Phylacteries and Fringes

People who do not attend a church often say, there are hypocrites  there. It could be true because religion has true spirit filled believers and some who are phony people, as in the days of Jesus. The supposed leaders of truth and righteousness sought to kill Jesus in their hearts. Are we for him or against him?

Mat 23:1  Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 

Mat 23:2  “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, 

Mat 23:3  so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. 

Mat 23:4  They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. 

Mat 23:5  They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, 

Mat 23:6  and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues 

Mat 23:7  and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. (ESV Bible)

So what are these phylacteries? The devout people would fasten Bible verses of the law by leather straps over the heart and the forehead. The Pharisees enlarged these straps to appear more holy before the people. The ends of their robes had long fringes or tassels, for looks. The prophet Malachi spoke of the wings of a garment, the border that had healing power.

Mal 4:2  But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. 

Mal 4:3  And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts. 

There is the account of a woman being healed by the touching  of Jesus' garment.

Mark 5:25  And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, 

Mar 5:26  And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, 

Mar 5:27  When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. 

Mar 5:28  For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. 

Mar 5:29  And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. 

Mar 5:30  And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? 

Mar 5:31  And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? 

Mar 5:32  And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. 

Mar 5:33  But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. 

Mar 5:34  And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague. 

We are to know the word of God and to live the word. We are not to be pretenders but by the presence of God we can do things beyond our natural self.  Let the power of God be in you and in  the church.

He Touched Me