SPECIAL TOPIC: PHYLACTERIES

SPECIAL TOPIC: PHYLACTERIES

These small black leather boxes (called tefillin by the rabbis) contained the OT texts of Exod. 13:3-16, Deut. 6:4-9, or Deut. 11:13-21. They were worn on the forehead just above the eyes. This was required to be worn by men after Bar Mitzvah (cf. Mishnah, Sebu. 3.8.11). This was an over literalization of Exod. 13:9 and Deut. 6:8 and 11:18. These texts were to be the guiding light for faithful followers' lives, not just black boxes on their foreheads! Here is a good example of where the symbol/sign eclipsed the reality (cf. Matt. 25:3)!