Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Matthew: Chapter 23].
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23:2 {Sit on Moses' seat} (\epi t•s M•use•s kathedras
ekathisan\). The gnomic or timeless aorist tense, \ekathisan\,
not the aorist "for" the perfect. The "seat of Moses" is a brief
form for the chair of the professor whose function it is to
interpret Moses. "The heirs of Moses' authority by an unbroken
tradition can deliver _ex cathedra_ pronouncements on his
teaching" (McNeile).
23:3 {For they say and do not} (\legousin kai ou poiousin\). "As
teachers they have their place, but beware of following their
example" (Bruce). So Jesus said: "Do not ye after their works "
(\m• poieite\). Do not practice their practices. They are only
preachers. Jesus does not here disapprove any of their teachings
as he does elsewhere. The point made here is that they are only
teachers (or preachers) and do not practice what they teach as
God sees it.
23:4 {With their finger} (\t•i daktul•i aut•n\). A picturesque
proverb. They are taskmasters, not burden-bearers, not
sympathetic helpers.
23:5 {To be seen of men} (\pros to theath•nai tois anthr•pois\).
See 6:1 where this same idiom occurs. Ostentation regulates the
conduct of the rabbis. {Phylacteries} (\phulakt•ria\). An
adjective from \phulakt•r, phulass•\ (to guard). So a fortified
place, station for garrison, then a safeguard, protecting charm
or amulet. The rabbis wore \tephillin\ or prayer-fillets, small
leather cases with four strips of parchment on which were written
the words of Ex 13:1-10,11-16; De 6:4-9; 11:13-21. They took
literally the words about "a sign unto thy hand," "a memorial
between thine eyes," and "frontlets." "That for the head was to
consist of a box with four compartments, each containing a slip
of parchment inscribed with one of the four passages. Each of
these strips was to be tied up with a well-washed hair from a
calf's tail; lest, if tied with wool or thread, any fungoid
growth should ever pollute them. The phylactery of the arm was to
contain a single slip, with the same four passages written in
four columns of seven lines each. The black leather straps by
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Word Pictures in the New Testament
(Matthew: Chapter 23)