There are a lot of Hebrew Roots teachers out there who claim that Yeshua wore TEFILLIN.
Are they right or are they wrong?
The truth is they are probably very WRONG!
Why?
Because Yeshua was from Galilee and the typical Galilean attitude towards the religious authorities in Jerusalem was one of great disdain.
Yeshua was a common peasant Jew who had little patience for the over-inflated religious egos of the Jewish authorities in his day.
He was especially critical of the Pharisees who always wanted to be noticed for their outward piousness by doing things such as having a trumpet blown whenever they gave money to the Temple.
Alright, I know that what I’m about to say may be offensive to some folks but I have to be clear on this point.
The wearing of TEFILLIN is a very doubtful interpretation of Deuteronomy 6:8 which commands “bind them as a sign on your arm and on your forehead“.
There’s nothing wrong with wearing TEFILLIN, but is it a Biblical command?
My answer to that question is a firm NO.
And you know what?
Many of the elite Jewish sages including the esteemed Rambam would agree with me that Deuteronomy 6:8 is to be taken metaphorically rather than literally.
The truth is when man takes it upon himself to create a new tradition or invent a new symbol based on his interpretation of Scripture, there is always a danger.
What’s interesting is that the Greek word used for TEFILLIN seems to hint at the potential danger inherent in the practice of strapping these little black boxes to our arms and forehead.
The Greek word used is “phylactery” and it actually means “amulet“.
It wasn’t some special word made up to describe the leather boxes and straps with small scripture scrolls inside them.
Now let me ask you this.
What exactly is an “amulet” and what is its purpose?
An “amulet” is basically a magic charm, right.
It’s essentially an object that is believed to possess certain healing powers or protective qualities.
In fact, in one of the ancient Jewish Targums, we’ll find the following:
‘tefillin’ prevented all hostile demons from doing injury to any Israelite’
The point is that when it came to the use of TEFILLIN, it appears that many Jews did indeed fall into outright idolatrous superstition by thinking that these objects in and of themselves possessed Godly power and that is a big NO-NO.
But don’t get me wrong.
I reiterate that I don’t think there is anything wrong with wearing TEFILLIN.
I just don’t think it’s a non-negotiable Scriptural command that we have to obey or else.
Its very true…outward lifestyles ,and tradition do not applies to all the teachings of Yeshua….
Thank you for your comment Luisito. Be blessed and shalom!
Thats why I have problems with the oral Law…they say that the oral Law is needed to explain the 613 mitzvot and they say that Moshe received the oral Law from G,D…But to me it seems more that the rabbies have understood many things in their own way and then make people obey their interpretations of Torah…I have difficulties when they say that G,D commanded these things to do..I feel like they are the modern Farisees who still put their laws on people and therefore make people stuck in rituals where they can not get out..maybe I am wrong…I think when somebody passes words by mouth the story changes or not…you have to be really true and honest in passing words from Him for His people..I have desire to obey Torah but the Torah from G,D and not inventions from human minds oer the years..thanks for your writing..I never believed in these tefillin looks abit like machochism to me..