Matthew 23:5 — Community Reflections

MATTHEW 23:5 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,”

They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. The performance motivation: all their deeds done to be seen (theaomai — the same root as theater). The expanded phylacteries (the boxes containing Scripture passages strapped to the forehead and arm for prayer) and the lengthened fringes (the tassels on the prayer garment) are the visible religious practices that signal devotion while communicating status.

Church Fathers on Matthew 23:5

The Lord bad charged the Scribes and Pharisees with harshness and neglect; He now brings forward their vain-glory, which made them depart from God.
Chrysostom · 4th century

Every substance breeds in itself that which destroys it, as wood the worm, and garments the moth so the Devil strives to corrupt the ministry of the Priests, who are ordained for the edification of holiness, endeavouring that this good, while it is done to be seen of men, should be turned into evil. Take away this fault from the clergy, and you will have no further labour in their reform, for of this it comes that a clergyman who has sinned can hardly perform penance.
Pseudo-Chrysostom · 5th century

And their works likewise they do to be seen of men, using outward circumcision, taking away actual leaven out of their houses, and doing such like things. But Christ’s disciples fulfil the Law in things secret, being Jews inwardly, as the Apostle speaks. [marg. note: Rom 2:29]
Origen · 3rd century

Read all 27 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

Publish a reflection on this verse

No reflections on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!