Matthew 23 · Verse 4

Matthew 23:4

For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
Matthew 23:4, King James Version

Matthew 23:4 in other translations

BSBThey tie up heavy, burdensome loads and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
WEBFor 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.
ASVYea, they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger.
YLTfor they bind together burdens heavy and grievous to be borne, and lay upon the shoulders of men, but with their finger they will not move them.
DARBYbut bind burdens heavy and hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of men, but will not move them with their finger.
BBEThey make hard laws and put great weights on men's backs; but they themselves will not put a finger to them.
WebsterFor they bind heavy burdens, and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

What does Matthew 23:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
4. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them--"touch them not" (Lu 11:46). with one of their fingers--referring not so much to the irksomeness of the legal rites, though they were irksome enough (Ac 15:10), as to the heartless rigor with which they were enforced, and by men of shameless inconsistency.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 4. They bind heavy burdens, etc. This phrase is derived from the custom of loading animals. The load or burden is bound up, and then laid on the beast. So the Pharisees appoint weighty burdens, or grievous and heavy precepts, and insist that the people should obey them, though they lent no assistance. The heavy burdens refer not here to the traditions and foolish customs of the Pharisees, for Jesus would not command the people to observe them; but they clearly mean the ceremonies and rites appointed by Moses, which Peter says "neither our fathers nor we were able to bear," Acts 15:10. Those rites were numerous, expensive, requiring much tune, much property, and laborious. The Pharisees were rigid in requiring that all the people should pay the taxes, give of their property, comply with every part of the law with the utmost rigour, yet indulged themselves, and bore as little of the expense and trouble as possible; so that, where they could avoid it, they would not lend the least aid to the people in the toils and expense of their religious rites.

With one of their fingers. In the least degree, They will not render the least aid.

(t) "burdens" Acts 15:10

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 They bind heavy burdens - They are now so corrupt that they have added to the ceremonies of the law others of their own invention, which are not only burdensome and oppressive, but have neither reason, expediency, nor revelation, to countenance them. In a word, like all their successors in spirit to the present day, they were severe to others, but very indulgent to themselves.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 23:1-12

The scribes and Pharisees explained the law of Moses, and enforced obedience to it. They are charged with hypocrisy in religion. We can only judge according to outward appearance; but God searches the heart. They made phylacteries. These were scrolls of paper or parchment, wherein were written four paragraphs of the law, to be worn on their foreheads and left arms, Ex 13:2-10; 13:11-16; De 6:4-9; 11:13-21. They made…

Read the full comment on Matthew 23:1-12 →

Matthew 23:4 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

δεσμεύουσινdesmeuousinThey tie upG1195
δὲdenowG1161
φορτίαphortiaburdensG5413
βαρέαbareaheavyG926
καὶkaiandG2532
δυσβάστακταdusbastaktahard to bearG1419
καὶkaiandG2532
ἐπιτιθέασινepititheasinlay [them]G2007
ἐπὶepionG1909
τοὺςtoustheG3588
ὤμουςōmousshouldersG5606
τῶνtōn<the>G3588
ἀνθρώπων·anthrōpōnof men;G444
αὐτοὶautoithemselvesG846
δὲdehoweverG1161
τῷtōwith theG3588
δακτύλῳdaktulōfingerG1147
αὐτῶνautōnof themG846
οὐounotG3756
θέλουσινthelousinare they willingG2309
κινῆσαιkinēsaito moveG2795
αὐτά.autathem.G846

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 23:4

  • Luke 11:46

    And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.

  • Acts 15:10

    Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

  • Galatians 6:13

    For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.

  • Matthew 11:28-30

    Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

  • Matthew 23:23

    Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

  • Revelation 2:24

    But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.

  • Acts 15:28

    For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
23; 11:28-30; Lu 11:46; Ac 15:10,28; Ga 6:13; Re 2:24

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Matthew 23:3

    All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

  • Matthew 23:4

    For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

  • Matthew 23:5

    But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,

Read all of Matthew 23

Matthew 23:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque atan cargas pesadas y difíciles de llevar, y las ponen sobre los hombros de los hombres; mas ni aun con su dedo las quieren mover.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		mais ils lient des fardeaux pesants et difficiles à porter, et les mettent sur les épaules des hommes, mais eux, ils ne veulent pas les remuer de leur doigt.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Sie binden aber schwere und schwer zu tragende Lasten und legen sie auf die Schultern der Menschen, aber sie wollen sie nicht mit ihrem Finger bewegen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Alligant enim onera gravia, et importabilia, et imponunt in humeros hominum: digito autem suo nolunt ea movere.