Numbers 15:37-41 – Tassels
God has just provided a way for sins of ignorance and weakness to be forgiven; now He provides a way to prevent such sins. The Israelites are ordered to make tassels on the corners of their garments, which are to remind them of their duty, that they might not sin through forgetfulness. The Jews being a special people, are now different from their neighbours in their dress, as well as in their diet, and are being taught by these little things not to be like the ungodly in greater things. In this way they proclaim themselves Jews wherever they are, those that are not ashamed of God and His law. Our Saviour, being a Jew, wore these tassels; we read of the fringe of His garment, Matt. 9:20. These tassels the Pharisees enlarged, that they might be thought more holy and devout than other people. The Jews today wear them. Their purpose is, not to look nice, but to remind the Israelites of the commandments. If they are tempted to sin, the tassel tells them not to break God’s commandments. If a duty is forgotten, the tassel will remind them of it. Though we don’t have tassels on our clothing, we ought always to remember the commandments of the Lord our God, that we may do them, to treasure them up in our memory, and to apply them to our lives.
The chapter closes with that great and fundamental law, ‘Be holy to your God, purged from sin, and sincerely devoted to his service’ That great reason for all the commandments is again given, ‘I am the Lord your God.’ If we more firmly believed, and more frequently and seriously considered, that God is the Lord, and our God and Redeemer, we would be bound in obligation and thankfulness, to keep all His commandments.
Question
- What is the purpose of the tassel?
- With what command does God finish this chapter?
Prayer Points
- Pray that you would keep God’s commands in your heart.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.