tefillin, what does the bible say?
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Tefillin:Tefillin: What What doesdoes the Bible say?the Bible say?
NEHR HAOLAM MESSIANIC BIBLICAL SOCIETY
For the most part, tefillin are “two small
leather cases containing texts from the He-
brew Scriptures as traditionally worn (on both
the forehead and the left arm) by Jewish men
during the early morning prayer” (http://
www.thefreedictionary.com/tefillin). Though
some may question the validity of donning
tefillin, we do know that Torah teaches per-
taining to its importance which is what this
study entails. According to Torah, the act of
donning tefillin demonstrates that the bearer’s
testimony and his beliefs that יהוה alone is
Elohim (reference Deuteronomy 6:8 & 11:8).
To add, the act of donning tefillin is the bibli-
cal means by which the worshipper may literally bind himself to the Heavenly Father’s
commandments and His testimonies (i.e., The Ten Commandments).
So, does the Bible encourage people to wear tefillin? It does. The Scriptures say,
“Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart” (Proverbs 7:3). By don-
ning tefillin, the worshipper demonstrates that he is a disciple- a person who follows
the Heavenly Father’s disciplines and instructions that are prescribed in Torah
(reference Isaiah 8:16). Hence, the act of donning tefillin demonstrates that the wear-
er’s earnest allegiance is to the Heavenly Father’s testimony, service, and covenant of
Adonai: “Thou shalt fear יהוה thy Elohim; Him shalt thou serve, and to Him shalt thou cleave
(e.g, bind to), and swear by His Name” (Deuteronomy 10:20 cr. John 3:33).
From numerous verses such as the ones mentioned above, the Bible reveals that
the act of donning tefillin is ever present within the commandments embodied in To-
rah. Though Torah does not provide us with the exact details on how to go about
wearing tefillin, it is a biblical practice that the Heavenly Father has given to those
who desire to worship Him in spirit and in truth: “Set Me (e.g., יהוה) as a seal upon thine
heart, as a seal upon thine arm [...]” (Song of songs 8:6, KJV). Therefore, the practice of
donning tefillin fulfills Yeshua’s instruction when he cited, “You shalt love יהוה your
Elohim with all your heart, might, and soul” (Deuteronomy 6:5).
Donning tefillin is not limited to Old Testament practices. Part of the disciple
making process included the donning of tefillin (reference Isaiah 8:16). In like man-
ner, Yeshua desired for his Jewish followers to teach the nations of the earth this
beautiful enhancement that tefillin manifests within the worshipful lifestyle we call
prayer. Israel’s king once said to his loyal subjects, “Therefore, go and make disciples of
all the [gentile] nations […]” (Matthew 28:19). The New Testament describes this
precious act as Hashem pointing out those who are truly His own special posses-
sion (reference 2 Timothy 2:19). It is in this act of fulfilling Yeshua’s instructio that
those who don tefillin indicate to avenging angels whom not to harm: “They were
told not to hurt the grass or plants or trees but to attack all the people who did not have the seal
of God (i.e., tefillin) on their foreheads” (Revelations 9:4). Those who opt not to wear
tefillin neither distinguish themselves from those who belong to the Heavenly Fa-
ther’s possession and even demonstrate to be in complete disobedience to Elohim:
“The garlands have fallen from our heads. Weep for us because we have sinned
(i.e., violated Torah’s decrees)” (Lamentation 5:16).
The “crown of glory” is another phrase that appears throughout the Bible. This
phrase directly points to the act of donning tefillin. Just as much as the righteous
are rewarded with tefillin, so too the Bible promises that Messiah himself will one
day give Hashem’s disciples tefillin to wear. As far as wearing tefillin is concerned,
Peter once wrote, “[...] when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory
that will never fade away” (1 Peter 5:5, NIV).
To those who doubt whether or not donning tefillin is a Messianic principal that
Messiah desire of his loyal subjects, members of the international bod of Messiah
reason that Yeshua himself instructed us to do so and teach others how to don te-
fillin. Hence, the act of donning tefillin is not be a matter of debate; rather, it’s a
matter of personal, sincere worship to the Heavenly Father who created the ex-
panse of the Universe. Those who contend with the issue is simply perceived as an
anathema, a person who opposes the biblical guidelines that are set-forth for us to
discover and follow. Otherwise, this study provided a reference resource by which
followers of Messiah Yeshua can refer to about Tefillin, and what the Bible says
about it.
© 2013 BY NEHR HAOLAM PUBLICATIONS
Winslow, New Jersey, USA
All Rights Reserved.
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scriptures were taken from the New Living Translation.
For more information, contact NehrHaOlam@gmail.com.
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