Traditions have been handed down through the generations and Satan has blindsided us in our excitement to obey our Creator. So I ask, are we doing something because we think it's right or because we know it's right? Are we pleasing ourselves or are we pleasing YHWH by obeying His Command? His Instructions in Righteous Living are not traditions. If we're not careful to see the difference between His original intentions and what man has added over the years, we will inadvertently begin to 'worship' the created thing instead of the Creator. If we do things our own way we are doubting the Word of Yah and have fallen into the same trap set by Satan in the Garden.
Romans 1:25 - They exchanged the truth of Yah for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise...
Here is an example of a command, simple to understand, and later turned into a tradition:
Numbers 15:38 we find the instructions to make fringes on the corners of a garment and to attach a cord of blue to the fringe at each corner. These fringed corners with an attached cord of blue served to help one remember all the commandments of YHWH, to live by them and not follow after our own heart and eyes in lustful urges. These fringes were not beaded, braided, knotted, wrapped or multicolored or to be anywhere but the four corners of a garment. This command was given after a man was found gathering wood on the day of rest. He was made an example of and, in contrast, perhaps willingly disobeyed the command not to do this.
A few verses earlier YHWH says if anyone unwittingly fails to observe any one of the commandments they were instructed to provide a burnt offering; if an individual sinned unwittingly they were to bring a sin offering. Our loving Father was still training up His children. When they accidentally did the wrong thing He allowed them to be forgiven by bringing the appropriate offering to the priest. It makes sense the He would add a little reminder after the fact, The Fringes Command (aka tzitzits), for His people so they would not to do things as they saw fit, but to abide by every word of YHWH. He did something similar after the Nadab and Abihu incident, about drinking too much wine.
So then, if we are abiding by His Instructions, would we substitute one thing for another; add to His Command or do something we think is better? That didn't work out so well for Nadab and Abihu, or the man who decided to gather fire wood on the day of rest. We must not continue to make it up as we go along. His Instructions are set in stone and for all of us.
Making fringes on the corners of a garment and adding a blue cord is the command. The knotting and wrapping of strings is tradition.
Tradition has turned "fringes" into ornamental tzitzits complete with mystic overtones by wrapping and knotting them, denoting numbers and applying the system of gematria, which is numerology, which is from pagan traditions. That is the 'tradition' I am pointing out. I do not deny the command or that Set Apart believers, including Y'shua, wore garments with fringed corners.
Mark 7:5
The scribes and the Pharisees ask Y'shua, "Why don't your disciples walk according to the traditions of the elders? His short answer is: "You hypocrites... You have left the Commandment of Elohim and have embraced the tradition of men. ... And you despise the Word of Elohim because of the tradition that you have handed down..."
Mark 7:8
You have disregarded the commandment of Elohim to keep the tradition of men.” He went on to say, “You neatly set aside the commandment of YHWH to maintain your own tradition.
Mark 7:13
Thus you nullify the word of Elohim by the tradition you have handed down. And you do so in many such matters.
Romans 1:25
They exchanged the truth of Elohim for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise...
Jeremiah 9:12
Yahweh replied: Because they forsook the Teaching I had set before them. They did not obey Me and they did not follow it but followed their own willful heart and followed the Baalim, as their fathers had taught them.
Definition of tradition:
1: an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior (as a religious practice or a social custom) : a belief or story or a body of beliefs or stories relating to the past that are commonly accepted as historical though not verifiable
2: the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction
3: cultural continuity in social attitudes, customs, and institutions
4: characteristic manner, method, or style
Here is the 'traditional way' to make tzitzits and I share this post from Aish so you can see for yourself how far Yah's command has been perverted from His Instruction and to caution you against purchasing or making these for yourself. Quote: Each string actually consists of two threads twisted together, and must be spun especially for the sake of Tzitzit. Therefore one should buy Tzitzit that carry a proper rabbinic supervision. Once you've purchased the strings, it's not so difficult to attach them yourself. It's fun and meaningful. The process of putting Tzitzit on the garment is as follows:
- use four strings, one which is longer, to wrap around the others
- tie the four ends together, to ensure that each string will end up with one end on each side.
- insert the strings into the hole, and be sure to say "Le'shem mitzvat Tzitzit."
- tie a double-knot
- wind the longer string around the others 7 times
- tie a double-knot, and wind the longer string around the others 8 times
- tie a double-knot, and wind the longer string around the others 11 times
- tie a double-knot, and wind the longer string around the others 13 times
- tie a (fifth and final) double-knot (end quote)
Compared to the instruction in Numbers 15:38,
this reads like a lesson in witchcraft!
Colossians 2:8
Beware, or else any man make you naked by philosophy and by vain deception, according to the doctrines of men, according to the rudiments of the world and not according to the Mashiyach...
For the record, I presently do not own a four cornered garment of which to fringe the corners and add a cord of blue. I do think about it and plan to make such a garment, as either a linen or cotton tunic, either fabric would fringe nicely, and I do have a length of blue cord in my sewing box... some day I will do this, but in the meantime I won't substitute tradition for His Word.
Here are a few examples of Scriptures which have been twisted by man's imagination resulting in traditions that have been handed down and accepted by many in the Hebrew Roots phase of their lives, as I once did:
- Mezuzahs - The Instruction is to take to heart His Instructions, the laws and the rules, and as it is written in Deuteronomy 6:9 "inscribe them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." Tradition has it that you write 'the prayer Shema Yisrael' and place it inside a decorative case (mezuzah) which is then attached at an angle to the door frame of an entry way. Then you touch it and/or kiss it each time you pass by it.
- Shabbat observance A Seven Day count which does not always fall on a Sun. or Sat. and teaches how YHWH counts the days, months and years.
- Feast Days (Yah's Moedim) Many specifics relating to His Set Apart times for us cannot be adhered to since the temple and priesthood no longer exist. Also we need take into consideration that Y'shua gave himself as the sacrifice for our atonement from sin, so there is no need of any other offerings to be made.
- Ram's Horns (shofars) and the two Silver Trumpets and who is to use them:
Numbers 10:
Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, “Make two silver trumpets. Of hammered work.... and you shall use them for summoning the congregation and for breaking camp. When both are blown, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the entrance of the tent of meeting. But if they blow only one, then the chiefs, the heads of the tribes of Israel, shall gather themselves to you. When you blow an alarm, the camps that are on the east side shall set out. And when you blow an alarm the second time, the camps that are on the south side shall set out. An alarm is to be blown whenever they are to set out. But when the assembly is to be gathered together, you shall blow a long blast, but you shall not sound an alarm. And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets. The trumpets shall be to you for a perpetual statute throughout your generations.
Step back and take some time to read Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy again, without looking for some deeper meanings. Read these books as a light surface reading, then read them again... read them one more time, without referring to your Strong's concordance or the Hebrew Greek Interlinear. See if Yah's Set Apart Spirit has enough to work with in revealing the truth to you. Don't let objects of Jewish traditions or man's imagination become a distraction, a stumbling block or a snare. Don't wear those designer tzitzits just because you love to wear them or other's think they are cool. They are not a badge proving your worth nor do they make you a representative of the Most High. Don't envy the guy with the shiny ram's horn or kiss that icon in the doorway. YHWH does not require this type of behavior and we are not honoring Him by doing things the way we think they should be done.
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