Where does it say Yeshua wore a tallit?
Where does it say Yeshua wore a tallit?
Before we begin our mini-study about Yeshua wearing a tallit (prayer shawl), we want to impress upon everyone the need to understand the Word through a Hebrew mindset as opposed to a Greek one. "Hebrew mindset" and the "Greek mindset" refers to the fact that there is a difference in their respective way of thinking about life, about God, and about Truth. Both the Hebrews and the Greeks were "set" in their thinking about what and how they believed. To the Hebrew God was an easy concept; He was their Creator. The Greeks, on the other hand, were more prone to be atheistic or agnostic. That is why Rav Shaul (the Apostle Paul) used different approaches when he spoke to the Hebrew and Greek cultures. In speaking to the Hebrews, he could preach the Gospel directly because they already believed in God and in creation. But in his dealings with the Greeks, he first had to present Messiah Yeshua as the Creator God before actually giving them the Gospel.
The "Greek" mindset imagines a tatoo or something similar on the thigh of Jesus when he returns as "King of Kings, and Lord of Lords" (Rev. 19:11-13,16). The Hebrew mindset sees something more realistic: The tzit-tzits (braid/knots/tassels) of Yeshua's tallit (prayer shawl) falling across his thighs when He returns to earth atop a white horse. Each letter of the Hebrew alphabet has a numerical value. Consequently, the knots of the tassels on the four corners of a tallit spell out the name of Yahweh.
Another example of a Hebrew as opposed to Greek mindset can be seen in their respective calendars/timelines. For instance, according to God, a "day" is from "sunset to sunset" (Genesis 1:5) as opposed to "midnight to midnight". He called the days of the week the "first day", "second day", etc., whereas "the world" has named its days and months after pagan gods...
In light of the above, many people don't realize that Yeshua wore a tallit. But whenever a Jewish person's "outer garment" is mentioned in the Bible, that is exactly what is referred to. (Many English Bibles designate it as a mantle.) We can see examples in the Bible where tallits were worn by the prophets Samuel, Elijah, and Elisha. King Saul tore Samuel's kah-naf m'il-lo - the corner of his cloak (I Samuel 15:27). Saul recognized Samuel because of his tallit (I Samuel 28:14).
Remember the lady with the issue of bleeding in Matthew 9?
Traditional interpretation of her actions has been that of a desperate woman who wanted healing so badly that she defied the laws of impurity to touch the hem of Yeshua's garment. The actual Aramaic word was not “hem” but “edge” which referred to the “borders” or kanaf of “garments” (beged), which is where “fringes” or “tassels” (tzit tzit) are placed (Numbers 15:38, 39). Y'shua, like all other Torah observant Jews, wore a tallit with tzit tzit as a reminder to do the Commandments of YHWH, and not seek after what is right in one's own eyes. The Hebrew kanaf is also found in Malachi 4:2 “...with healing in his kanaf (wings)...” Wings refer to the tallit; they are not actual "wings." See also Zechariah 8:23.
The tzit-tzit (knotted fringes) of the tallit (prayer shawl) are also connected to the 613 commandments. Torah commentator Rashi declared that the number of knots on a tzit-tzit (in its Mishnaic spelling) has the value of 600. When doubled over, each tassel has eight threads and five sets of knots, which totals 13 - for a grand total of 613. This concept reminds tallit wearers of all Torah commandments.
The above way of tying the knots is done by the Ashkenazi Jews, whereas the Sephardic Jews tie the knots in a way that causes them to spell out the Name of YHWH. Each letter of the Hebrew alphabet has a numerical value; consequently, the knots of the tzit-tzit on the four corners of a tallit spell out the name of YHWH/Yahweh. When Yeshua returns as "King of Kings, and Lord of Lords" (Rev. 19:11-13,16), the tzit-tzits of His tallit will fall - where else, but across his thighs when He returns to earth atop a white horse....
And now you know the real story!