Part 1: Their fringes are long and their phylacteries big - Jesus...

[23:1] Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, [2] “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, [3] so practice and observe whatever they tell you—but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice. [4] They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. [5] They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, [6] and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues [7] and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. [8] But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. [9] And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. [10] Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. [11] The greatest among you shall be your servant. (Matthew 23:1-11 ESV)


I love to break down Scripture. There is so much being said in the above selection from Matthew. In verse 5 Jesus talks about phylacteries and fringes. What exactly is he talking about?

In the following verses we learn about phylacteries.
And it shall be to you as a sign on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the law of the LORD may be in your mouth. For with a strong hand the LORD has brought you out of Egypt. (Exodus 13:9 ESV)

You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 

(Deuteronomy 6:8 ESV)

You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 

(Deuteronomy 11:18 ESV)

The above three references, I think, are actually about how you should live your life as evidence that you follow the Lord. That your life, and how you live it will become evident to other people. In an earlier study I talked about the inner change of the heart, the hidden change inside of you that only God can see. That this inner-change is actually very important in that the initial hidden change begins your road to Heaven. Then when you grow in your Christian life, the way that you live your life will be evident to others. What you read in the Bible, what you learn from Christ, what you put in your heart, your Christian values will become evident to others. This is a natural growth when becoming Christian, and then living in Christ, by Christ, thru Christ, for Christ. But the Jewish tradition with phylacteries was a sign for others to know that you follow the God of the Holy Scriptures, and a reminder to the wearer about the above verses. Phylacteries were small leather cases that contained scripture written on small pieces of parchment. The leather cases were worn on the Pharisees' left arm and on their forehead to show literal obeying of the above three Bible verses. Even today, some Orthodox Jews wear them, mainly during prayer time. Did Jesus wear them? Well, He was the ultimate Jew, so He may have. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that He did. When He chastised the Pharisees in Matt 23:5, He says that they wore "broad" (or big) phylacteries, for all to see. Jesus may have worn a small, traditional version, who knows?

The above picture shows a Jewish man wearing phylacteries on his head, and his left upper-arm.

More on this study later...