What Does Matthew 23:5 Mean?
But they do all their works to be seen by people, for they widen their guards and enlarge the fringes of their garments.
Key words are shown with the Hebrew or Greek and what each word meant.
Selah Decoded Version The Selah Decoded Version renders what the Hebrew and Greek words meant to the people who first heard them.
King James wording
King James Version
But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,THE KEY
The visible signs meant to keep devotion close become larger so the human gaze will catch them.
THE MEANING
The verse exposes how religious practice can be shaped for an audience: its visible signs grow so other people will notice. A reminder worn close to the body becomes part of the public surface, and the verse makes the gaze behind that expansion visible.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The lie is that making devotion more visible makes it more real.
THE ROOT
θεαθῆναι
theathēnai
GROWS FROM
θεάομαι
theaomai
to look at, behold
“seen” in this verse is theathēnai. The verb points to being looked at, with people as the intended viewers. Its word family includes the spectator and the theater: religious practice can become a scene arranged for an audience.
ALSO GROWS
theatēs: spectator, one who watches
θεατής
The word makes the human gaze in the verse concrete: people are positioned as viewers.
theatron: theater, a place for viewing
θέατρον
This related word echoes the verse’s image of visible religious practice becoming a public display.
φυλακτήρια
phylaktēria
GROWS FROM
φυλάσσω
phylassō
to guard, keep watch over
“guards” in this verse is phylaktēria. The word carries the idea of guarding or keeping, beneath the visible object worn as a reminder. As the phylacteries grow broader, the verse reveals a tension between keeping instruction close and making its sign conspicuous.
ALSO GROWS
phylassō: guard, keep watch over
φυλάσσω
This verb holds the guarding sense beneath the phylacteries’ name.
phylax: guard, watchman
φύλαξ
The related noun names one who keeps watch, echoing the guarding idea carried by the object.
THE PATTERN
When human approval becomes the audience, outward religious practice is shaped into display.
But the LORD said to Samuel, Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, for I have pushed him away. The LORD does not see as the human sees. The human sees what is outside, but the LORD sees the heart.Take heed not to do your alignment before men, to be seen by them; otherwise you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.Whatever you do, work at it from the living soul, as to the Lord and not to humans.THE THREAD
Take heed not to do your alignment before men, to be seen by them; otherwise you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.Matthew 6:1 repeats the same Greek verb for being seen by people, now in connection with almsgiving. The shared word shows that the issue is not one religious object but the human gaze becoming the audience for visible devotion.
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