The Messiah
The lady with the issue knew that if Jesus were the promised Messiah, there would be healing in His wings (fringes).
One important Jewish concept, which is often missed in English translations of the Bible, concerns the story of a woman with an issue of blood, recorded in Matthew 9:20-21. Having heard that the Messiah was near, the woman said within herself, “If I may but touch His garment, I shall be whole.” The text indicates that it was specifically the hem of His garment that she touched, an important detail from an Hebraic viewpoint.
Certainly the woman with the issue of blood knew of these traditions, which would explain why she sought to touch the corner (the wings) of Jesus’ prayer garment. The same word used in Numbers 15:38 for corner is used in Malachi 4:2 for wings.
With this understanding in mind, an ancient Jew under the prayer shawl could be said to be dwelling in the secret place of the Most High and under His wings (Ps. 91:1-4). When one realized the significance of this concept to the first-century Hebraic mind, it becomes clear why this woman was instantly healed. She was expressing her faith in Jesus as the Son of Righteousness with
“But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings,” Malachi 4:2
That this was the opinion of many other people is revealed by the crowd who sought his healing powers, “that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole,” Matthew 14:36.
“And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem (tzitzit) of his garment (tallit): For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment (tallit), I shall be whole- Matt 9:20-21
A thought aside…Why her reluctance to admit her condition? Leviticus said that her unclean state would have made everyone around her who touched her also unclean also for a short time.
So the word got out that everywhere Jesus went people where healed by touching him.
“And besought him that they might only touch the hem (tzitzit) of his garment (tallit): and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.” Matt 14:36 “And where ever He entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border (kanaph) of his garment (tallit): and as many as touched him were made whole.” Mark 6:56
And remember the lady at the well that Yeshua asked for a drink of water from; how did she know He was a Jew? “A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.” John 4:7-9. She perceived Him being Jewish because Jesus, like all Jews during that time, was wearing a tallit.
He will also being wearing a tallit when He returns as we can see from John’s description in Revelation 19:11,16: “Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war…..And He has on His robe (tallit) and on His thigh a name written (tzitzit): KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” I recall reading the above passage and thinking to myself, ‘what kind of wild designer jeans is Jesus coming back wearing?’
But he is a Jew – and wears a tallit , Rev 19:16 makes perfect sense; if Jesus is riding on a horse and He’s wearing a tallit the tzitzit will naturally be lying on His thigh.
Zechariah prophesies concerning the millennial reign of Yeshua that people from all over the world will recognize those who belong to the Lord God by their tzitzit. “Thus saith the Lord of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt (kanaph) of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.” Zech 8:23
Nearly all scholars agree that this passage of Scripture pertains to the millennial reign of Christ, so it’s safe to say hat in those days God’s people will be wearing tzitzit in the borders of their garments.
In Conclusion – The church at Rome was admonished by Paul that the Christian faith was never intended to be a repudiation of its Jewish roots, but rather, the engrafted Gentile Church was actually a branch that grew out of these roots (Rom. 11:18). The essence of these teachings is that without Judaism there would be no Christianity.
