Matthew 23:5Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Similarly, if an individual is in front of a crowd that enjoys humor, he strives to amuse them; conversely, someone addressing a serious and pensive audience will adjust his demeanor to match theirs, driven by the hope of receiving admiration. Yet observe how the Saviour intensifies the accountability of the Pharisees. He doesn’t indicate that they act one way at times and differently at others; rather, their behavior is consistently the same. After addressing their vanity, He further elucidates that they are not proud of any significant and necessary deeds (as they possess no genuine good works), but rather of trivial and insignificant actions that reveal their corruption. He states that they expand their phylacteries and embellish the fringes of their garments. What are these phylacteries and fringes? Frequently, as they forget God’s blessings, He instructed them to document His miracles on special scrolls and attach these scrolls to their hands (hence it is written, Let them be as frontlets between your eyes - Deuteronomy 6:8), referred to as phylacteries, similar to how some today wear their scriptures around their necks. To aid their remembrance of His blessings, God commanded them, like young children do to prevent forgetfulness, to tie cords around their fingers, in addition to sewing blue threads on the hems of their garments, so that upon seeing them, they might recall the commandments—these threads were known as fringes. They took great care to fashion broad bands for these scrolls and to lengthen the fringes of their garments, displaying their extreme vanity. Why do you take pride in and amplify these symbols? Do you consider this your virtue? Will they be of any benefit if you ignore the messages they convey? God does not require you to enlarge or extend them, but rather to remember His blessings. If acts of charity and fasting are not to be commended—those requiring effort on our part and represent our genuine good works—then, O Jew, how can you boast about those things that particularly highlight your negligence? Moreover, the Jews exhibited their arrogance not only through these minor observances but also in numerous other ways.

However, God desired not mere external observance; true fulfillment of the commandments resided in the heart. The red patches symbolized that humanity would one day be marked by the blood of Christ. Yet, the Pharisees constructed grand vaults and shrines to project themselves as devoted guardians of the law to all observers.

This practice continues among certain groups, with individuals regarded as particularly devout when they uphold such customs. Moses also prescribed that the Israelites should attach a fringe of blue to the corners of their garments for their identification as His people. As a sign of belonging to the Jewish community, he ensured their attire bore a distinction. Superstitious teachers, desiring human admiration and the favor of women, created ostentatious fringes adorned with sharp needles, intending that their constant pricking would serve as reminders to devote themselves to God and fulfill His commands. When He remarked that all perform their deeds for the sake of being observed, He issued a universal indictment against them, which he later elaborated on in detail. This small tablet, containing the commandments, was metaphorically called a stronghold, as its possessor was seen as having a protective barrier; yet, the Pharisees failed to grasp that the commandments were meant for the heart rather than mere physical representation. Instead, they filled their homes with books yet remained ignorant of God. This is often echoed by some women today, who carry miniature gospels or parables, possessing a zeal for God but lacking proper understanding—focusing on minor details while neglecting what truly matters. The fringe, small and short as prescribed by the law, was remarkable in that it was touched by a well-known woman suffering from bleeding; her action was not driven by superstition or the pricks of the Pharisees, but rather by her faith in the healing power of Jesus.

We can draw a parallel here. As the Israelites often overlooked God’s blessings, He commanded them to inscribe His gifts on scrolls and attach them to the hands of teachers, ensuring they remain in sight for constant remembrance. These scrolls are referred to as phylacteries because they contribute to the preservation of memory and awareness. Moreover, to prevent the commandments from being forgotten, God instructed a blue thread to be placed on the edges of their garments, which would serve as a continual reminder of His laws. This was known as a tzitzit. However, the scribes and Pharisees, even while neglecting these commandments, adorned themselves with wide phylacteries and flaunted lengthy tassels on their garments, filled with pride and misguided notions of piety. Mark noted their long robes (στολαι), warning in Mark 12:38 to be cautious of the scribes who move about in such garments. Likewise, Luke echoed this sentiment in Luke 20:46. Through these superficial displays, they revealed their vanity.

They purposefully adorn themselves with oversized leather boxes containing excerpts from the Law, and they increase the length of the fringes on their garments, showcasing these adornments for all to see. Moses instructed that such items should serve as reminders of God's commandments and inspire acts of goodness, not as decorations for self-aggrandizement.

Hypocrites either seek to exert influence over others, as seen with certain members of the Old Believers who offer charity or lend money to their peers, or they aim to gain favor with influential clergy to benefit from their intercession for personal advancement, or they hope to receive admiration and respect from genuinely pious individuals who appreciate appearances of similar devotion. Their hearts lack faith and true piety, yet they masquerade as ardent believers only when it serves their purposes. Any good they perform is merely for show, not meant as a true example for others, but solely for accolades or other ulterior motives. When there is no one to observe their piety, or when there is no advantage in presenting themselves as devout before recognizable individuals, they refrain from such displays. For instance, they may easily disregard fasting, neglect making the sign of the cross, lack the enthusiasm to attend church, and instead reveal a secular demeanor in front of worldly people, adhering to their own self-serving agenda rather than for the benefit of others. For these hypocrites, trivial matters of outward religiosity are prioritized above genuine conscience, love, and truth. They focus on inconsequential details, dismissing ‘judgment and mercy and faith’ (Matthew 23:23) as inconsequential, which results in their false zeal being overly demanding of others while they indulge themselves. They possess a hardened heart and, cloaked in a facade of virtue, are ready to commit various forms of wrongdoing. Therefore, lamentation is warranted for those who have internalized the essence of Pharisaism.

While their designs varied and were not always worn, they were typically utilized during morning and evening prayers and gatherings in synagogues. In contrast to the common people, the Pharisees made their phylacteries more prominent to set themselves apart and showcase their supposed devotion. Additionally, the “tassels on their garments” were the four fringes attached to the corners of their outer robes, along with threads dyed in blue. The Law commanded (Numbers 15:38-40, Deuteronomy 22:12) that these be worn so that the Israelites, upon seeing them, would recall God's commandments and recognize their distinct identity among nations. The Pharisees also exaggerated the size of these tassels, mirroring their treatment of phylacteries, as a means of displaying their arrogance.

22:12): these tassels are sewn onto the corners of the prayer shawl. Such items, whether ordained by law or adopted through tradition to serve as reminders of God's commandments, were manipulated by ancient pretenders into instruments of arrogance, as they proudly showcased exaggerated tefillin and extended fringes to the public.