Wearing the tzitziyot (fringes) is a mitzvah (commandment) that still benefits the believer under the New Covenant today. The function of the tzitzit is still the same and this mitzvah has a place within the framework of YHWH’s work among His people from beginning to end.

In part one of this series the commandment was introduced. In part two, we looked into the applicability of this commandment to those of us under the New Covenant. In this installment, part three, we will consider the benefit to be found in observing this mitzvah.

It seems to me the reason the mitzvah of tzitzit is so often set aside by those who otherwise consider themselves to be Torah-observant today lies in its purely symbolic nature. The thinking appears to be that symbolic equates with disposable.

Many seem to act on the notion that once the message of a given symbol in Scripture is understood (or thought to be understood) it can be discarded as no longer valuable. Having obtained the candy bar within, so to speak, the wrapper becomes a nuisance.

But there are more benefits to symbolism than merely wrapping an idea. Far more. Beyond being a means to convey ideas, symbols are far more valuable when they become powerful expressions of connection and involvement with the ideas thereby represented.

As such, they offer the opportunity to put us in a frame of mind to deepen that connection and involvement. And that is the phenomenal benefit of the tzitziyot today, as it was when originally commanded.

To help illustrate this idea, let’s consider a widely familiar and used symbol in our society today: the wedding ring. Many recognize the obvious fact that wearing a band of metal upon one’s finger does not constitute a marriage nor will it ensure fidelity.

How could it? A great many people wear a wedding ring out of shear habit, to please others, as a status symbol, or just because that is what they think is expected of them. For them the symbol has shallow, if any, meaning. That in itself can be symbolic of something else.

But for some, a wedding ring communicates more than the fact that a commitment was made at some point in the past. For them, the symbol comes to represent present feelings and value associated with their marriage relationship and partner.

And because of that, they find at times the symbol opens the door to momentary and spontaneous reflection on the other person or on the relationship itself. In so doing, the symbol becomes further imbued with personal meaning to the wearer. And more personally valuable to the relationship.

The symbol powerfully serves to bring the wearer into remembrance and a particular frame of mind and attitude in regards to their relationship with the other person throughout the day. People who find this value in the symbol are actually wearing a wedding ring for themselves rather than for others.

The effectiveness of the symbol in promoting deeper love and more fidelity is not the symbol itself, but what the symbol comes to personally represent. If it represents nothing, it has no power. If the symbol is considered a mockery, then it might even serve as an inducement to infidelity.

But if it represents a valued and beautiful relationship with someone else, it is capable of carrying a powerful message encouraging deeper love through reflection and fidelity even under times of temptation to be otherwise.

All of this is true with the mitzvah of tzitzit. In fact some have compared the fringe to a wedding ring. The parallels are readily apparent, though some will certainly take exception to that particular comparison.

The tzitziyot symbolizes a commitment to the righteousness and sovereignty of YHWH in our lives, which is what Torah represents. And the more this symbol spurs us on to reflecting upon, and making choices consistent with, His righteousness and sovereignty over our lives the more it draws us to where the Spirit is leading us.

For the New Covenant believer, the righteousness and sovereignty of YHWH in our lives are both foundational and intrinsic to who we are in Messiah. We find our standing in the Kingdom by YHWH’s righteousness, not our own. And under the New Covenant, His Torah is written in our hearts and His Spirit is put within us.

That doesn’t replace Torah, it puts us in sympatico with it. Torah is a written reflection of YHWH and we are called to be a living reflection of YHWH. Torah, insomuch as it represents the righteousness of YHWH and His call for us to reflect that righteousness in our lives, is who we are as YHWH’s people. And the tzitziyot have always been a symbol of that.

Just as the written Torah is not invalidated because it is now written in our hearts, the mitzvah of tzitzit is not invalidated by the presence of the Spirit within us to remind us of YHWH’s righteousness. Rather, the tzitziyot are a tool by which the Spirit invites us to reflect on YHWH’s righteousness and sovereignty while revealing those things to us as we reflect upon them.

Besides the benefit of the symbol of tzitzit to our faith as it reminds us to consider the righteousness and sovereignty of YHWH, there is another reason to observe the mitvah of tzitzit: It represents what His people do. From beginning to end.

Here are some Scriptures as they relate to our observation of the mitzvah of tzitzit for your further reflection:

The tzitziyot represent Torah, which predates Moses:

…I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham… Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. (Genesis 26:3-5 KJV)

The tzitziyot represent Torah, which was promoted by Messiah:

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:17-19 KJV)

The tzitziyot represent the commandments of YHWH, of which disregard is a mark of those who are not His:

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:21-23 KJV)

And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? (Luke 6:46 KJV)

Conversely, the tzitziyot represent the commandments of YHWH which are a mark of those who are His:

If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. (John 15:10 KJV)

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. (John 14:23 KJV)

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. (John 14:21 KJV)

The tzitziyot represent the commandments of YHWH which are a mark of true believers in the end times, even to the New Jerusalem:

And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 12:17 KJV)

Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. (Revelation 14:12 KJV)

Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. (Revelation 22:14 KJV)

WWJD? Let’s start with WDJAD…What Did Jesus Actually Do? Yeshua wore tzitziyot. That fact is lost in most translations, though most commentators verify this:

And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment [tzitzit] : For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. (Matthew 9:20-21 KJV)

And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased; And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment [tzitzit] : and as many as touched were made perfectly whole. (Matthew 14:35-36 KJV)

And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment [tzitzit]: and as many as touched him were made whole. (Mark 6:56 KJV)

Tzitziyot are symbolic in a prophecy of which we are a partial beginning fulfillment:

Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt [ie. tzitzit] of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you. (Zechariah 8:23 KJV)

I take this verse to be prophetic of the eventual reunification of the Southern (Judah) and Northern Kingdoms (Ephraim, or Israel) in the eventual restoration of Jerusalem. The ten goyim (Gentiles) represent the ten lost tribes who were largely scattered among the nations. They reconnect with YHWH’s righteousness and instruction as represented by their grasping the tzitzit (a symbol of Torah, or return to YHWH’s word), of “a Jehudite.” A Jehudite is someone from the tribe of Judah. That man in this prophecy is our Messiah. They go with Him because He is their way back to Elohim (God).

We who were Gentiles and have grabbed hold of the fringe of Yeshua for our healing, for our righteousness, for our direction back to YHWH, are included in this picture. I’d wear tzitziyot to reflect on that alone, even if all the other reasons were not present. But they are present! I encourage you to reflect on the Scriptures above and seek the Spirit’s leading as to whether or not you should observe this mitzvah and allow it to work as a powerful symbol in your own faith and practice.

As with all mitzvot, we are the ones who benefit from the doing of them. We are the ones blessed. They are a gift from YHWH to mankind. It behooves us to go ahead and grasp around through the mire stirred by the trampling of others. Though they may see no value in the pearls to be found, we may seek them out and treasure them to ourselves. That was why He cast them before His people in the first place.

In the next part of this series on the mitzvah of tzitzit, the fourth and final installment, we will consider how the mitzvah may be faithfully observed under the New Covenant. I’ll also point out some resources that may be found on the internet for those who wish to acquire or make their own tzitziyot.

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Copyright 2010 Jim Zboran. All rights reserved.
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