All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.
Parallel translations
- WEB But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad, enlarge the fringes of their garments,
- KJV But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
- NKJV But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments.
- NASB And they do all their deeds to be noticed by other people; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments.
- NLT “Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Their works are done to be admired by people, exaggerating outward religious symbols like phylacteries and tassels. It exposes religion driven by vanity rather than devotion to God.
Overview
Phylacteries were small boxes containing Scripture worn on the body, and the fringes were prescribed tassels on garments; the leaders enlarged these to display their piety. Jesus condemns religion performed for human applause rather than for God. True worship seeks the approval of the Father who sees in secret, not the praise of onlookers.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- John 12:43For they loved praise from men more than praise from God.
- Matt 6:1–16“Be careful not to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
- John 5:44How can you believe if you accept glory from one another, yet do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?
- Deut 6:8Tie them as reminders on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
- Luke 16:15So He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is prized among men is detestable before God.
- Phil 2:3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.
- Num 15:38–39“Speak to the Israelites and tell them that throughout the generations to come they are to make for themselves tassels for the corners of their garments, with a blue cord on each tassel.
- Exod 13:9It shall be a sign for you on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that the Law of the LORD is to be on your lips. For with a mighty hand the LORD brought you out of Egypt.
- Luke 20:47They defraud widows of their houses, and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will receive greater condemnation.”
- Deut 22:12You are to make tassels on the four corners of the cloak you wear.
- Prov 6:21–23Bind them always upon your heart; tie them around your neck.
- John 7:18He who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory, but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is a man of truth; in Him there is no falsehood.
- Prov 3:3Never let loving devotion or faithfulness leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
- Matt 9:20Suddenly a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak.
- Phil 1:15It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.
- 2 Th 2:4He will oppose and exalt himself above every so-called god or object of worship. So he will seat himself in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.
- 2 Kgs 10:16saying, “Come with me and see my zeal for the LORD!” So he had him ride in his chariot.
- Deut 11:18Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as reminders on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 23:5 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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