
“If anyone of the common people sins unintentionally in doing any one of the things that by Yahweh's commandments ought not to be done, and realizes his guilt, or the sin which he has committed is made known to him, he shall bring for his offering a goat, a female without blemish, for his sin which he has committed.”
Do you see it? When the guilt is realized or the sin is made known to him. There isn’t an age given, but an amount of knowledge and understanding of what occurred. If we couple that with the commandment relating to wearing tzitzits and their purpose, we can easily answer the question about whether or not children should wear them.
Leviticus 15:39-40 (ESV)
And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of Yahweh, to do them, not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to whore after. So you shall remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God.
The purpose of wearing tzitzits is so that we can remember to keep all of the commandments of Yahweh so that we may be a set apart, holy, people (verse 40). Shouldn’t our children be given the same reminder? As parents we are to teach them the Law of Elohim; part of that Law is to wear tzitzits. So then the question is sometimes asked, “should we force our children to wear them?”.
Proverbs 22:6 (ESV)
Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Well, would you let your child kill someone or steal? Of course not. Do you force your children to obey the dietary instructions and have them rest on the Sabbath? Most likely if you’re following the dietary instructions and resting on the Sabbath, you’re having them do it too. It’s not different with wearing tzitzit.
If we’ve explained to our children their purpose, and we’re teaching them that we are to follow Yahweh, then it is our belief that we should make our children wear them also. By doing so, we’re reinforcing the importance of wearing them. As parents we need to practice what we are teaching them is right. When we are wearing them because Yahweh commands it and so they serve as a reminder for us be obedient, we are being an example for them to emulate.
If we choose not to have our children wearing tzitzit after teaching them their purpose and instead let them choose to not wear them, then we’re letting your children sin. We’ll leave you with this thought from the Messiah relating to causing or allowing our children to sin.
Matthew 18:6 (ESV)
but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
Mark 9:42 (ESV)
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.
Luke 17:2 (ESV)
It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.
The word for “cause” in the Greek is skandalizō (G4624) and carries with it an indication of putting an obstacle or stumbling block or enticing one to sin. If you tell a child they can’t have candy, but then you lay a piece out for them in their reach and walk away, which choice will most children make? The same is true here. The flesh doesn’t like to obey the Laws of Elohim, if given the choice, how many children do you think would choose to obey if their parents did not make them?Conclusion
For those who still believe that Father Yahweh's giving of the Holy Spirit did away with the need for tassels to be worn, we have a prophetic future indicator that this is not the case. In Zechariah 8:20-23 Yahweh says that during Yahshua's melinial reign over the whole planet, peoples from all nations will go up to Jerusalem to seek and pray before Yahweh (that is Yehoshua).
This is when He is ruling the earth. Some of the Gentiles will say to believing Jews (most likely believers in general, because in the New Covenant we are all Jews circumcised in the heart), "Let us go with you, for we have heard that Elohim is with you."
While they are saying this, they will be holding on to the believers' tzitzits (translated "sleeve" in NKJV). This lines up with all flesh worshiping Yahweh from new moon to new moon and Sabbath to Sabbath (Isaiah 66:23).
Believers will be wearing tzitzits while doing that and some Gentiles will be following them. That shows us that the tzitzits continue on perhaps until heaven and earth pass away, and the new heavens and earth are created. Men in this day and age have no shortage of excuses as to why we need not obey His commandments. We need to make a stand and declare the high calling of living by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of Yahweh. Remember the words of Yahweh in the book of Malachi, “I Yahweh, change not”.
Principle 4: Use the Bible to help interpret itself. Interpret difficult passages with clear ones. This is sometimes called the law of non-contradiction. Because the Bible is God’s word, and God is true, the Bible will not contradict itself.
This principle should also be used when attempting to avoid our own manmade thoughts, assumptions or imaginations that may contradict the commandments of Yahweh's Word.
2 Corinthians 10:5,"We tear down arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of Elohim; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Messiah. "
It's best to err on the side of the clear word of Yahweh as communicated to Moses. To avoid any mistake such as the Scribes and Pharisees, it's best to avoid our own unclear assumptions in favor of the already clearly expressed commandment of Yahweh.
Numbers 15:38-41 “Speak to the people of Israel, and tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a cord of blue on the tassel of each corner.
And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of Yahweh, to do them, not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to whore after. So you shall remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your Elohim. I am Yahweh your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your Elohim: I am Yahweh your Elohim.”
Deuteronomy 22:12 “You shall make tassels on the four corners of the clothing with which you cover yourself. Should Women Wear Tzitzits?
The question is simply this: Are all believers, including women, to wear tzitzits? OR is it just the men that are commanded to do so? Since sinning is defined as breaking the commandments of God (i.e. 1 John 3:4) and loving Elohim is defined as observing His commandments (i.e. 1 John 5:2-3), shouldn’t we agree that there is some sense of urgency in correctly understanding the scope and application of this commandment? There are two instances in the Law of Yahweh Elohim in which we find the commandment to wear tzitzits (tassels).
Numbers 15:37-40 Again Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel: Tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue thread in the tassels of the corners. And you shall have the tassel, that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of Yahweh and do them, and that you may not follow the harlotry to which your own heart and your own eyes are inclined, and that you may remember and do all My commandments, and be holy for your Elohim.”
Deuteronomy 22:12 “You shall make tassels on the four corners of the clothing with which you cover yourself. This is a unique commandment, as this commandment is designed to assist us in remembering to observe all commandments and thus be holy for our Elohim. Thus, if the premise and purpose of the commandment is established as such, logically we should conclude that the intent of the commandment should include women. If we were to test such logic to Scripture, it seems as though it would make sense to determine how the phrase “children of Israel” is applied as it relates to other commandments.
Here are a couple examples:
Leviticus 11:2 Speak to the children of Israel, saying, 'These are the animals which you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth:
Certainly, we know that the commandments governing what Elohim defines as food and not food also applies to women.
Leviticus 18:2 Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'I am Yahweh your Elohim….This opening statement leads into commandments speaking against incest and several other commandments. Again, we already know that these commandments are also intended for women. The very same Hebrew word that we have been reading for “children”, or sometimes translated as “sons” is the same in Leviticus 11:2 and Leviticus 18:2, as it is for the tzitzits (tsitsiyot) commandment in Numbers 15.
In just these examples, it is clear that the “children (ben – H1121) of Israel” is intended to address every Israelite, just like Numbers 15:37-40 says.
So why then is Numbers 15:37-40 uniquely interpreted to be a commandment solely intended for males? The unfortunate answer is that it seems to be simply a doctrine of tradition. At some point in history, the commandment became nullified for women because of tradition. As we should already know, the Scribes and the Pharisees were the common offenders of teaching such tradition and doctrines that nullified the Law of Moses. (see Mark 7 for example)
So, if someone suggests that women are not to wear tzitzits because the Hebrew word for “sons” or “children” is being used in Numbers 15, then by their very own logic and hermeneutics, women also have every right to eat pig and lobster (Leviticus 11) while not wearing their tzitzits.
We are not trying to be ridiculous in saying that, we are simply illustrating that the same Hebrew word is being used in Numbers 15 as well as Leviticus 11. And we cannot pick and choose how we apply it to different commandments or just for the sake of tradition. Yahshua, attempted to correct the Scribes and Pharisees and such error throughout His ministry.
For example, let’s look at Mark 7 now, in verse 6: Mark 7:6-7 He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men’” Mark 7:9 He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of Elohim, that you may keep your tradition.”Mark 7:13 “making the word of Elohim of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.”
It is the Word of Yahweh Elohim that we are to follow, not the doctrine and traditions of men. Even in Mark 7:10 specifically, we see that Yahweh is appealing to what was written by Moses as the Word of Elohim. We must remember that it is every word that came out of the mouth of Elohim which was food for us (Matthew 4:4). He also taught us to teach all nations to obey everything (not just some things) that He commanded.
Matthew 28:19-20 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you. Our Messiah Yahshua commanded us to observe and do what is read verbatim out of Moses’ Seat (the Law of Moses), but not do the traditions and doctrines that are against and nullify the Word of Elohim.
Mark 23:1-3 Then Yahshua spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.”
The Pharisees and the Scribes would read straight out of the Torah (the first five books of the Bible) to the people, but then when they left the Moses’ seat they would practice their traditions and commandments of men that were contrary to the Law of Moses. The consistent theme throughout the ministry of Yahshua was that true disciples should observe, do, and teach the Law of Elohim as written by Moses. If we start adding to or taking away from the Word of God (Deuteronomy 12:32) to satisfy our own traditions and commandments of men, then we are no better than the Pharisees whose righteousness we are to exceed.
Matthew 5:20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 23:28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. Thus, as it relates to whether tzitzits (tassels) are to be worn by male and female, it appears that the doctrine that declares that only men are to wear tzitzits, ultimately has no Biblical support, and strongly appears to be in Mark 7 and Matthew 23 territory.Examine these things for yourself to determine whether these things are true.
“Speak to the people of Israel”The King James Version translates the Hebrew word “ben” as children in the same place, among many others. The phrase “children of Israel” as used in Numbers 15 and many other places relates to all of Israel, both male and female. Thus I see no scripture indicating that a woman need not wear the tassels. It seems to me that just as men could use a reminder to keep Yahweh’s commandments, women could also. It also does not exclude the literal children.
There are some that argue that children should not wear tzitzits as they aren’t of the “age of accountability”.
The problem with that argument is that we’ve yet to see anywhere in Scripture that mentions a specific age at which people are accountable for their own actions and when they are not. If we look at the Torah, what we find is that if someone breaks the Law of Elohim, they are guilty, whether or not they are aware of it. There are sacrifices for sins as described in Leviticus 4. What seems to matter in terms of accountability, is being made aware of the sin. Breaking the Law of Elohim is always a sin, but awareness of it is what matters. For example, verses 27-28.
Leviticus 4:27-28 (ESV)
“If anyone of the common people sins unintentionally in doing any one of the things that by Yahweh's commandments ought not to be done, and realizes his guilt, or the sin which he has committed is made known to him, he shall bring for his offering a goat, a female without blemish, for his sin which he has committed.”
Do you see it? When the guilt is realized or the sin is made known to him. There isn’t an age given, but an amount of knowledge and understanding of what occurred. If we couple that with the commandment relating to wearing tzitzits and their purpose, we can easily answer the question about whether or not children should wear them.
Leviticus 15:39-40 (ESV)
And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of Yahweh, to do them, not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to whore after. So you shall remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God.
The purpose of wearing tzitzits is so that we can remember to keep all of the commandments of Yahweh so that we may be a set apart, holy, people (verse 40). Shouldn’t our children be given the same reminder? As parents we are to teach them the Law of Elohim; part of that Law is to wear tzitzits. So then the question is sometimes asked, “should we force our children to wear them?”.
Proverbs 22:6 (ESV)
Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Well, would you let your child kill someone or steal? Of course not. Do you force your children to obey the dietary instructions and have them rest on the Sabbath? Most likely if you’re following the dietary instructions and resting on the Sabbath, you’re having them do it too. It’s not different with wearing tzitzit.
If we’ve explained to our children their purpose, and we’re teaching them that we are to follow Yahweh, then it is our belief that we should make our children wear them also. By doing so, we’re reinforcing the importance of wearing them. As parents we need to practice what we are teaching them is right. When we are wearing them because Yahweh commands it and so they serve as a reminder for us be obedient, we are being an example for them to emulate.
If we choose not to have our children wearing tzitzit after teaching them their purpose and instead let them choose to not wear them, then we’re letting your children sin. We’ll leave you with this thought from the Messiah relating to causing or allowing our children to sin.
Matthew 18:6 (ESV)
but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
Mark 9:42 (ESV)
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.
Luke 17:2 (ESV)
It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.
The word for “cause” in the Greek is skandalizō (G4624) and carries with it an indication of putting an obstacle or stumbling block or enticing one to sin. If you tell a child they can’t have candy, but then you lay a piece out for them in their reach and walk away, which choice will most children make? The same is true here. The flesh doesn’t like to obey the Laws of Elohim, if given the choice, how many children do you think would choose to obey if their parents did not make them?Conclusion
For those who still believe that Father Yahweh's giving of the Holy Spirit did away with the need for tassels to be worn, we have a prophetic future indicator that this is not the case. In Zechariah 8:20-23 Yahweh says that during Yahshua's melinial reign over the whole planet, peoples from all nations will go up to Jerusalem to seek and pray before Yahweh (that is Yehoshua).
This is when He is ruling the earth. Some of the Gentiles will say to believing Jews (most likely believers in general, because in the New Covenant we are all Jews circumcised in the heart), "Let us go with you, for we have heard that Elohim is with you."
While they are saying this, they will be holding on to the believers' tzitzits (translated "sleeve" in NKJV). This lines up with all flesh worshiping Yahweh from new moon to new moon and Sabbath to Sabbath (Isaiah 66:23).
Believers will be wearing tzitzits while doing that and some Gentiles will be following them. That shows us that the tzitzits continue on perhaps until heaven and earth pass away, and the new heavens and earth are created. Men in this day and age have no shortage of excuses as to why we need not obey His commandments. We need to make a stand and declare the high calling of living by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of Yahweh. Remember the words of Yahweh in the book of Malachi, “I Yahweh, change not”.