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For they bind heavy burdens that are grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not lift a finger to help them. But they do all their works to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries[a] broad and enlarge the fringes[b] of their garments, and love the place of honor at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, the salutations in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi, Rabbi[c] by men. But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi’, for one is your teacher, the Christ, and all of you are brothers. Call no man on the earth your father, for one is your Father, he who is in heaven.

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Footnotes

  1. 23:5 phylacteries (tefillin in Hebrew) are small leather pouches that some Jewish men wear on their forehead and arm in prayer. They are used to carry a small scroll with some Scripture in it. See Deuteronomy 6:8.
  2. 23:5 or, tassels
  3. 23:7 NU omits the second “Rabbi”.

They tie up heavy loads, hard to bear, and place them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves will not lift a finger to help bear them.

They do all their works to be seen of men; for they make wide their phylacteries ([a]small cases enclosing certain Scripture passages, worn during prayer on the left arm and forehead) and make long their fringes [worn by all male Israelites, according to the command].(A)

And they [b]take pleasure in and [thus] love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues,

And to be greeted with honor in the marketplaces and to have people call them rabbi.

But you are not to be called rabbi (teacher), for you have one Teacher and you are all brothers.

And do not call anyone [in the church] on earth father, for you have one Father, Who is in heaven.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 23:5 John D. Davis, A Dictionary of the Bible.
  2. Matthew 23:6 Kenneth Wuest, Word Studies.