Reading Luke 1:28-38, you will find that there was no instruction given to Mary so as to keep herself, or the baby, away from wine or strong drink, as was given to Elizabeth (Luke 1:15). We are not saying that Mary was left to drink both, only that the specific instruction was not given. Jesus was not a mere human being born in need of consecration, as was the prophet John, for Jesus was God being made flesh (John 1:14).

Though we believe that Jesus was always wholly separated to God’s service, we sustain that the vow of Nazarite had nothing to do with Him. It was needless for He was holy. Let’s check the following evidences:

When reading Numbers 6:1-4, we find that the use of any fruit of the vine was forbidden to the Nazarite during the entire length of his or her vow. “The Lord spake unto Moses, saying

. . . When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the Lord. . . . All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine tree, from the kernels even to the husk” (Numbers 6:1, 2, 4).

At the end of such time, the Nazarite should bring the offerings stated in verses 13-20, and participate in the ceremony. “After that the Nazarite may drink wine” (verse 20).

There is no evidence that Jesus ever observed these ordinances. In fact, the evidences we have in the Bible show the contrary. Not long after His baptism, “there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: and both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage” (John 2:1, 2). When the wine ran out, Jesus turned six stone water jars into good wine (verses 3-10).

Obviously, as a special guest, it is likely that Jesus also partook of this fresh, unfermented wine at that sacred feast. He repeatedly attended many other invitations which even raised some criticism among His opponents. Later Jesus stated, “John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners” (Matthews 11:18, 19).

That criticism was unfounded, for Jesus was guided by a principle: “When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee: and put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite” (Proverbs 23:1, 2).

Right at the end of His ministry, Christ again drank of the fruit of the vine as He established the Lord’s Supper. We read that “he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom” (Matthew 26:27-29, emphasis added).

These evidences should be enough to show that Jesus was not under the Nazarite vow; otherwise He would not have partaken of the fruit of the vine.

As long as the time of the vow should last, the Nazarite was forbidden to cut his hair. “All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the Lord, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow” (Numbers 6:5).

At the end of the vow, the Nazarite was to come with gifts and offerings (verses 13-17.) Then “the Nazarite shall shave the head of his separation at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall take the hair of the head of his separation, and put it in the fire which is under the sacrifice of the peace-offerings” (verse 18, emphasis supplied). There is no evidence that Jesus was ever under such a vow, and that He was obligated to let his hair grow, bring sin offerings, and cut His hair before the tabernacle. In fact, He had no sin. Of Him it is written that He “did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth” (1 Peter 2:22). Furthermore, we learn that Jesus did not participate in still another requirement of the Nazarites:

Persons under the Nazarite vow had to keep themselves away from the dead bodies. “All the days that he separateth himself unto the Lord he shall come at no dead body. He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister, when they die: because the consecration of his God is upon his head. All the days of his separation he is holy unto the Lord” (Numbers 6:6-8, emphasis added). In fact, should those under the Nazarite vow accidentally come in contact with any dead body, they would have to start the vow all over again. The Lord said, “And if any man die very suddenly by him, and he hath defiled the head of his consecration; then he shall shave his head in the day of his cleansing, on the seventh day shall he shave it. . . . And he shall consecrate unto the Lord the days of his separation, and shall bring a lamb of the first year for a trespass-offering: but the days that were before shall be lost, because his separation was defiled” (verses 9-12, emphasis supplied).

What about Jesus? The evidences show us that Jesus did not worry about coming in close contact with dead bodies. When He came across the burial procession of the widow of Nain’s son, He was not afraid to approach the coffin. We read that “He went into a city called Nain,” and “when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. . . . And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother” (Luke 7:11-15, emphasis added).

On another occasion, “there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus’ feet, and besought him that he would come into his house: For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying.” On the way Jesus delayed, in order to bringing healing to a woman with a discharge of blood. But “while he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master. But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole. And when he came into the house, . . . all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise. And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat” (Luke 8:41, 42, 49-55, emphasis supplied).

In another instance, when Jesus knew that his friend Lazarus had died, without hesitation He came to wake him up. Being deeply moved, He asked where the people had laid the body. They led Jesus to see - and He asked them to take away the stone. “Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days” (John 11:39, emphasis added). After confirming her faith, they took away the stone. . . . And after Jesus had prayed, “he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth” (verse 43). The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus bade the family, “Loose him, and let him go” (verse 44).

If Jesus had been under the Nazarite vow, He would have been obliged to avoid the contact with the dead and start his vow all over again and again. But He was free from these restrictions and thus free to deal with them, bringing comfort to their suffering relatives. He came in contact with dead bodies without having to worry about becoming unclean or of breaking any sacred vow.

In conclusion, we cannot say that Jesus used to wear His hair the Nazarite way, because there is no evidence that He ever was a Nazarite. Nor can we say how long was long or how short was short, in those days, when men’s hair is considered.

It is enough for us to follow the admonition in 1 Corinthians 11:14, 15:

“Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But If a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.”

Therefore: “Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40).