01/23/2020
WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE HEM OF JESUS' GARMENT?
There are various passages in the Bible that refers to incidents whereby people who touched the “Hem” of Jesus’ garments were instantly healed.
Some of these accounts are found in the following chapters:
"And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour." Matthew 9:20-22
"And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased; And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole" Matthew 14:35-36
The word “hem” means “fringe, tassel, or the border of a garment”. The bible says in Numbers 15:38-39 “Speak to the children of Israel: Tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue thread in the tassels of the corners. And you shall have the tassel, that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of the LORD and do them, and that you may not follow the harlotry to which your own heart and your own eyes are inclined, and that you may remember and do all My commandments, and be holy for your God.”
The word used is “Tzitzit” and it speaks of a “tassel”. The mantle of the time was a long rectangular cloth that draped down over the body. It had four corners at the bottom. The Israelite’s were to attach tassels to the four corners of their garments and hem the garment in blue.
Over time this style had changed and instead of the four corners, the cloth became more rounded at the bottom. Due to no longer having the four corners, the Israelites developed something called the “Tallit”. All orthodox Jews of the day wore a Tallit. When the woman with the issue of blood touched the hem of His garment she would have touched one of the tassels.
The “tallit” also served as a prayer shawl, which a person would read an inscription that is embroidered into the garment. He was to kiss the first word of the inscription, kiss the last word of the inscription and then place the shawl over his head for a moment of reflection. When in deep prayer, the head would be wrapped in the “tallit” to shut off the worshiper from the world.
Many commentators have suggested that this is what Jesus spoke of when he said to enter into your closet for prayer “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut the door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” Matthew 6:6
The woman with the issue of blood looked upon Jesus and believed the He was who He claimed to be. When she touched the hem of His garment, it was the same as touching Him. She came by faith to the right person in the right manner and received healing.
Do you need to touch Him today? Do you need healing in your body, cleansing from you sin and a right relationship with God?
If you are lost and would like to receive salvation, then come touch the hem of His garment. If you are not walking in humble obedience , come touch the hem of his garment, if there are problems and burdens in your life and you need help, come touch His garment.
You can do this right now with a simple prayer, accepting Christ into your hearts and from this moment on, you will be covered by His sacrifice, accepted into His family and become a child of God!
If you are already a Christian, trust God will your life and turn all your problems over to him ... He loves you deeply and cares for you much!!
He will meet all your needs!
