All their works they do, &c.— "Any good action which they happen to perform, is vitiated by the principle from which it proceeds. They do it with a view to popular applause, and not from a regard to God, or from a love of goodness. They are proud and arrogant, as is plain from their affected gravity of dress, from the anxietywhich they discover to get the principal seats at feasts and all public meetings, as belonging to them on account of their superior worth, and from their courting to be saluted in the streets with particular marks of respect, and to be addressed with pompous and high sounding titles of rabbi, father, and master, thinking such public acknowledgement of their merit due from all who meet them." Concerning the Phylacteries, see the note on Deuteronomy 6:8. What the borders of their garments, or fringes (κρασπεδα) were, may be gathered from Deuteronomy 22:12. From this use of the garment on which the fringes were to be put, it is supposed to have been the veil, which they then wore on their heads; and the fringes are thought to have been tufts of twined thread, fastened to the four corners of it with a ribbon, in a manner, that each tuft hung at a little distance from the corner of the veil to which it was fastened. Hence we see the propriety of the expression, they make the fringes of their garments great, or large; hence also we learn that these fringes were considered as badges of holiness, and that the Pharisees wore a larger kind of them than ordinary, to give themselves the appearance of uncommon gravity, piety, and wisdom. The doctors had seats by themselves, with their backs towards the pulpit in which the law was read, and their faces towards the people. These were accounted the most honourable, and therefore these ambitious Scribes and Pharisees contended for them. The word rabbi properly signifies great, and was prefixed to the names of those doctors who had rendered themselves remarkable by the extent of their learning; or who were the authors of new schemes in divinity, heads of sects, whose fame had gained them many followers. The Jewish doctors were particularly fond of this title, because it was a high compliment paid to their understanding, gave them vast authority withtheir disciples, and a very significant appearance in the eyes of the world. See Macknight, and Gale's Sermons, vol. 1: p. 80.
Related Commentaries of Matthew 23:5
Matthew 23:5-7
5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries,a and enlarge the borders of their garments,
6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.