As a Jewish rabbi, Jesus probably wore tassels on the corners of his garment. The Jewish practice of wearing these tassels developed from God?s command in Numbers 15: ?You are to make tassels on the corners of your garments?so you will remember all the commands of the LORD? (v. 38-39).
Later in Jewish history, the tassels were incorporated into the Jewish prayer shawl, called the tallit, which is worn by many Jews today. On each corner of the prayer shawl are long tassels, or tzitzit, knotted five times to remind Jews of the five books of Moses. The four spaces between these knots represent the letters of God?s name, YHWH. And the knots along the prayer shawl edges use exactly 613 knotted strings, representing the 613 laws of the Torah.
Ezekiel prophesied that the Messiah would come with healing in his ?wings.? But the Hebrew word for ?wings? could also be used to identify the tassels that Jewish men wore on the corners of their robe. Based on this prophecy, the Jews expected the Messiah to have healing in his tassels.
During his ministry, one woman demonstrated her faith in Jesus by seeking healing in his tassels. Matthew 9 tells us that a sick woman, whose disease had probably left her untouched for twelve years, thought to herself, ?If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed? (v. 21).
When she touched the Messiah?s tassels, the woman was healed. And Jesus commended her for her faith.
