JEWISH CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS.
By F. C. Gilbert
SOMETIMES it seems difficult to appreciate the real work of the Master in opposing the Jewish rabbis, and setting aside their fables and traditions. The bondage in which the people were held was a cruel one, and the Jews, both ancient and modern, who love freedom can much appreciate the words of the Master: "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." John 8 : 32, 36. The conditions of the people would not have been so apprehensive did the teachings of the scribes and Pharisees repudiate entirely the Word of God. But the leaders of thought claimed they were declaring what God stated in the law, and as teachers in Moses' seat, were giving the exegesis of those laws. Hence the Jews often called Christ a blasphemer, a transgressor, and many other abusive names, because his teachings concerning the truth were so opposed to those of the teachers.7 Prominent among their traditions was that concerning the garment. While the Saviour did not denounce them for using this article, he did condemn them for making the borders large. There is nothing whatever in the Old Testament which directly points to the use of such objects; but when ritualism became prominent with the Jews, after the Babylonian captivity, and the Word of God was not so abundant with them, virtue and righteousness were claimed obtainable by the performance of overt acts of the law, as interpreted by the elders. The reason assigned for wearing the garment is based upon the following scriptures:— "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, 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; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye used to go a-whoring; that ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God. I am the Lord your God." Num. 15 : 37-41. "Thou shalt make thee fringes upon the four quarters of thy vesture, wherewith thou coverest thyself." Deut. 22 : 12. These texts were interpreted to mean that a garment should be worn by the people, males only, upon which there should be a border of blue, and on the four corners a fringe. To this garment also was attached a sacred meaning, and the people were taught to believe that the Lord ordered the use of it as well as the form of benediction before wearing it. In the eleventh verse of this chapter in Deuteronomy is written that "thou shalt not wear a garment of divers sorts, as of woolen and linen together." This text is thought to tell how the garment mentioned in the next verse is to be worn. Hence the Jews make this garment of one kind of material only, and then put this ribband of blue upon it as is written. It is worn only by males who have reached the age of thirteen, in connection with the morning services every day throughout the year, save the day which commemorates the destruction of the temple; then it is worn at the service in the evening. The rabbis teach that the longer the garment, and the broader the band, the more piety does the owner possess. And the more pious a man is, the more will he be highly regarded and reverenced. It is worn in the synagog as people wear a shawl. Before it is donned, the first two verses of the 104th psalm are repeated, which speak of garment and covering. Then, after an introduction of another prayer, the following is offered:— The reason for the wearing of the garment of fringes is to establish the command of my Creator, as it is written, "And they shall make unto themselves fringes," etc. And as I cover myself with a garment in this world, so I hope my soul will be clothed with beauty in the world to come, even in the Garden of Eden; and through this commandment I hope deliverance will come to my body, soul, and spirit, and my prayer from my opponents. Then the following prayer is offered:— Blessed art thou, O Lord, King of the universe, who hath sanctified us through his commandments, and hath commanded us to wear fringes.—Jewish Prayer Book, edition 1875. It is thus made to appear that the Lord himself commanded the wearing of this garment, and it would not be doing his will if it were not performed. Now there is a deep truth in this object, by which the Messiah can be seen, and it frequently makes a deep impression upon the mind of the Jew when his attention is called to it. But the wickedness of the scribes and Pharisees is that they made the tradition of man to appear as the commandment of God, thus turning the attention of the people away from God to man. And so the most pious of the Jews wear the garment so that it will cover them completely, from the crown of the head to the soles of the feet. And by making the border of it very wide, their virtues were made more prominent. It is in this they were such hypocrites, and not in simply the wearing of the garment. The Saviour did not condemn them for merely wearing it, as before stated, but for enlarging it so as to make it appear that the virtue was in the thing itself. There is no doubt, however, but the Lord had a precious lesson to teach ancient Israel in the use of the garment. He told them to wear these things upon their clothing, and to look upon them, and to keep his commandments, that they might be a holy people. No holiness or righteousness could be obtained outside the Messiah, for in the Lord shall the seed of Israel be justified, and his name is Jehovah our righteousness. Jer. 23 : 6. It was a truth to teach them that the garment which alone could give them holiness was that worn by Messiah, which enabled him to be holy and keep the commandments of the Lord. So we read:— "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels." Isa. 61 : 10. If the reader will read the entire chapter, he will see that it is a prophecy of Christ. So the pious of the Jews believe that Messiah will be their righteousness; and, as they cover themselves with this garment, they hope their soul will be clothed in the world to come with his righteousness. But instead of realizing that through him only this is secured, they are led to believe that the wearing of this now gives them present righteousness, and will be a part of the merit which will give them admittance into the kingdom of God; then the Lord will put upon them his righteousness. The hypocrisy and unbelief will never give them purity and holiness, however much it may be donned upon the outside. But, thanks be to God, Jesus is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. 1 Cor. 1 : 30. He clothes us with his own garment now, which alone will fit us to wear the beautiful garments throughout all eternity. Thanks to him for light and truth, and for the unspeakable gift.