BibleTools
Numbers 15:38
Compare all
36 So, as the Lord commanded Moses, all the congregation brought him outside the camp and stoned him with stones, and he died.

Tassels on Garments

37 Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
38 “Speak to the children of Israel: Tell athem to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue thread in the tassels of the corners.  
39 And you shall have the tassel, that you may look upon it and aremember all the commandments of the Lord and do them, and that you bmay not cfollow the harlotry to which your own heart and your own eyes are inclined,  
40 and that you may remember and do all My commandments, and be aholy for your God.  
41 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the Lord your God.”
Commentaries:
Forerunner Commentary
What is the Forerunner Commentary?
<< Numbers 15:37   Numbers 15:39 >>

What Does Numbers 15:38 Mean?



Numbers 15:37-40

Considering the context, the primary motivation that God had in mind when He gave them this command was to remember the Sabbath. The tassels were something that they wore right on their clothing. It was a part of their everyday dress. They had to look at every time they put their clothes on, every time they took their clothing off, all the while they were on the street, all the while they were doing business. Everyone who was following this command had a tassel, which everybody could look at—to remind them of the commandments of God. But the context indicates that the primary motivation was because this man broke the Sabbath presumptuously (Numbers 15:32-36)!

We all break the Sabbath from time to time, but to do it presumptuously is not something that we want to do. We will break it out of ignorance. We will break it out of weakness. But not very many of us are going to set our minds to break it, as this man apparently did.

So God wanted to remind His people not to be negligent in carrying out their responsibilities before Him. And if these people who were wearing the tassels were aware of the context in which this "tassel commandment" appeared, then they would understand that the primary motivation seems to be the Sabbath.

John W. Ritenbaugh
The Fourth Commandment (Part 4)

Related Topics: Breaking the Sabbath Presumptuously | Fourth Commandment | Presumptuous Sins | Presumptuousness | Remembering Sabbath | Sabbath, Remembering | Tassel Commandment | Tassels | The Fourth Commandment




Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing Numbers 15:38:

Zephaniah 1:8


 
<< Numbers 15:37   Numbers 15:39 >>

Join 137,096+ readers

A Verse and a Thought,
Every Morning

Consistent Bible study is hard to start.

The Berean gives you the starting point: one scripture and a focused commentary in your inbox each morning — read it in minutes, or go as deep as you like.

Free, daily, and spam-free. We never share your address. Unsubscribe anytime.

Close
E-mail This Page