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Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice. (A)They tie up heavy burdens[a] [hard to carry] and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. [b](B)All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.

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Footnotes

  1. 23:4 Tie up heavy burdens: see note on Mt 11:28.
  2. 23:5 To the charge of preaching but not practicing (Mt 23:3), Jesus adds that of acting in order to earn praise. The disciples have already been warned against this same fault (see note on Mt 6:1–18). Phylacteries: the Mosaic law required that during prayer small boxes containing parchments on which verses of scripture were written be worn on the left forearm and the forehead (see Ex 13:9, 16; Dt 6:8; 11:18). Tassels: see note on Mt 9:20. The widening of phylacteries and the lengthening of tassels were for the purpose of making these evidences of piety more noticeable.

So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.(A)

“Everything they do is done for people to see:(B) They make their phylacteries[a](C) wide and the tassels on their garments(D) long;

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 23:5 That is, boxes containing Scripture verses, worn on forehead and arm