What Are Phylacteries

by Chuck Ness

God tells the Iasraelites how they can be assured they will always keep the law. Like all things, it comes with repetition so that it will be trained into our memory. Something we are to diligently teach our children, so that when they get older the law will be always in the forefront of their consciousness. For us Christians, we too should raise our children to know the Scriptures as they know how to walk. Everyday is a time to learn something new about the things of Christ. Everyday is a chance to ensure their eternal Salvation and a place in heaven.

And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. Deuteronomy 6:6-8

Many believe the Scripture references above, are what led to the use of phylacteries among Jewish men, and especially by the religious leaders. They were small leather boxes containing Hebrew texts on vellum, worn at morning prayer as a reminder to keep the law. It was a case of contention with Jesus in that he chastised the Pharisees about. Now do not misunderstand me, Christ wasn't chastising them for the use of these phylacteries but rather for the way they went overboard in their attempt to act more righteous for wearing them, and for putting heavy burdens upon the people they themselves would not follow.

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and.

Matthew23:25-28

The whole idea is that we should have the word of God in the forefront of our minds. We do this not by strapping boxes of Scripture onto our forehead or strapping the bible to our arms, but rather by studying and constant reading of the word so we are always reminded of what is right and what is wrong so that we are nor led astray by the world we live in. 

Like Jesus and His Disciples were all astute students as they grew up, and thus one of the reasons Jesus chose them. They new the teachings. Thus the truth was always in their hearts and minds. So like Jesus, they were always about their Fathers business. Not getting distracted by the business of the world. Paul admonishes Timothy, and thus us all, to be good students of Scripture so we will always be ready.

Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2Timothy 2:14-15

This is why I emphasize the reading of a Proverb a day along with your normal reading and studying routine. We can never be too prepared for what lays ahead for us in this world. You never know when the Holy Spirit will lead another Christian our way who needs an answer to a problem they have about the Word or one who is stumbling in their walk, or even a contrarian about the truth. It is incumbent upon us to always be prepared in and out of season to share and defend the truth, and the only way is to be filled with the Spirit of God and gain all the Wisdom of God we can.

I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 2Timothy 4:1-5