Matthew 23:4 - For they bind heavy burdens that are grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not lift a finger to help them.
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What does "Matthew 23:4" mean?
Matthew 23:4 is a harsh critique of the religious leaders of Jesus's time, specifically the scribes and Pharisees. It means:
"For they bind heavy burdens that are grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders...": This refers to the meticulous and often unnecessary rules and regulations the scribes and Pharisees imposed on the people. These burdens represent the complexities and restrictions they added to the Law of Moses, making religious observance difficult and onerous. They created a system that was difficult, if not impossible, for the average person to follow perfectly. It implies they added layers of interpretation and custom that went beyond the original intent of the scripture, turning religion into a set of heavy rules that were hard to obey.
"...but they themselves will not lift a finger to help them.": This highlights the hypocrisy of these leaders. They demanded strict adherence to their rules but were unwilling to ease the burden or offer genuine assistance in following them. They didn't practice what they preached and were more concerned with maintaining their authority and image than with helping the people. It suggests they were detached from the struggles of the common people and lacked compassion. They demanded perfection from others but were unwilling to assist in achieving it.
In essence, the verse condemns the religious leaders for:
Adding unnecessary burdens to religious observance.
Being hypocritical by not practicing what they preached.
Lacking compassion and being unwilling to help those struggling under their rules.
The verse serves as a warning against legalism and a call for leaders to be compassionate and helpful, not just imposing burdens on others.
Matthew 23:4 - For they bind heavy burdens that are grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not lift a finger to help them.
What does "Matthew 23:4" mean?
Matthew 23:4 is a harsh critique of the religious leaders of Jesus's time, specifically the scribes and Pharisees. It means:
"For they bind heavy burdens that are grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders...": This refers to the meticulous and often unnecessary rules and regulations the scribes and Pharisees imposed on the people. These burdens represent the complexities and restrictions they added to the Law of Moses, making religious observance difficult and onerous. They created a system that was difficult, if not impossible, for the average person to follow perfectly. It implies they added layers of interpretation and custom that went beyond the original intent of the scripture, turning religion into a set of heavy rules that were hard to obey.
"...but they themselves will not lift a finger to help them.": This highlights the hypocrisy of these leaders. They demanded strict adherence to their rules but were unwilling to ease the burden or offer genuine assistance in following them. They didn't practice what they preached and were more concerned with maintaining their authority and image than with helping the people. It suggests they were detached from the struggles of the common people and lacked compassion. They demanded perfection from others but were unwilling to assist in achieving it.
In essence, the verse condemns the religious leaders for:
Adding unnecessary burdens to religious observance.
Being hypocritical by not practicing what they preached.
Lacking compassion and being unwilling to help those struggling under their rules.
The verse serves as a warning against legalism and a call for leaders to be compassionate and helpful, not just imposing burdens on others.