Mat 23:7 | KingComments | STEP | These religious leaders do everything only to be seen by the people. They want prestige among the people. They are not interested in what God thinks about them. When it comes to their prayer life, which happens properly in secret, they are flamboyant about it. They broaden their phylacteries, literally: amulets, so they stand out well. Phylacteries are parchment ribbons, written with texts worn around the forehead and on the hand ( ; ). Their prayer life is not marked by being in the presence of God, but by being in the presence of men. It is an evil form of religion to pretend they are approaching God when their intention is for people to honor them for their piety. The same goes for the ostentation with which they make it clear that they keep the commandments of God. The tassels of their garments, which are cords at the hem of the outer clothes, they lengthen. These tassels are directly related to the commemoration and fulfilment of the commandments of God ( ). Furthermore, on several occasions they push themselves to the places of honor because they find themselves the most important. Banquets in the houses and religious gatherings in the synagogue are all about them. They also want to draw attention to themselves in public on the markets. Extensive and noisy greetings should serve to make their name and fame known to all bystanders. What they also love and makes them puff out their chests is when people call them ‘Rabbi’. It is a tribute to their elevation over the people.

‏ Matthew 23:7

For the Eyes of the People

These religious leaders do everything only to be seen by the people. They want prestige among the people. They are not interested in what God thinks about them. When it comes to their prayer life, which happens properly in secret, they are flamboyant about it. They broaden their phylacteries, literally: amulets, so they stand out well. Phylacteries are parchment ribbons, written with texts worn around the forehead and on the hand (Exo 13:9; Deu 6:8). Their prayer life is not marked by being in the presence of God, but by being in the presence of men. It is an evil form of religion to pretend they are approaching God when their intention is for people to honor them for their piety.

The same goes for the ostentation with which they make it clear that they keep the commandments of God. The tassels of their garments, which are cords at the hem of the outer clothes, they lengthen. These tassels are directly related to the commemoration and fulfilment of the commandments of God (Num 15:37-40).

Furthermore, on several occasions they push themselves to the places of honor because they find themselves the most important. Banquets in the houses and religious gatherings in the synagogue are all about them. They also want to draw attention to themselves in public on the markets. Extensive and noisy greetings should serve to make their name and fame known to all bystanders. What they also love and makes them puff out their chests is when people call them ‘Rabbi’. It is a tribute to their elevation over the people.