Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 23:5

5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men. They make broad their phylacteryes, and inlarge the borders of their garments.

Our Saviour had v. 4. blamed the Pharisees for not living up to what they taught, pressing the Law of God on others, but not doing nor indeavouring to observe it themselves. Here he blames them, for doing what good things they did for Ostentation, to be seen of Men, and abounding in their Ritual Performances of more minute Concernment, in the mean time neglecting their Moral Duties. All they do, they do to be seen of Men; this is their main end to be seen of Men; for this he had reflected on them, Chap. 6. They make broad their Phylacteryes, and inlarge the borders of their Garments. For the right understanding of this we must have recourse to Num. 15.37, 38. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, spake unto the Children of Israel, and bid them that they make them Fringes in the Borders of their Garments, throughout their Generations, And that they put upon the Fringe of the Borders, a Ribband of Blew; And it shall be unto you for a Fringe, that you may look upon it, and remember all the Commandements of the Lord, and do them, and that you seek not after your own Heart, and your own Eyes, after which you use to go a Whoring. That you may remember, and do all my Commandments. Deut, 22.12. Thou shalt make thee Fringes upon the four Quarters of thy Vesture, wherewith thou coverest thy self. In obedience to this Law, the Jews did generally wear such Garments that had Fringes, and Blew Ribbands annexed to them. The Jews at this Day do it not, because, as they pretend, they have lost the true way of Dying the Blew Colour, required in the Law. The End why God commanded them, is expressed. That they might look upon it, and remember all the Commandements of the Lord and do them, and be restrained from their own Inventions, and Imaginations in Gods Service. They were also a Note of Distinction of the Jews from other People, Besides these, God Commanding that they should Bind his Laws, for a Sign upon their Hands, and as frontlets between their Eyes, Deut. 6.6, 7, 8. they made them Parchments, in which the Precepts of the Law were written, which they bound to their Foreheads, and Arms. These were called Phylacteryes from [non-Latin text not transcribed] to keep. Things wherein the Law was kept, the Pharisees for a Boast how zealous keepers they were of the Law of God (than which they did nothing less) made these Phylacteries and Ribbands broader, their Fringes much longer than other Mens, this is that making broad their Phylacteryes, and inlarging the Borders of their Garments, which our Lord here reflects upon, done only for Ostentation, and that they might be seen of Men.

Marginal references: Chap. 6 [illegible: 1 letter] ▪ 2, 5.16.