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Should a New Covenant Christian Wear Tassels?

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Should a New Covenant Christian Wear Tassels?

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In a related article, we learned about the Jewish customs of phylacteries and prayer shawls, that those practices are extra-biblical and therefore are not a requirement for Christians today. Another custom that makes an appearance occasionally today is that of wearing tassels. In this article, we will learn about the Old Testament instruction to wear tassels and discuss whether or not New Covenant Christians are still required to observe it today.

Tassels are small, knotted cords of strings, usually about six to 10 inches in length, worn about waist high. Often they are attached to a shawl or waistband, but can adorn any article of clothing.

There are two places in the Books of Moses that give instruction on tassels to the Israelites. The first is Numbers 15:38-40: “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 the Lord 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 God.”

Almighty God knew that the Israelites would forget His laws. So did Moses. After giving them the Ten Commandments and knowing that their heart was not right, God said, “Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!” (Deuteronomy 5:29).

Before Moses died God told him that He knew that Israel would forget His laws and Covenant in Deuteronomy 31:16. Moses also knew and warned them (Deuteronomy 31:29). So is it any wonder that God gave them some physical ways to remind themselves of His laws?

New Covenant Fulfillment

Paul called these reminders a schoolmaster—or in some translations a tutor. “Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith”(Galatians 3:24). The tutor has now brought us to Christ. We understand that we are to “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4), and have “put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him” (Colossians 3:10).

Galatians also teaches us that the ceremonial laws, given 430 years after the covenant with Abraham (which was based on his obedience to God’s commandments, laws, statutes, and charge—Genesis 26:5) did not change the covenant, but were added because of the record of disobedience of Israel, and would be binding on them until the coming of the Messiah.

In Hebrews we are given a kind of short list to determine just what laws we are talking about: “It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience—and concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances [physical rites] imposed until the time of reformation. But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation” (Hebrews 9:9-11).

In agreeing to the covenant with God in Exodus 19-23, the Israelites twice solemnly swore to obey God and abide by His laws. However, they very quickly disobeyed and demanded a golden calf to worship. This began a long series of sins breaking their promise. This proved to God that Israel did not understand the gravity and their commitment or fear God in the proper way. The purpose of the physical rites and sacrifices was to teach the people of Israel the importance of obeying God’s laws and the seriousness of transgressing them.

“What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator” (Galatians 3:19).

As a result of Jesus Christ being seated at the right hand of the Father and sending the Holy Spirit to be our helper, we now are to have the laws and commandments of God in our heart and mind. This is the most consequential change made possible by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on our behalf, and was prophesied by Jeremiah (Jeremiah 31:31-33), then reaffirmed by the author of Hebrews (Hebrews 8:8-10).

Deuteronomy 22—Judgments

The second chapter that gives instruction on tassels reveals that it is an application principle. This chapter is Deuteronomy 22 and contains judgments. Judgments are not commandments or statutes. They’re instructions on how to apply those laws to given situations. We make judgments every day of our lives as we let God’s laws lead and guide our decisions. Read the first 12 verses, and you will see that these instructions illustrate ways to apply the second great commandment: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18).

In this chapter the Israelites are instructed to return lost animals and garments, to give assistance to others when needed (Galatians 6:10), not to cross-dress, not to sow mixed seed, not to plow with unequal animals, or mix specific types of fibers. They are instructed to have mercy on mother birds and to always build a parapet on their house so as to prevent falling off.

While these are all instructions from God and have a spiritual basis, not all apply in a physical way today. Most of us do not live in a house with a parapet (a vertical wall extending past the roofline), however we keep this in principle by making our houses as safe as possible for residents and guests.

The original scriptural intent behind the fringed garment was to remind the Israelites of God’s commandments to them. They were slaves of sin because, lacking the Spirit of God, their human nature and Satan’s influence caused them to resist doing what was right. God intended they be a model nation for the world to take note of, but they weren’t able to do so for very long—they gave in to the base human instincts we are all very familiar with. But that charge to overcome our nature has now been made possible with the giving of the Holy Spirit. We can now obey from the heart. Paul wrote: “But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness” (Romans 6:17-18).

The instruction to make tassels to remind Israelites not to forget God’s law is now applied by worshipping God not just outwardly, but in spirit and truth. Jesus Christ told the woman at the well, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24).

Spiritual Reminders Supercede Physical Ones

Since the coming of the Holy Spirit, which enables us to kill or mortify sin (Romans 8:13), we are to be constantly reminded by spiritual means of our covenant with our God and our need to live righteous lives. God’s written Word is the first and foremost way of doing this.

Peter wrote that his epistles would be one reminder (2 Peter 1:15, 3:1-2). We also are to be reminded regularly by our ministers at Sabbath services, at Bible studies, and in fellowship and conversation with God’s people. Paul instructed Timothy to be careful to do this (2 Timothy 2:12-14).

Paul understood that believers were to admonish each other, and he was to remind them constantly of their calling, future, and need to obey God. He wrote, “Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another” (Romans 15:14).

One of the functions of the Spirit of God is to help us remember the teachings of Jesus Christ. Before He was crucified, Jesus promised His disciples: “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you” (John 14:26).

Jesus’ Teaching on Pharisees, Phylacteries and Tassels

Many people believe that Jesus wore a garment with tassels, and the biblical record seems to affirm that He did during His human life. Matthew 14:36 and parallel verses give accounts that people in need of healing “begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well.” The Greek word translated “hem”—kraspedon—can mean border, hem or fringe.

That same word is also used in a very strong sermon Jesus gave denouncing the scribes and Pharisees. “But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders [kraspedon] of their garments” (Matthew 23:5). The thing that’s very clear is His condemnation of doing religious-looking things in order to be seen by others. Over and over again, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for their approach to their religion—stating that it was hypocritical (Luke 12:1), that their father was Satan the devil and they were doing Satan’s bidding (John 8:44), and that they had made the law of God of no effect in their lives due to their traditions (Mark 7:7-8). Their worship was vanity because their motive was wrong.

Jesus powerfully made the point in His sermon on the mount:

Take heed that ye do not your righteousness before men, to be seen of them: else ye have no reward with your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 6:1, American Standard Version).

Those who wear tassels usually do so out of a sincere desire to obey God. But all too often there have been examples of individuals who have made their observance of this issue (or any other countless number of issues) a cause for division in the Body of Christ. Jesus condemned the scribes and Pharisees for obeying the physical commands to the smallest degree while neglecting the weightier matters of the law (Matthew 23:23-24).

Likewise we should not make any physical command of which we are personally convinced into an issue that causes division. Paul tackled similar issues in Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8, where he instructed that, if there is a disagreement between people on a matter regarding a physical observance, let each be fully convinced in his own mind (Romans 14:5), and that each should give preference to the other in order not to cause them to stumble before God (1 Corinthians 8:9). Instead, he wrote, let us pursue things which make for peace and which edify one another (Romans 14:19).

We are now called to seek those things that are above, where the Messiah reigns from on high (Colossians 2:20-3:1). We now have a “better covenant based on better promises” (Hebrews 8:6). Let us not pursue the vain religion of the Pharisees that seeks recognition from other people. Instead, let us pursue those things which edify the Body, joining and knitting it together by what every member supplies (Ephesians 4:16).

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Comments

  • craigm

    What is the main characteristic that separates commandments that a Christian should keep, from commandments that a Christian need not keep? It doesn't seem obvious from the Scriptures. There are many Christians who argue, by the same principle, that other Old Testament commands are ceremonial and obsolete (or the principle to be observed in the heart/spirit), but United Church of God advocates them: such as clean and unclean meats, and the Sabbath and Holy Days. Why would the rationale presented here for tassels _not_ apply to the clean and unclean meats laws, for example?

  • treeguy87

    Hello, Craig! What a great question! I agree that it doesn't always seem obvious - sometimes I feel like it would be so much easier if God had just made a checklist of "do's and do not's". Let me give you 2 answers: a direct answer, and a short answer.

    The Direct Answer: Some commands - such as the laws you mentioned (clean and unclean meats + the Sabbath) - were established before the "Old Covenant" and have been in place since the beginning of mankind. For clean and unclean meats, remember early on that God made a distinction between the two in the story of Noah in Genesis 7? The weekly Sabbath, of course, was established at creation in Genesis 2:2-3.

    The Short Answer: Commands are given to people (or specific groups of people) at a specific times, for specific purposes. When studying specific commands, it's important to look at the Bible in its entirety and not zoom-in too closely on any one command.

    So, what laws still apply to us today? Gary Petty gave 2 sermons which should thoroughly answer your question:
    https://www.ucg.org/sermons/doctrine-of-the-covenants-of-god-part-1
    https://www.ucg.org/sermons/doctrine-of-the-covenants-of-god-part-2

    Enjoy your study!!

  • Skip Miller

    Hello Craig, I strongly believe that Mr. Sexton explained the parameters of wearing Tassels very clearly in his article. But may i quote and then make my own observation? The quote:
    "The original scriptural intent behind the fringed garment was to remind the Israelites of God’s commandments to them. They were slaves of sin because, lacking the Spirit of God, their human nature and Satan’s influence caused them to resist doing what was right. God intended they be a model nation for the world to take note of, but they weren’t able to do so for very long—they gave in to the base human instincts we are all very familiar with. But that charge to overcome our nature has now been made possible with the giving of the Holy Spirit. We can now obey from the heart. Paul wrote: “But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness” (Romans 6:17-18). My observation is this: If we have God's Holy Spirit, THAT will lead us into all Truth. We may not be sure of small, incidental, unimportant points but we will be utterly convicted on the big!

  • rjmoore007

    Your article begins with something of a dis-service. 'Tassels' are not a 'Jewish Tradition', they are a command given by God to His people. We should not take the commands in the bible and demote them to a place alongside 'the traditions of the elders'. Jesus confronted these 'traditions' every time he performed a miracle as recorded in the gospels.

    When trying to make Torah of no effect it is fairly typical for 'church' to use terms such as Jewish commands/traditions/laws. Another term that can make the reader see the commands as not applicable to them - Israelite. The use of Israelite today will be mostly understood in an ethnic sense since a lack of education and biblical understanding means that most do not see that 'a mixed multitude' left Egypt and received the commands from YHVH at Sinai - and so others were 'grafted in' to Israel. They will not see today that Israel is God's Chosen People and that is with whom Covenant is made.

    Reading today of Torah may well mean that we have to look for spiritual application of many things but you run the risk of trivialising. Flat roof houses are still built today and parapets can be built. Tzitzits can also still be worn.

  • Skip Miller

    Hello Robert, 4 or 5 years ago my wife and I were keeping the Days of Unleavened Bread with Brethren in Florida. A gentleman who had read our literature had asked the local pastor if he could attend on one of the high days and he did with Tzitzits. They were modest (and I would say, most appropriate.) We talked about them because I was somewhat unfamiliar. The wearing of them is not common (with us) but certainly not a big issue. I hope that sometime you will visit and enjoy our fellowship.

  • Freemana

    Did I miss something? If the attention of the fringe was at the hem where the sick desired to touch Jesus' garment, why is the modern description worn at the waist. And discreetly at that according to Karen's comment.

  • KSRichard

    Anna, scripture does not dictate the exact location of the fringe other than being on the 'four corners' (or Kanaph - same phrase used for gathering from the four corners of the Earth, also translated as 'borders' and 'ends') of our covering garments. Nor does it dictate that they should be worn discreetly (they were to be a visible reminder) - this came about from man-made traditions of attaching them to undergarments. The location of where they are worn has changed based on the covering wardrobe worn within the culture at any given time.

  • commandfollower

    Allow me to offer a third observation on the Biblical commandment concerning the wearing of tassels:

    Some people wear reminders every day. Husband and wife may choose to wear wedding bands, to remind them they are physically and spiritually bound to each other. I recall going to a meeting a couple of years ago, where the speaker mentioned that he wears a wedding band because so many women find him desirable. The wedding band alerts the pursuing women that he is taken, and he keeps knowledge that he is married. Is this husband being ceremonial, or staying faithful? Has this practice been done away with? Is it Judaizing? Or does the husband preserve his integrity and honor by wearing the ring, which causes him to adhere to the commandment not to commit adultery and remain faithful to his spouse? If we, the children of Israel, call ourselves "His bride," we wear tassels (the wedding rings) on our garments to keep ourselves faithful and obedient. There are married men (and women) committing adultery because they choose not not wear rings. Is God's command in Numbers directing us to wear tassels no more valid than personal choices made by people to wear or forgo rings?

  • commandfollower

    I believe that this commandment, as with the Sabbath command in Exodus 20, is controversial among so many churches because it is in the "Old Testament." Even the Church of God reminds us of one of the Savoir's warnings to us: "Anyone who breaks the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven." The children of Israel during the time of Moses was a "mixed multitude," people from every nation, culture, and language were in the wilderness and desert when our Father gave them this command for them to obey " throughout their generations," which could mean forever, until heaven and earth pass away. Our Savior wore tassels, not because he was a devout Jew. He wore them because His Father told His Son to wear them, and the Son always listens to His Father! If we obey the Ten Commandments, remember the Sabbath, and follow God's Laws, why do we choose to minimize this command and not do it? There is nothing ceremonial about wearing tassels. They are 24/7 reminders to help us keep our thoughts and actions focused where they should be: on God. Today's children of Israel live around the world; this law is still in effect in 2018.

  • randyvild

    Tassels came into the scriptures because of a physical people. They needed the blood of a Lamb which was also commanded. However, why sacrifice a lamb when you have something superior in Christ?
    The only way a true believer of the new spiritual order would wear such things is for outside religion.
    Why wear tassels if you have access to the greatest power in the universe? It is actually an insult to that power.
    Jeremiah 31:33
    This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time," declares the LORD. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

    The new is inward not outward.
    Lastly, Jesus said,
    let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works, and may glorify your Father Who is in heaven.
    Does not say let your tassels dangle.
    Look upward not downward.

  • Karen Buchkowski

    Excellent article! Tassels are not part of the identity of United Church of God. If one believes he must wear them, love and respect for others would suggest keeping them discreetly concealed while at services.

  • KSRichard

    To me, love and respect would imply that it shouldn't matter if someone else in the church wears them or not. This is exactly why Paul admonished that we shouldn't let physical issues such as these divide us. And it goes both ways. One shouldn't demand others wear tassles (tzitzit-yot) nor should one demand that they don't.

    Tzitzit-yot can serve both as a powerful witness to others of His way of life and be a gentle reminder of our own personal relationship with Him individually (even through the Holy Spirit) - not unlike a wedding ring. Asking someone to do the same with tzitzit-yot is like asking them to hide their relationship in shame and conceal their faith and commitment to God Himself. Is that really the end result Paul was striving for?

    And implying that wearing them is only done so in vain because the spiritual requirement is fulfilled is misleading. If this were the case, then any physical requirement performed by someone in the church today would be considered being done in vain - including deleavening our homes, fasting for Atonement or even resting on the Sabbath. The point is we should not have haughty attitudes claiming we are more righteous for doing them.

  • jernst

    I started reading this article a little skeptical. After finishing it, however, my opinion on tassels may change. Great article!

  • Scotch
    We are to walk as Jesus walked. He wore tassels therefore His people wear tassels. You can say that we are "causing division" but remember we must not sacrifice Truth for unity. This is nothing more than Catholic doctrine. We are to be united in TRUTH. We are expressly commanded to wear tassels upon our garments. Jesus wore them and you acknowledge this. Nowhere in Scripture is the term "ceremonial law" used. Therefore it is nothing more than a "doctrine of men".
  • Aaron3595

    I agree with you Scotch. Jesus may have condemned the interpretation and execution of the command (to wear tassels) by the Pharisees but that doesn’t mean he determined it null and void. If that was the case, why did he criticized the Pharisees for their interpretation of the Sabbath but still followed it?

  • rjmoore007

    And let us not forget that the writing of the law on our hearts is a process (pursuit even) because if it was a one off then we would all be 'Guarding the Sabbath' and 'eating food not abominations' from the moment we accepted Yeshua as our Messiah and King......

    It would seem to me that we must desire for the law to be written on our hearts that we may also fulfil as we are intended, just as Yeshua fulfilled it as required.... does this change at His return? I look forward to finding out.

    WWJD - he would wear tzitzit

    And fulfil the prophecy that he would have healing in his wings.

  • Lena VanAusdle

    If you look at the context of the tassel (tzitzit) command, it is in the same section of scripture as the sacrifices and penalties for sin (not with the Ten Commandments, not with the food laws, not even with most of the civil laws). What can we take from this positioning? Is it possible that wearing the tassel was similar to a sacrifice and an offering? Sacrifices and offerings were a picture of the penalty for sin that Jesus Christ would later pay. As you said, Jesus Christ would have worn the tzitzit, He likely would have also offered offerings and sacrifices. But once He died, the penalty for sin was paid; there is no longer a need for physical sacrifices. The NT shows us there is no longer a need for circumcision (at outward symbol of a spiritual act); with the coming of God's Holy Spirit, is there still a need for that physical reminder?

    Since God told us He would write His laws on our hearts and on our minds (through the circumcision of our hearts through the Holy Spirit), are we denying that power by choosing to continue a physical symbol of something spiritual?

  • jmparkhill
    Thanks so much for this Biblical insight and instructions. So many out there that want to Judaize and bring us back to those things that do not profit our salvation and liberty in Christ
  • commandfollower

    Jesus our Savior was born a Jew, lived as a Jew, and died on Earth as the King of the Jews. The first people of the Way (Christians) were devout Jews, and the first 15 bishops of the early Christian church in Rome were Jewish. The first Christians were also Jews, and the first Christian church resembled a Jewish sect -- why, it was Jewish! "Judaize" also means "developing into the character of Jesus," who was and is Jewish! Why does "Christian" have to mean "apart from its roots," which are very Jewish? The Jews are not our enemies; ignorance and arrogance are!

  • fadestyle

    "So many out there that want to Judaize and bring us back to those things that do not profit our salvation and liberty in Christ"
    What does "Judaize" mean?
    "do not profit"? what part of the bible do we not profit from?
    Maybe you are confusing the Pharisees "traditions of men" Jesus rebuked while they were outside of the seat of Moses?

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