Works to be Seen of Men - Matthew 23:5

Matthew the apostle wrote, “Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not you after their works: for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers”, and in chapter twenty-three and verse five of his book Matthew shared how Jesus said, “all their works they do for to be seen of men” where we read:

But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries,

and enlarge the borders of their garments,

The verse reads, “But all their works they do for to be seen of men:” Matthew began with the word, “but” which means “moreover and” “all their works” which means “each, every, the whole and everyone of the scribes and Pharisees' business, employment, that in which they are occupied, acts and deeds” “they do” or “the scribes and Pharisees perform, produce, prepare and make ready” “for to be seen” which means “because, since and on account that they desire to be observed, noticed and discovered” “of men” which means “by people whether male or female”. Matthew shared how the “scribes and Pharisees” performed their “deeds” only to be “observed” by people.

The verse continues, “they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,” Matthew added the words, “they make broad” which means “the scribes and Pharisees enlarge and widen” “their phylacteries” or “the scribes and Pharisees' preservatives or safeguards as an amulet. The Jews used this word to describe small strips of parchment on which within which were written passages of the law of Moses”, “and enlarge” which means “and make great, magnify and make great” “the boarders” or “the fringes, edges and appendages” “of their garments” which refers to “the scribes and Pharisees' cloaks, clothes, raiment and robes”. Matthew shared how Jesus said the “scribes and Pharisees” “widened” the boxes which were worn upon their arms or foreheads and held the law of Moses, and they “enlarged” the “appendages and edges” of their “robes or clothing”.

When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Jesus exposed the hypocrisy of the “scribes and Pharisees”. Not only did they make their little boxes called “phylacteries” large so people would notice them, but they also “enlarged” the “edges” of their “robes” so people would see them as well. This pretentious behavior meant to demonstrate how “holy” these “scribes and Pharisees” were, but they actually revealed the preposterous pride which was within them. God desires to have a “true, personal and loving” relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and when humility is demonstrated rather than prideful behavior, those who yield their lives to Jesus shall never need to “make broad” or “enlarge” any external adornment they wear.

Next time we see Matthew write how Jesus shared how the Pharisees, “love the uppermost rooms at feast, and the chief seats”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.