←
Explanation for:
Matthew
23
:
4
For they bind heavy and insupportable burdens, and lay them on men's shoulders; but with a finger of their own they will not move them.
9
more explanations
& daily audio-books
spoken by
– enjoy in Theosis App –
Start your
Bible-journey
with explanations
& daily audio-books
only 4$* per month
{"arr":[{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"This critique addresses teachers broadly who instruct others to undertake challenging tasks while neglecting simpler ones. It is important to recognize that the shoulders, fingers, weight, and the straps that secure the weight should be interpreted in a spiritual context."},{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"They impose onerous and burdensome requirements on others, refusing to lift a finger to assist (v. 4). In these statements, He exposes a dual wrongdoing in their actions: they expect their followers to achieve unwavering moral perfection while granting themselves unchecked freedom. In contrast, a righteous leader should serve as a disciplined and discerning judge of oneself while embodying gentleness and understanding towards those they lead. The Pharisees, however, practiced the opposite. Notice how the Savior deepens this accusation against the scribes; He did not say they are unable, but rather that they do not wish to; He did not state they are incapable of carrying burdens, but that they do not desire to even lift a finger, indicating they shun any effort or involvement. Their focus lies elsewhere, particularly on that which the law expressly forbids."},{"author-name":"Ephraem the Syrian","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88b589fc3e99eb7bb1839_Ephraem%20the%20Syrian.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Allow your spirit to cherish the humble young man, and do not impose upon him more than he can bear, so that his soul may be redeemed by the Lord and that he may be granted the crown of glory at the coming of the Chief Shepherd. Do not weigh down your brother, for if you place an excessive load on your livestock, they will falter along the way."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"The Pharisees placed significant demands on the people by insisting that they adhere to intricate and challenging aspects of the law, further complicating these requirements with additional traditions that were not part of the law itself. They themselves took no action, signified by their unwillingness to lift even a finger, and were distant from the burdens they imposed. When a teacher practices what he preaches, he embodies the role of a disciple as well, sharing the load with those he instructs. Conversely, when a teacher burdens a student without engaging in the same efforts, he only adds to the student's struggles, demonstrating through his complacency that what he advocates is unattainable. Thus, the Lord admonishes the Pharisees for their unwillingness to participate in alleviating the burdens, indicating their reluctance to take action."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"They impose heavy and burdensome requirements upon people, placing these loads upon their backs. He refers to the most rigid and trivial rules of life as difficult and intolerable weights, with individuals represented as the ones bearing these loads. Clearly, they set forth demands that exceed the commandments. Yet, they are unwilling to lift a finger to alleviate any of these burdens. Not only do they refuse to share in the labors that they impose on others to inspire greater zeal by their own actions, but they also do not want to even touch these burdens in any way. As stated in Luke 11:46, \\"And with one finger you shall not touch them with a burden.\\" These leaders give the harshest commands to those they govern while permitting themselves total freedom, whereas the ideal approach would have been to impose stricter limitations on themselves and to show greater compassion towards others."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"\\"They impose burdens that are difficult to carry\\": this phrase reflects a common practice of placing loads on animals. The term 'heavy burdens' refers not merely to the empty and excessive traditions enforced by the Pharisees—traditions which the Lord rejected and did not expect the people to follow—but to the entire array of complex regulations found in the Mosaic law. The Apostle Peter describes this burden as \\"a yoke which neither our fathers nor we could bear\\" (Acts 15:10). The Pharisees rigorously insisted that the people adhere to every legal requirement, \\"forcing them to comply with the trivial and challenging prescriptions of the law\\" (Theophilus); yet they were unwilling to lend any support, refusing even to lift a finger to alleviate the burdens placed on others. \\"In these remarks, He exposes a dual injustice in their behavior: they demand absolute and perfect righteousness from those beneath them while acting with total disregard for such standards themselves; a good leader, however, should strive to be a rigorous and discerning judge of their own conduct. The Pharisees, in contrast, embodied the opposite. This is typical of many religious individuals who are uncompromising and demanding towards others, yet lack an understanding of the challenges involved in teaching through example. They did not say 'cannot,' but rather 'do not want'; they did not mention carrying the burden, but rather 'to lift a finger,' indicating they will not even attempt to help or engage with the load\\" (Zlat.). \\"When a teacher not only instructs but also embodies the message, he shares the burden with the learner and works alongside them. However, when he imposes a significant load while refusing to participate himself, he only adds to the challenge, demonstrating through his inaction the difficulty of achieving what he teaches\\" (Theophilus)."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The Lord charges the Pharisees with being harsh towards those they were meant to shepherd. They impose heavy, intolerable burdens upon the people, likening them to pack animals forced to carry the unbearable yoke of numerous regulations of the Mosaic Law. They pressure the people to adhere strictly to these countless rules, showing no compassion for human weaknesses, yet they refuse to lift a finger to ease the loads they have placed upon others; they are unwilling to assist in any way. They fail to recognize that a true leader maintains a standard of strictness and accountability towards themselves while being gentle and understanding towards those they lead. Blessed Theophylact states, \\"When a teacher not only instructs but also exemplifies, he shares in the burden and works alongside the student. However, when he imposes a significant load without contributing himself, he only makes it more difficult for me, revealing through his inaction the impossibility of achieving what he requires.\\" St. Chrysostom also notes how the Savior intensifies the reproach against the scribes. He does not imply that they cannot act, but rather that they simply do not wish to; He does not say they carry burdens but even refuses to move a finger, indicating their reluctance to engage or offer assistance in any way."},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"They impose upon you the heavy weight of complete adherence to all customs and practices, yet they are unwilling to take any action to alleviate this burden through their own example."},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The moral decay of the scribes and Pharisees was evident in the disparity between their spoken words and their actions. The ceremonial law itself was an unbearable burden (Acts 15:10), yet this burden was further compounded by numerous traditions created by Jewish teachers and handed down through generations. Numerous trivial or even absurd requirements of rabbinical interpretation ensnared the entire life of Judea. This lamentable situation was exacerbated by the fact that the scribes and Pharisees regarded these ancient traditions as equally or even more obligatory than God's commandments (Mark 7:3-13). While they imposed this heavy yoke on others, they were unwilling to even approach it themselves (St. John Chrysostom): demanding and exacting from their neighbors, they taught solely through words and felt no obligation to validate their teachings by their own conduct. Jesus remarked, \\"They bind burdens that are heavy and hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of men, but they do not want to move them with their finger, for when he who teaches not only teaches but also does, he bears the burden together with the student and labors together with him\\" (Blessed Theophylact)."}]}
Support this project and get full access for only 4$/month
Commentarie text can’t be scrolled on PC at the moment. Please use your phone. We’re working on a fix.
