In October of 8
A.D. after having studied the Old Testament Scriptures
for 8 years, Jesus was tested on His knowledge of the 613
commandments of God in a ceremony called Bar Mitzah at
his Synagogue. This ceremony is carried on to this day.
After this, Jesus became a member of the Synagogue in
Nazareth, which required ten "Men of the Law" before an
official Synagogue service could be held. He wore the
Tallith or Fringed Garment which had 613 Fringes at the
bottom representing the 613 commandments of God...read
Luke 8:43-48...As a "Man of the Law" Jesus was required
to make three pilgrimages to Jerusalem each year for the
festivals of Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles. When He
passed the test He became an adult member of the
Synagogue. God expected all boys to participate as young
adults at age 13. They were to attend the 3 solemn feasts
of Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles at Jerusalem, and
to bring an offering.
For the next 17 years
until He reached age 30 Jesus helped Joseph and attended
Synagogue. God's Law prohibited men to teach the
Scriptures until they had attained the age of 30. They
served as interns from the age of 20 to age 30. Jesus and
His brothers fasted twice a week and gave a tenth of
their income to help support their local
Synagogue.
When John the Baptist
turned 30 in April of 25 A.D. he began to preach and
teach. As you recall, the angel Gabriel came to Mary in
the 6th month of Elizabeth's pregnancy. Therefore 6
months later in October 25 A.D. Jesus turned 30 and came
to his cousin John to be baptized and was anointed by the
Spirit of God just as all the Kings of Israel were. The
sign that hung on His cross read, "Jesus of Nazareth King
of the Jews". He was also anointed as Priest and now sits
in the Heavenlies ever living to make intercession for
us. He had a legal right to both titles because of His
earthly parents.

PHYLACTERIES
At age thirteen Jesus
began to wear the phylacteries. The arm phylactery had
two strips of parchment folded up in a case of black
calfskin. On the parchments were written four Scriptures:
Exodus 13:1-10 and 11-16; and Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and
11:13-21. The arm phylactery was fastened with a long
narrow strap to the arm and fingers so that when the arm
touched the body the Law would be near the heart. The
forehead phylactery or frontlet had the same four
Scriptures placed in four divided compartments in a case
fastened to the forehead with leather straps. The common
people wore them during times of prayer. The Pharisees
wore them continuously as a display of piety and they
were rebuked for this by Jesus, Matthew 23:5
The word "tefillin" is
usually translated "phylacteries." One case is tied to
the arm, with the scrolls at the biceps and leather
straps extending down the arm to the hand, then another
case is tied to the head, with the case on the forehead
and the straps hanging down over the shoulders. The
tefillin are to be removed at the conclusion of the
service.
"Speak
unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make
them fringes in the borders of their garments throughtout
their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of
the borders a ribband of blue: And it shall be unto you
for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all
the commandments of the Lord, and do them; and that ye
seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after
which ye use to go a whoring: That ye may remember, and
do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God".
Numbers 15:38-40
The outer garment of
Jesus had 613 fringes. When Jews saw these fringes they
were reminded; 1. Of the Law of God 2. They were
responsible to obey the Law of God 3. They were called to
be holy people. Jesus wore an inner garment of
lightweight material which extended to the wrists and
ankles covered by an outer garment tied around the waist
with a band of cloth and heavy leather sandals tied by
leather thongs.
From
"REVEALING JEWISH ROOTS" by Bill Morford
The talit (pronounced
ta-leet') has been made without the blue thread in the
fringe for centuries because the exact blue dye has not
been available. The talit is also called a prayer shawl
because when it is pulled up over the head it provides
privacy and prevents distraction allowing the wearer to
pray as if going into a closet or tent.
Jesus said, "But when you
pray, go into your private room (closet KJV), and closing
the door, pray to your Father who is in secret.." Matthew
6:6. The Greek word translated private room or closet is
tameion, taken from the Hebrew word cheder, referring to
the talit as a prayer room or closet.
Acts 18:3 "and because he
(Paul) was a tentmaker as they (Priscilla and Aquila)
were, he stayed and worked with them." The word tentmaker
in the KJV is the Greek word skenopoios, meaning one that
made small portable tents of leather, cloth or linen. As
previously stated, the talit was also referred to as a
tent. The Center of Judaic Christian Studies has found
this reference in Israeli writings from around the first
century. This particular reference to Paul, Priscilla and
Aquila is significant because we know that Paul had
studied under Gamaliel (Acts 22:3) and that Priscilla and
Aquila must also have been trained, for Paul to have such
high regard for their knowledge. Tying the knots on the
fringes of a talit was specialized, requiring rabbinical
training. Every thread and every knot was significant.
Some Scholars feel that Paul, Priscilla and Aquila may
have been talit makers.
Matthew 9:20 and Luke
8:44 tell of the woman with the bloody issue reaching out
to touch the tzitzit (hem) of His garment (talit). The
Jewish people in Jesus' day understood that when an
anointed man of God wore a talit the power of God was
available. It was to be worn and to be looked upon and be
a reminder of all the commandments of the Lord. These
included healing power. Matthew 14:26 and Mark 6:56 tell
us that many sought to touch the tzitzit (hem) of His
talit (garment).
THE FIRST
& GREATEST COMMANDMENT
Jesus said unto him,
"Thou
shalt love the Lord with all thy heart, and with all thy
soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great
commandment." Matthew
22:37-38. The Scribes had divided the 613 commandments
(which Jesus was required to know by age thirteen) into
248 affirmative commands to correspond with the members
of the body; and 365 negative commands to correspond with
the days of the year.