Tassels and Titles

By Deb Marsalisi

“Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: ‘The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.’”—Matthew 23:1–7

I have to say I don’t think there’s ever been a chapter that speaks louder and clearer to the world than Matthew 23. This is the last thing Jesus said to the scribes and Pharisees before they called for His crucifixion. The entire chapter is vital for both the believer and nonbeliever alike. To those who consider themselves to be Christians, we’re to use this chapter as a mirror to our souls. This humbling chapter helps us to evaluate ourselves and warns us that head knowledge doesn’t always equal heart transformation.

There's nothing worse than religious hypocrisy! It’s repugnant when people claim to be better and more righteous than you when they’re regularly participating in sin. It's incredibly important for nonbelievers to see how angry this behavior made Jesus and how powerfully and passionately He rebukes it. He knew this kind of behavior would repel people from God—and He wouldn’t stand for it!

Before we move forward, it's helpful to understand the significance of phylacteries and tassels in this passage, so we can hear the heart of God the Father.

Phylacteries were small square leather boxes carrying four scrolls of parchment that included the following Scriptures: Exodus 13:1–1, Exodus 13:11–16, Deuteronomy 6:4–9, and Deuteronomy 11:13–21. These verses speak to binding the Lord’s commands on one's heart and mind. One phylactery was tied to the left arm pointing to the heart with the leather strap traveling down to the hand. This was worn as a symbol that the love for God and His Word was so deeply rooted in their heart that it would overflow into action through genuine acts of love, mercy, and justice. The other phylactery was tied to the forehead as a reminder to be constantly meditating on the Word of God. This demonstrates how the head and heart need to be connected to have true intimacy with God.

Tassels were to be worn on the four corners of a garment to help the Israelites remember and surround themselves with God’s Law. Interestingly, the numeral value of the strings and knots equals 613, representing the number of commands in the Torah.

God wanted the Israelites to keep His Word ever on their minds with these phylacteries and tassels. As the church, we get to participate in this practice symbolically. Keeping the Word of God in our minds and hearts should compel us into godly action.

Why didn’t the Word transform the scribes and Pharisees? Pride. Confessing sin and accepting that in our own strength, we can do nothing to obtain eternal life, is an endless stumbling block for prideful people. Denial and pride are at the heart of hypocrisy. It was pride bubbling up in the hearts of the Pharisees and scribes when they desired the best seats in the synagogues or longed to have the title of “Rabbi.” Denying their own pride made them hate Jesus.

Darkness always hates the light. John 3:20 (NKJV) says, “For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.” Jesus is still in the business of pulling us from darkness into the light. Would you be willing to ask God to expose and lovingly correct any hypocrisy in your life today?

Pause: May we be filled with grace as we genuinely remember that our sinful nature makes us susceptible to falling into hypocrisy just like the Pharisees.

Practice: Take some time this week to read the following verses: Exodus 13:1–16, Deuteronomy 6:4–9, and Deuteronomy 11:13–21, and see what God wants for His children.

Pray: Dear Lord, You tell me in Matthew 6:1 to beware of practicing my righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then I will have no reward from the Father who is in heaven. If there’s any pride in me that desires to be seen, please forgive me and wash me clean from this sin. Help me to seek to please You and You alone. Amen.