Christianity and fringed garments

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Christianity and fringed garments refers to the mention of fringed garments in Christian sources, and to their use in Christian ritual, and to the possible connection to Jewish tzitzit and tallit .

Contents

New Testament

A 15th century depiction of a woman hoping to become healed by touching Jesus's fringed garments. "Les Tres Riches Heures du Duc de Berry", by the Limbourg brothers. 331 MS 65 F164.jpg
A 15th century depiction of a woman hoping to become healed by touching Jesus's fringed garments. "Les Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry", by the Limbourg brothers.

Matthew 9:20-22 says:

And a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years, came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His (Jesus') cloak; for she was saying to herself, 'If I only touch His garment, I will get well.' But Jesus turning and seeing her said, 'Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well.' At once the woman was made well.

Matthew 14:34-36 similarly says:

When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent word into all that surrounding district and brought to Him all who were sick; and they implored Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak; and as many as touched it were cured.

Christian interpreters have connected these healings that the New Testament records taking place through Jesus' tzitzit with Malachi 4:2 :

But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.

Christian interpreters have stated that this is a messianic prophecy fulfilled by Jesus because the Hebrew word "corners" (kanafim, כנפים), used in the Torah [1] for the place tzitzit are to be attached, literally means "wings". Therefore, interpreters say, the suffering woman and the others who were infirm found healing in Jesus' "wings". [2] [3] [4] Interpreters[ who? ] also say Jesus could be referred to by the name "sun of righteousness" because he is considered, in New Testament scripture, to be perfectly righteous and without sin.

Jesus shown condemning hypocrisy among Pharisees, which could manifest itself in wearing long tassels, in James Tissot's late 19th century painting Woe unto You, Scribes and Pharisees. Brooklyn Museum - Woe unto You, Scribes and Pharisees (Malheur a vous, scribes et pharisiens) - James Tissot.jpg
Jesus shown condemning hypocrisy among Pharisees, which could manifest itself in wearing long tassels, in James Tissot's late 19th century painting Woe unto You, Scribes and Pharisees.

Matthew 23:5 also has Jesus saying:

But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments.

The common interpretation of this statement is that Jesus thereby explained that one should not do the commands of God in such a way as to be seen as more righteous and more zealous by others, similar to teachings found in the Discourse on ostentation. In this case, this motivation was evident in the Pharisees to whom he spoke. [5] [6]

The Bauer lexicon, 3rd ed., 1979, includes this entry:

κράσπεδον: 1. edge, border, hem of a garment - But meaning 2 is also possible for these passages, depending on how strictly Jesus followed Mosaic law, and also upon the way in which κράσπεδον was understood by the authors and first readers of the gospels. 2. tassel (ציצת), which the Israelite was obligated to wear on the four corners of his outer garment, according to Num 15:38f; Dt 22:12. ... Of the Pharisees ... Mt 23:5.

Onkelos the proselyte, in his Aramaic translation of the Pentateuch, uses the same Greek loanword, krūspedīn (Greek : κράσπεδον) for the biblical word tzitzit in Numbers 15:38, and which, in Jewish custom, has the connotation of tassels.

In practice

While much of traditional Christianity has not considered Torah commands such as tzitzit applicable to Christians, there are Torah-submissive Christians who wear tzitzit. Like Karaites, Torah-submissive Christians generally do not feel bound by Jewish oral law, so tzitzit may vary in appearance and may contain blue which is not halakhically derived. However, because of practicality and convenience, traditionally Jewish tzitziot and tallits are often used.

Liturgical use

In Christian liturgy, the stole and other vestments worn by priests and bishops traditionally have fringes on the edge, in remembrance of the Old Testament prescriptions.

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, when the priest or bishop puts on his stole he reads a prayer taken from the Psalms of Degrees: "Blessed is God Who poureth out His grace upon His priests, like unto the precious ointment on the head, which runneth down upon the beard, even the beard of Aaron, which runneth down upon the fringe of his raiment." (Cf. Psalm 133).

See also

Related Research Articles

The Pharisees were a Jewish social movement and a school of thought in the Levant during the time of Second Temple Judaism. After the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE, Pharisaic beliefs became the foundational, liturgical, and ritualistic basis for Rabbinic Judaism.

Tallit Ritual prayer shawl in Judaism

A tallit is a fringed garment worn as a prayer shawl by religious Jews and Samaritans. The tallit has special twined and knotted fringes known as tzitzit attached to its four corners. The cloth part is known as the "beged" and is usually made from wool or cotton, although silk is sometimes used for a tallit gadol.

Tassel Hanging ornament consisting of bundled threads or cords

A tassel is a finishing feature in fabric and clothing decoration. It is a universal ornament that is seen in varying versions in many cultures around the globe.

The Sadducees were a socio-religious sect of Jewish people who were active in Judea during the Second Temple period, from the second century BCE through the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE. The Sadducees are often compared to other contemporaneous sects, including the Pharisees and the Essenes.

Stole (vestment) Long narrow cloth band worn around the neck; part of ecclesiastical dress

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<i>Tzitzit</i> Knotted threads on the corners of a Tallit Gadol or Tallit Katan in Judaism

Tzitzit are specially knotted ritual fringes, or tassels, worn in antiquity by Israelites and today by observant Jews and Samaritans. Tzitzit are usually attached to the four corners of the tallit gadol, usually referred to simply as a tallit or tallis; and tallit katan. Through synecdoche, a tallit katan may be referred to as tzitzit.

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Mark 5 Chapter of the New Testament

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Mark 6 Chapter of the New Testament

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New Wine into Old Wineskins Parable taught by Jesus of Nazareth according to Christian gospels

New Wine into Old Wineskins is a parable of Jesus. It is found at Matthew 9:14-17, Mark 2:18-22 and Luke 5:33-39.

Shlach

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Luke 8 Chapter of the New Testament

Luke 8 is the eighth chapter of the Gospel of Luke in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. The book containing this chapter is anonymous but early Christian tradition uniformly affirmed that Luke the Evangelist, a companion of Paul the Apostle on his missionary journeys, composed both this Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. This chapter mentions the women who supported Jesus and records some of the great miracles he performed, as well as several parables told by him.

Matthew 9:20 is a verse in the ninth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament.

Glossary of Christianity Wikipedia glossary

This is a glossary of terms used in Christianity.

Jewish religious clothing Religious clothing of Jews

Jewish religious clothing is apparel worn by Jews in connection with the practice of the Jewish religion. Jewish religious clothing has changed over time while maintaining the influences of biblical commandments and Jewish religious law regarding clothing and modesty (tzniut). Contemporary styles in the wider culture also have a bearing on Jewish religious clothing, although this extent is limited.

Jesus healing the bleeding woman Miracle carried out by Jesus according to the Bible

Jesus healing the bleeding woman is one of the miracles of Jesus recorded in the synoptic gospels.

Jesus healing in the land of Gennesaret Miracle carried out by Jesus according to the Bible

According to the Gospel of Mark, as Jesus passes through Gennesaret, just after the account of him walking on water, all those who touch the edge, or Hem, or fringe of his cloak are healed:

Deuteronomy 22 Biblical book of Deuteronomy, chapter 22

Deuteronomy 22 is the twenty-second chapter of the Book of Deuteronomy in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. The book is one of the Books of the Torah. This chapter contains regulations concerning theft of property, protection of life, manners, and violence in sexual relations.

References

  1. Numbers 15:37-41
  2. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-26. Retrieved 2011-12-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. http://www.hopeofisrael.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=63&Itemid=30 Archived June 23, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  4. http://www.rbooker.com/html/the_hem_of_his_garment.html Archived September 29, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  5. http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/?action=getCommentaryText&cid=48&source=2&seq=i.47.23.1 [ bare URL ]
  6. "U.S. Catholic Bishops - New American Bible". www.usccb.org. Archived from the original on 2001-09-19.