Matthew 23:5

Matthew 23:5 in other versions

• King James Version (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,
• New International Version (NIV)“Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long;
• English Standard Version (ESV)They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long,
• New King James Version (NKJV)But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments.

Context of Matthew 23:5

3Therefore pay attention to what they tell you and do it. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they teach. 4They tie up heavy loads, hard to carry, and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing even to lift a finger to move them. They do all their deeds to be seen by people, for they make their phylacteries wide and their tassels long. 6They love the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues 7and elaborate greetings in the marketplaces, and to have people call them ‘Rabbi.’

Matthew 23:5 word by word

πάντα δὲ τὰ ἔργα αὐτῶν ποιοῦσιν πρὸς τὸ θεαθῆναι τοῖς ἀνθρώποις· πλατύνουσιν γὰρ τὰ φυλακτήρια αὐτῶν καὶ μεγαλύνουσιν τὰ κράσπεδαRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Butδέde · thenG1161
• allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• theirαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• worksἔργονergon · workG2041
• they doποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• forπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• to be seenθεάομαιtheaomai · to look atG2300
• of menἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• they make broadπλατύνωplatunō · to widenG4115
• phylacteriesφυλακτήριονphulaktērion · phylacteryG5440
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• enlargeμεγαλύνωmegalunō · to magnifyG3170
• the bordersκράσπεδονkraspedon · edgeG2899
• ofἱμάτιονhimation · clothingG2440

Cross-references for Matthew 23:5

• Matthew 6:1“Be careful not to display your righteousness merely to be seen by people. Otherwise you have no reward with your Father in heaven.
• 2 Kings 10:16Jehu said, “Come with me and see how zealous I am for the Lord’s cause.” So he took him along in his chariot.
• Luke 16:15But Jesus said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in men’s eyes, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly prized among men is utterly detestable in God’s sight.
• Luke 20:47They devour widows’ property, and as a show make long prayers. They will receive a more severe punishment.”
• Luke 21:1Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box.
• John 5:44How can you believe, if you accept praise from one another and don’t seek the praise that comes from the only God?
• John 7:18The person who speaks on his own authority desires to receive honor for himself; the one who desires the honor of the one who sent him is a man of integrity, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
• John 12:43For they loved praise from men more than praise from God.
• Philippians 1:15Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from goodwill.
• Philippians 2:3Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself.
• 2 Thessalonians 2:4He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, and as a result he takes his seat in God’s temple, displaying himself as God.
• Deuteronomy 6:8You should tie them as a reminder on your forearm and fasten them as symbols on your forehead.
• Proverbs 3:3Do not let truth and mercy leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
• Proverbs 6:21Bind them on your heart continually; fasten them around your neck.
• Matthew 9:20But a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak.
• Numbers 15:38“Speak to the Israelites and tell them to make tassels for themselves on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and put a blue thread on the tassel of the corners.

Commentaries on Matthew 23:5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5All their works they do for to be seen of men - In pointing out the corruptions of these men, our Lord gives us the distinguishing characteristics of all false teachers, whether Jewish or Christian. They live not according to the truths they preach. They say, and do not, Matthew 23:3. They are severe to others, point out the narrowest road to heaven, and walk in the broad road themselves. They bind on burdens, etc., Matthew 23:4. They affect to appear…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5Their phylacteries - The word “phylactery” comes from a word signifying to keep, preserve, or guard. The name was given because phylacteries were worn as amulets or charms, and were supposed to defend or preserve those who wore them from evil. They were small slips of parchment or vellum, on which were written certain portions of the Old Testament. The practice of using phylacteries was founded on a literal interpretation of that passage where God…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5phylacteries: Pious Jews sometimes wore small prayer boxes, called phylacteries. These were placed on the head and the upper left arm. Inside were written copies of important Old Testament commands (see Deuteronomy 6:6–9; 11:18–19). Another custom was wearing tassels, which were also a sign of devotion (see Matthew 9:20; see also Numbers 15:38–41). Some made their tassels extra long to draw attention to their religious devotion.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. But all their works they do for to be seen of men--Whatever good they do, or zeal they show, has but one motive--human applause. they make broad their phylacteries--strips of parchment with Scripture-texts on them, worn on the forehead, arm, and side, in time of prayer. and enlarge the borders of their garments--fringes of their upper garments (Nu 15:37-40).Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 23:5

• Ambition
• Church
• Fringes
• Hypocrisy
• Pharisees
• Phylactery
• Satire
• Teachers

In the dictionaries

• Abase
• Apparel
• Bewray
• Devour
• Exalt
• Fill
• Gnat
• Hem
• Ought
• Partaker

Commentaries on Matthew 23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings