The Old Testament mentions aids to remember the commandments.
These remembrance aids include fringes (Deuteronomy 22:12; Numbers 15:37-40).
Deuteronomy 22:12 says: Thou shalt make thee fringes upon the four quarters of thy vesture, wherewith thou coverest thyself.
Numbers 15:37-40 says: And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout 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.
Jesus warns against taking a bad view of them where in Matthew 23:5 he says: But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
Some translations have the word corners instead of quarters in verse 22 above. Of course, what constitute an four corner attire is unclear given the clothing worn tody differs from that of Moses time.
These aids also include the mentioning of placing the commandments on the body somewhere and on the door posts of ones’ house per Deuteronomy 6:6-9 which says: And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
In my view under the New Covenant of Christ these laws have been replaced by the Holy Spirit within the believer (John 14:26) as well as the readily massive availability of the written scriptures in Bible form which one would think was not as readily available in written form to all the people in Moses day. Hence, they were told to write their own version of the Bible. The advent of mobile phones with Bibles on them adds to that replacement.
Indeed, the Holy Spirit teaches and reminds us of God’s commandment (John 14:26). The Holy Bible allows us to study the scriptures at any time of the day (2 Timothy 2:15; 3:14-17).
For John 14:26 says: But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
2 Timothy 2:15 says: Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
And 2 Timothy 3:14-17 says: But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
So then when we abide in all of that we satisfy what fringes were meant for in that day when they did not have the spiritual resources that we have.
Of course, if people want to wear them, it is not wrong to wear them in the spirit of the law even if not in the letter of the law.
