Add parallel Print Page Options

“Everything they do is meant to attract the attention of others. They widen their phylacteries[a] and lengthen their tassels. They love to have places of honor at banquets and the best seats in synagogues, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be addressed as ‘Rabbi.’

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 23:5 Phylacteries: little boxes containing tiny parchment scrolls that had texts of Scripture on them (Ex 13:1-10; 13:11-16; Deut 6:4-9; 11:13-21) and were placed in little tubes; the boxes were attached to the forehead and the left forearm, in keeping with a literal interpretation of Deut 6:8; 11:18. The tassels had a blue thread running through them as a symbol of heaven; they were to remind the wearer of the commandments of God (Num 15:38).