A person asked this week if we as Christians are only expected to obey the 10 Commandments or whether we are to be obedient to all of the commands in the Books of Moses, the Torah (which translates as “the instruction”).
In my study of the Book of Matthew this week, I read the following passage:
Matthew 14:34-36
34 And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognized him, they sent around to all that region and brought to him all who were sick 36 and implored him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.
I also found a similar healing in Matthew 9:20-22
20 And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, 21 for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” 22 Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well.
Why did Jesus wear the tassels/fringe on his garment?
Deuteronomy 22:12 “You shall make yourself tassels on the four corners of the garment with which you cover yourself.”
Numbers 15:37-41
37 The Lord said to Moses, 38 “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. 39 And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the Lord, to do them, not to follow[a] after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to whore after. 40 So you shall remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God. 41 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.”
Jesus is our Perfect Sacrifice – the Perfect Lamb for the atonement of our sins. Only if He kept ALL of the commands of God could He be perfect and able to sacrifice Himself to bring us forgiveness of our sins.
Wearing the fringe was a command of YHWH, the LORD as seen in the Scriptures above. Therefore, in perfect obedience to the Torah, Jesus wore the fringes as God had commanded.
John 13:13-16
13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant[a] is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.”
1 Corinthians 11:1 (Paul writes)
“Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.”
1 John 2:6
6 “whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.”
Jesus is our example – as such should we not strive to do as He did? He obeyed the Torah perfectly. Obviously, we as humans fall very short of anything perfect, but wouldn’t it be a good idea to try?
While salvation is by grace alone, Deuteronomy 28 talks extensively about the blessings that come upon God’s people for obedience to the Torah – and the dreadful cursings that come upon them for disobedience. As believers, we claim to be of the family of God, ingrafted into His people. Would it not be wise to follow His instructions for how to live and receive His blessings and commendation?
Yes, we are saved by grace alone, believing that Jesus’ death on the cross was the perfect sacrifice. There is nothing we can do to save ourselves. He made this unbelievable sacrifice, because of His great love for us! Because of His love, I believe it is only natural to want to obey His commands and laws out of our love for Him. And these guidelines and commands help us live a life fashioned after His life. Don’t we want to be like our Savior? Jesus even said in John 14:15, If you love me, keep my commandments. It is easy to love someone who loves us, especially when that person has done so much for us. He came to this earth, not to only die for us, but to show us how to live. He spent many hours in communion with His Father, which gave Him the strength to combat the devil. We should follow His example in spending time in His word and talking with Him in prayer, thus we can have this same power to resist the devil. Our lives will be enriched by following not only His commandments, but all of the other instructions He gives us in His word. An example of one of the many guidelines He gave us was to to “love one another” as He has loved us. He also told us to love our enemies. He showed us not to have fear, as He calmed the stormy sea in Matt. 14:24-33. We many times look at the “waves”instead of keeping our eyes fixed on the Savior. He says in Isaiah 43:2, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you”.