Matthew 23:5 means that Jesus warns against doing religious acts mainly to be seen and admired by other people. He is not condemning prayer, fasting or Scripture itself, but the motive that turns devotion into a performance. Jesus says this about the scribes and Pharisees, the religious teachers and leaders of his day, speaking to the crowds and to his disciples in Jerusalem.
But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad, enlarge the fringes of their garments…
Matthew 23:5 (WEB)
What Matthew 23:5 Means
The phrase “all their works they do to be seen by men” names the heart of the problem. The verb points to a purpose: the actions are aimed at an audience, not at God. Jesus is describing a habit of living for public approval, where a good deed becomes a way of collecting people’s praise.
Jesus then gives two examples. The “phylacteries” were small leather boxes holding Scripture verses, worn on the arm and forehead by some observant Jews as a sign of devotion to God’s law. The “fringes” were tassels on the corners of a garment, meant to remind the wearer of God’s commands. Making these larger was a way of looking more pious. The point is not that the objects were wrong, but that they had become badges for public display.
The verse does not promise that every religious person is a hypocrite, nor does it forbid visible faith. It asks what our devotion is for. Jesus is pressing us to check whether our practices serve God or our reputation.
The Context of Matthew 23:5
Matthew wrote his Gospel for a community that knew Jewish customs well, and he records a series of sharp teachings from Jesus in the final days of his public ministry. Chapter 23 is one long address, opening with the words that the scribes and Pharisees “sat on Moses’ seat.” Jesus grants their teaching authority (“observe and do” what they say) but warns against copying their behavior, because they say one thing and do another.
Read this way, verse 5 is not a random insult but an example of that gap between words and actions. The verses that follow describe the same pattern: seats of honor, public greetings and titles like “Rabbi.” Jesus then reminds his listeners that they have one teacher and are all brothers and sisters, which turns the whole passage toward humility and sincere service.
Key Phrases in Matthew 23:5
Matthew 6:1
“Be careful that you don’t do your charitable giving before men, to be seen by them, or else you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
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This verse opens Jesus’s teaching on giving, prayer and fasting, warning against practicing righteousness before others to be seen. It lays the foundation for the concern about public display in Matthew 23:5 and shows that the issue runs throughout Jesus’s teaching.
Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does the LORD require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
(WEB)
Micah describes what the Lord actually asks of his people: justice, mercy and walking humbly with God. Read alongside Matthew 23:5, it shows that true faith is measured by a humble heart and faithful living, not by impressive religious appearances.
A Short Prayer From Matthew 23:5
Lord, you see what I do when no one is looking, and you know the reasons behind my actions. Search my heart and show me where I have been seeking the approval of people more than your presence. Free me from the need to be noticed, and make my faith quiet, honest and rooted in love for you. Help me to serve, pray and give simply because you are worthy of my devotion. Amen.
