Tzitzits and Healing
Matthew 9:18-26
18 While he was talking, an official came in, kneeled down in front of him and said, “My daughter has just died. But if you come and lay your hand on her, she will live.” 19 Yeshua, with his talmidim (disciples/students), got up and followed him.
20 A woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years approached him from behind and touched the tzitzit (fringes/prayer shawl) on his robe. 21 For she said to herself, “If I can only touch his robe, I will be healed.” 22 Yeshua turned, saw her and said, “Courage, daughter! Your trust has healed you.” And she was instantly healed.
23 When Yeshua arrived at the official’s house and saw the flute-players, and the crowd in an uproar, 24 he said, “Everybody out! The girl isn’t dead, she’s only sleeping!” And they jeered at him. 25 But after the people had been put outside, he entered and took hold of the girl’s hand, and she got up. 26 News of this spread through all that region.
Because these stories are both about healing, and the one was broken with the other story in between, I left them together. I want to focus on the one in the middle, the woman with the issue of blood.
We have often thought that she touched the "hem of His garment." Technically, yes, you could say that. However, if you look at this translation, it clearly says she touched the "tzitzit" on His robe. What are tzitzit?
Most of you have probably seen the Jewish prayer shawls that the Jewish men wear. On this shawl there are fringes made of knots. There is one on each corner. They are commanded in Torah to be put on the prayer shawl. There is supposed to be a blue thread in the fringes used.
There are a certain number of knots on each fringe. I am sure that this was added later, but there is a reason for the number of knots. Here is a link to Chabad with their explanation:
Wikipedia says this:
In Ashkenazi custom, the four sections of winding number 7-8-11-13 winds, respectively. The total number of winds comes to 39, which is the same number of winds if one were to tie according to the Talmud's instruction of 13 hulyot of 3 winds each. Furthermore, the number 39 is found to be significant in that it is the gematria (numerical equivalent) of the words: "The Lord is One" (Deuteronomy 6:4).
Rashi, a prominent Jewish commentator, bases the number of knots on a gematria: the word tzitzit (in its Mishnaic spelling, ציצית) has the value 600. Each tassel has eight threads (when doubled over) and five sets of knots, totaling 13. The sum of all numbers is 613, traditionally the number of commandments in the Torah. This reflects the concept that donning a garment with tzitzyotreminds its wearer of all Torah commandments, as specified in Numbers 15:39. (Rashi knots are worn by the majority of Ashkenazic Eastern European Jews.)
As you can see, the understanding of these knots is important. They are viewed as bringing an understanding of God and Torah when they are touched. The Jews are supposed to grab these tzitzits when they pray and remind themselves of all that God did for them, and continues to do for them.
When the woman grabbed these tzitzits on Jesus' prayer shawl, she touched what was known to be the representation of the Word of God. She touched the Commands of the Adonai. When you understand this concept, the story becomes so much fuller and richer. God knows what He is doing when He establishes the pieces of the puzzle as He continues to create and establish His rules in the earth today.
The greatness of God healed her, however the FULLNESS of Adonai and the Torah commands He had given were interconnected and woven into the miracle. Jesus IS the Word of God. He became flesh so that when this incident occurred, God the Father was also glorified and given credit. Jesus did nothing without glorifying the Father. Jesus always points everything back to Torah, and this healing makes that clear.
I believe God still heals today. I believe He still draws ALL men to himself through a variety of scenarios and incidents. Believe today that when you grasp even the fringe of His garment, the fringe of His "teachings" He will heal you.
Love and blessings,
Rose
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