Matthew 23:5-7

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⁵“The only reason they do what they do is for other people to see them. They make the little Scripture boxes^[a] they wear bigger and bigger. And they make the tassels^[b] on their prayer clothes long enough for people to notice them. ⁶These men love to have the places of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues. ⁷They love for people to show respect to them in the marketplaces and to call them ‘Teacher.’

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Footnotes

Matthew 23:5 Scripture boxes Small leather boxes containing four important Scriptures. Some Jews tied these to the forehead and left arm to show their devotion to God and his word. Many Pharisees made these bigger to show that they were more religious than others.
Matthew 23:5 tassels Decorations made from wool threads that hung down from the four corners of the clothing or prayer shawls worn by Jews. They were supposed to be reminders of God’s commands (see Num. 15:38-41).