New Living Translation
Matthew 23:5
5“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.
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
3So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach. 4They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden. “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. 6And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues. 7They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi.’
Read all of Matthew 23Matthew 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“Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven.
- 2 Kings 10:16Then Jehu said, “Now come with me, and see how devoted I am to the Lord.” So Jehonadab rode along with him.
- Luke 16:15Then he said to them, “You like to appear righteous in public, but God knows your hearts. What this world honors is detestable in the sight of God.
- Luke 20:47Yet they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public. Because of this, they will be severely punished.”
- Luke 21:1While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box.
- John 5:44No wonder you can’t believe! For you gladly honor each other, but you don’t care about the honor that comes from the one who alone is God.
- John 7:18Those who speak for themselves want glory only for themselves, but a person who seeks to honor the one who sent him speaks truth, not lies.
- John 12:43For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.
- Philippians 1:15It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives.
- Philippians 2:3Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:4He will exalt himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of worship. He will even sit in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God.
- Deuteronomy 6:8Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders.
- Proverbs 3:3Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart.
- Proverbs 6:21Keep their words always in your heart. Tie them around your neck.
- Matthew 9:20Just then a woman who had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding came up behind him. She touched the fringe of his robe,
- Numbers 15:38“Give the following instructions to the people of Israel: Throughout the generations to come you must make tassels for the hems of your clothing and attach them with a blue cord.
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
In the dictionaries
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
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