Tzitzit: Remember and Obey

Can you look at a person and tell if they obey God, 

Just by looking at them?

WE ARE COMMANDED TO WEAR TZITZITS

Here is a Scripture-first and historically grounded presentation showing that God commanded His people to wear tzitzit (tassels/fringes) for all generations, and that this practice continued through biblical history—including the time of Christ.

I have included a message and a shorter message version for your home Sabbath gathering

1. The Direct Command from God (Torah)

Numbers 15:37–41

“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes (tzitzit) in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue:
And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them…
I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the LORD your God.”

Key points from the text:

• Command comes directly from YHWH, not man
• Applies to all Israel
• Explicit phrase: “throughout their generations”
• Purpose:
• Remember God’s commandments
• Prevent following the heart and eyes
• Reinforce obedience and holiness

There is no expiration clause anywhere in Scripture.

2. Reaffirmed in Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 22:12

“Thou shalt make thee fringes upon the four quarters of thy vesture, wherewith thou coverest thyself.”

This confirms:

• Tzitzit were part of daily clothing
• Not ceremonial-only
• Not limited to priesthood

3. Meaning of Tzitzit (Biblical Function)

The Hebrew word tzitzit (צִיצִת) means:

• A tassel, fringe, or visible reminder

According to Numbers 15:

• They are visual teaching tools
• Designed to call the wearer back to obedience
• Connected to all the commandments, not just some

The blue thread (tekhelet) points to:

• Heaven
• God’s authority
• His law coming from above

4. Practiced Faithfully in Biblical History

Time of the Judges & Kings

Israel is repeatedly rebuked not for wearing tzitzit, but for forgetting God’s law—the very reason tzitzit were given (Judges 2:10–12; Hosea 4:6).

Their presence is assumed, not debated.

5. Worn During the Time of Christ

Jesus Himself Wore Tzitzit

Matthew 9:20–21

“And, behold, a woman… came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment.”

The Greek word for “hem” here refers to the fringed edge—the tzitzit.

Matthew 14:36

“And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.”

This fulfills:

• Malachi 4:2 — “healing in His wings (kanaph = garment edge)”

Jesus did not abolish tzitzit.
He wore them properly.

Condemning Hypocrisy — Not the Command

Matthew 23:5

“But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments.”

Christ did not condemn tzitzit.
He condemned:

• Pride
• Showmanship
• Using obedience as a performance

If tzitzit were abolished or wrong, Christ would have said so plainly.

6. Continued After Christ’s Resurrection

The apostles continued living as Torah-observant Jews:

Acts 21:20

“Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law.”

No Scripture records:

• A command to stop wearing tzitzit
• God revoking Numbers 15
• A “new covenant” cancellation of this instruction

7. “For All Generations” — Has God Changed?

Malachi 3:6

“For I am the LORD, I change not…”

Psalm 111:7–8

“All his commandments are sure.
They stand fast for ever and ever…”

Isaiah 66:22–23

“…as the new heavens and the new earth… so shall your seed and your name remain.”

If:

• God does not change
• His commandments stand forever
• Israel’s identity continues

Then the burden of proof lies on anyone claiming tzitzit were abolished—yet no such verse exists.

8. Historical Jewish Practice (Extra-Biblical Confirmation)

• Dead Sea Scrolls include references to fringed garments
• First-century Jewish sources (Josephus, Mishnah) assume tzitzit as standard practice
• Archaeological finds show blue-dyed threads consistent with tekhelet

History confirms Scripture—it does not contradict it.

9. Summary (Plainly Stated)

✔ God commanded tzitzit
✔ The command is for all generations
✔ It was never revoked
✔ Christ wore them
✔ Apostles kept the Law
✔ Purpose remains valid today:

✔COMMANDED FOR ALL THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL, NOT JUST THE TRIBE OF JUDAH

Remember God’s commandments and walk in obedience

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Below is a full, ready-to-preach message manuscript, written in a clear, Scripture-centered style, suitable for home Sabbath services, and fellowship, or teaching. It stays faithful to the biblical text and avoids rabbinic tradition or church-creed framing.

“Remember and Do: God’s Command to Wear Tzitzit for All Generations”

Key Text: Numbers 15:37–41

Supporting Texts: Deuteronomy 22:12; Matthew 9:20–21; Matthew 23:5; Malachi 3:6; Psalm 111:7–8

Introduction

Brethren, today we are going to examine a command that is simple, visible, and yet widely ignored in modern religious practice.

It is not a tradition of men.
It is not a rabbinic invention.
It is not something added later.

It is a command that comes directly from God Himself, spoken to Moses, written in Scripture, and declared to be for all generations.

That command is the wearing of tzitzit—fringes or tassels—on the borders of our garments.

The question before us today is not:

“Is this Jewish?”
but rather:
“Did God command it—and did He ever revoke it?”

I. God’s Direct Command

Let us begin where all doctrine must begin—with Scripture.

Numbers 15:37–41 (read aloud)

“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations…”

Notice immediately:

• This command comes from YHWH
• It is spoken to all Israel
• And it is explicitly said to be “throughout their generations”

Brethren, God does not use careless language.
When He says throughout your generations, He means exactly that.

There is no expiration date in the text.

II. The Purpose of Tzitzit

God does not give commands without reason.

Verse 39 tells us why tzitzit were commanded:

“That ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes…”

Tzitzit serve three divine purposes:

1. A reminder of God’s commandments
2. A guard against self-will and deception
3. A call to holiness and obedience

This command is not ceremonial fluff—it addresses the human heart.

We forget.
We drift.
We follow our own eyes.

God gave a visible reminder to pull us back to obedience.

III. Reaffirmed in Deuteronomy

God repeats the command:

Deuteronomy 22:12

“Thou shalt make thee fringes upon the four quarters of thy vesture, wherewith thou coverest thyself.”

This shows:

• Tzitzit were part of everyday clothing
• Not limited to priests
• Not tied to the Temple
• Not described as temporary

God does not repeat commands He intends to discard.

IV. “For All Generations” Means What It Says

Scripture interprets Scripture.

Malachi 3:6

“For I am the LORD, I change not…”

Psalm 111:7–8

“All his commandments are sure.
They stand fast for ever and ever…”

If God does not change,
and His commandments stand forever,
then the burden of proof lies on anyone claiming this command ended.

And brethren—no verse exists that abolishes tzitzit.

V. Jesus Christ Wore Tzitzit

This is critical.

Matthew 9:20–21

“…she came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment.”

The word “hem” refers to the fringed edge—the tzitzit.

Matthew 14:36

“…that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.”

Jesus Christ:

• Wore tzitzit
• Kept the command perfectly
• Never rebuked the practice itself

In fact, this fulfills Malachi 4:2:

“Healing in His wings”
(kanaph—the edge or corner of a garment)

VI. What Christ Condemned—and What He Did Not

Some claim Jesus criticized tzitzit.

Let’s read carefully.

Matthew 23:5

“They make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments.”

Christ did not condemn tzitzit.
He condemned:

• Pride
• Hypocrisy
• Using obedience to be seen of men

The problem was motivation, not obedience.

If tzitzit were wrong or abolished, Christ would have said so plainly.

He did not.

VII. The Apostles Continued in Obedience

After Christ’s resurrection, nothing changed regarding God’s law.

Acts 21:20

“…many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law.”

There is:

• No command to stop wearing tzitzit
• No apostolic decree against it
• No Scripture stating it ended at the cross

Silence is not abolition.

VIII. Historical Confirmation

History supports Scripture:

• First-century Jews universally wore fringed garments
• Archaeology confirms blue-dyed threads
• No historical record shows believers abandoning tzitzit until centuries later—when Gentile Christianity separated itself from biblical practice

What changed was culture, not God’s Word.

IX. Why This Matters Today

Brethren, tzitzit are not about fashion.
They are not about identity politics.
They are not about show.

They are about remembering and doing what God has said.

In a world full of distraction,
God gave His people a visible anchor.

The question is not:

“What do churches say?”

The question is:

“What has God said?”

Conclusion

God commanded tzitzit
God said it was for all generations
God never revoked it
Christ wore them
The apostles upheld the Law

And the purpose remains:

“That ye may remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them.”

Brethren, obedience has never been popular—but it has always been right.

Let us choose to remember.
Let us choose to obey.
Let us choose to walk as Christ walked.

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Here is a shorter Sermonette version 

“Tzitzit: Remember and Obey”

Key Scripture: Numbers 15:37–41

Introduction

Brethren, God understands something about human nature—we forget.

We get distracted.
We follow our own eyes.
We drift from what we know is right.

So God, in His mercy, gave His people a visible reminder—a command meant to bring us back to obedience.

That command is the wearing of tzitzit, or tassels, on the borders of our garments.

God’s Command

Let us read Numbers 15:38–39.

God says this command is “throughout their generations.”
There is no limitation placed on it.
There is no verse that revokes it.

The purpose is clear:

“That ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them.”

Tzitzit are not decoration.
They are instruction.

Reaffirmed in the Law

God repeats the command in Deuteronomy 22:12, showing it was part of daily life—not temple ritual, not priestly clothing.

God does not repeat commands He intends to abolish.

Jesus Christ Wore Tzitzit

In Matthew 9:20, the woman touched the hem of Christ’s garment—the fringed edge.

Jesus did not set aside this command.
He fulfilled it perfectly.

When Christ condemned religious leaders, He did not condemn tzitzit—He condemned hypocrisy and pride (Matthew 23:5).

Obedience was never the problem.
Motivation was.

For All Generations

God says plainly:

• Malachi 3:6 — “I change not”
• Psalm 111:7–8 — His commandments stand forever

If God does not change, and the command was given for all generations, then it still stands today.

Why This Matters

Tzitzit remind us:

• To remember God’s commandments
• To resist following our own hearts
• To walk in holiness

In a world pulling us in every direction, God gave us a simple anchor.

Conclusion

Brethren, tzitzit are not about tradition or appearance.
They are about remembering and doing what God has said.

Let us walk as Christ walked.
Let us remember His commandments.
And let us choose obedience—every day.

“That ye may remember, and do all my commandments.”
(Numbers 15:39)