Expert: Phillip Senn - 7/21/2004

Question
I feel a tug on my heart..

In the Bible (old testament) when the people came to pray to the Lord they covered their shoulders and head. Where does it say that it should not be done any longer?

‘‘Make for yourselves tassels [g'dilim] on the four corners of the cloak [k'sut] that covers you'' (Deuteronomy 22:11 MBV).

The command noted from Deuteronomy 22:11, is that it is to be a k'sut, or covering, and it is emphasized twice to be a ‘‘cloak [k'sut] that covers [k'sut] you.''

‘‘You shall keep My statutes...a garment of mingled linen and wool shall not come upon you'' (Leviticus 19:19). ‘‘You shall not wear a garment of different kinds, as of both wool and linen'' (Deuteronomy 22:11).

Tell me .. are we, the people on earth wearing garments we should not be waring? Are we going againts the law of the Lord? and following the inovation of man's way, that is leading us to the wrong ways of life?

Blessings - geno


Answer
Geno,

Follow-up:

I am sorry I didn't have time to properly research your previous question. Deuteronomy 22, Verse 12 is the passage you apparently meant. In that passage, it specifically mentions the covering. In that passage, as I indicated, it doesn't mention anything about praying. That is, however a tradition from the community of Hebrews. Jesus indicated there were many traditions that weren't commandments of the Lord. In this instance, there seems to be a commandment that the linen and wool fabrics not be used in any clothing. One must look to these commandments for their proper understanding, rather than tradition. I have no knowlege of any time that God has changed His commandments. However, in order for a person to be justified before the Lord by the Law, that individual would have to perfectly obey each and every commandment. If we attempt to be right before God by obedience to His commandments, then each and every one of us has already failed, because each and every one of us has failed to be obedient to EVERY commandment. But God, being rich in mercy, has made a way of being justified, apart from the law of God as given through His servant Moses. He has made justification by faith in His Son a means of forgiveness and right standing before Him, apart from the law. If a person simply trusts in the atoning sacrifice made by God's Son as their means of justification, God will count their faith to them as righteousness.

I hope this helps to answer your question. Please rate me that I may know how I am doing, and what areas I need to improve.

With Love in Christ,
Phillip Senn

Apparently you have given a wrong reference in the 1st part of your question. Deuteronomy 22:11 says, "Thou shalt not wear a garment of divers sorts, as of woollen and linen together." I don't see the quotation you gave, "‘‘Make for yourselves tassels [g'dilim] on the four corners of the cloak [k'sut] that covers you'' (Deuteronomy 22:11 MBV)", in this passage. I will say, however, that I don't claim full knowlege of the Hebrew text. Your understanding that this was for a time when praying doesn't seem to fit with the references that you gave. It appears that this would be a reference for anytime. I cannot give specific reference to the reasoning behind the clothing restrictions.