Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version 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. New Living Translation They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden. English Standard Version They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. Berean Standard Bible They 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. Berean Literal Bible And they tie up burdens heavy and hard to bear and lay them on the shoulders of men; but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. King James Bible 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. New King James Version For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. New American Standard Bible And they tie up heavy burdens and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as their finger. NASB 1995 “They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger. NASB 1977 “And they tie up heavy loads, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger. Legacy Standard Bible And they tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger. Amplified Bible The scribes and Pharisees tie up heavy loads [that are hard to bear] and place them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves will not lift a finger [to make them lighter]. Christian Standard Bible They tie up heavy loads that are hard to carry and put them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves aren’t willing to lift a finger to move them. Holman Christian Standard Bible They tie up heavy loads that are hard to carry and put them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves aren’t willing to lift a finger to move them. American Standard Version Yea, 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. Contemporary English Version They pile heavy burdens on people's shoulders and won't lift a finger to help. English Revised Version Yea, 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. GOD'S WORD® Translation They make loads that are hard to carry and lay them on the shoulders of the people. However, they are not willing to lift a finger to move them. Good News Translation They tie onto people's backs loads that are heavy and hard to carry, yet they aren't willing even to lift a finger to help them carry those loads. International Standard Version They tie up burdens that are heavy and unbearable and lay them on people's shoulders, but they refuse to lift a finger to remove them. Majority Standard Bible They 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. NET Bible They tie up heavy loads, hard to carry, and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing even to lift a finger to move them. New Heart English Bible For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders; but they themselves will not lift a finger to help them. Webster's Bible Translation 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. Weymouth New Testament Heavy and cumbrous burdens they bind together and load men's shoulders with them, while as for themselves, not with one finger do they choose to lift them. World English Bible 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. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionfor they bind together burdens [too] heavy and grievous to bear, and lay [them] on the shoulders of men, but with their finger they will not move them. Berean Literal Bible And they tie up burdens heavy and hard to bear and lay them on the shoulders of men; but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. Young's Literal Translation for 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. Smith's Literal Translation For they bind loads heavy and difficult to carry, and put upon men's shoulders; and with their fingers will they not move them. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleFor 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. Catholic Public Domain Version For they bind up heavy and unbearable burdens, and they impose them on men’s shoulders. But they are not willing to move them with even a finger of their own. New American Bible They tie up heavy burdens [hard to carry] and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. New Revised Standard Version They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd they bind heavy burdens, and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to touch them, even with their finger. Aramaic Bible in Plain English And they bind heavy burdens and place them on the shoulders of men, but they are not willing to touch them with their fingers. NT Translations Anderson New TestamentFor they bind up burdens that are heavy and hard to be borne, and lay them on the shoulders of men; but they refuse to move them with one of their fingers. Godbey New Testament Haweis New Testament For they bind burdens grievous, and difficultly borne, and lay them on men?s shoulders; but they will not move them with a finger of their own. Mace New Testament for they load men with intolerable impositions, and will not take the least pains to ease them of the burthen: they do nothing but out of ostentation, Weymouth New Testament Heavy and cumbrous burdens they bind together and load men's shoulders with them, while as for themselves, not with one finger do they choose to lift them. Worrell New Testament Worsley New Testament Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Woes to Scribes and Pharisees…3So practice and observe everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4 They 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. 5All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.… Cross References Acts 15:10 Now then, why do you test God by placing on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? Luke 11:46 “Woe to you as well, experts in the law!” He replied. “For you weigh men down with heavy burdens, but you yourselves will not lift a finger to lighten their load. Galatians 6:13 For the circumcised do not even keep the law themselves, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery. Romans 2:17-24 Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God; / if you know His will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; / if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those in darkness, ... 1 Peter 5:3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. James 2:10 Whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. Galatians 6:12 Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. They only do this to avoid persecution for the cross of Christ. Romans 10:3 Because they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. Isaiah 10:1-2 Woe to those who enact unjust statutes and issue oppressive decrees, / to deprive the poor of fair treatment and withhold justice from the oppressed of My people, to make widows their prey and orphans their plunder. Ezekiel 34:4 You have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bound up the injured, brought back the strays, or searched for the lost. Instead, you have ruled them with violence and cruelty. Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? Isaiah 29:13 Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men. Jeremiah 23:2 Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the shepherds who tend My people: “You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your deeds, declares the LORD. Isaiah 58:6 Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and tear off every yoke? Treasury of Scripture 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 23:23 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. Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest… 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. Jump to Previous Bind Borne Burdens Choose Finger Fingers Great Grievous Hard Heavy Help Lay Loads Move Shoulders Themselves Tie Together Unwilling Weights WillingJump to Next Bind Borne Burdens Choose Finger Fingers Great Grievous Hard Heavy Help Lay Loads Move Shoulders Themselves Tie Together Unwilling Weights WillingMatthew 23 1. Jesus admonishes the people to follow good doctrine, not bad examples5. His disciples must beware of their ambition. 13. He denounces eight woes against their hypocrisy and blindness, 34. and prophesies of the destruction of Jerusalem. They tie up heavy, burdensome loads This phrase refers to the religious leaders of Jesus' time, particularly the Pharisees and scribes, who imposed strict interpretations of the Mosaic Law and additional oral traditions on the people. These "loads" symbolize the numerous rules and regulations that were difficult to follow, creating a spiritual burden. In the context of first-century Judaism, the Law was central to religious life, but the added traditions made it cumbersome. This reflects the broader biblical theme of legalism versus grace, as seen in passages like Galatians 5:1, where Paul speaks of freedom in Christ. and lay them on men’s shoulders but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them Persons / Places / Events 1. Jesus ChristThe speaker of this verse, addressing the crowds and His disciples about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and teachers of the law. 2. Pharisees A religious group in Judaism known for strict adherence to the law and traditions, often criticized by Jesus for their hypocrisy and legalism. 3. Teachers of the Law (Scribes) Experts in the Mosaic Law who were responsible for teaching and interpreting the law to the people, often associated with the Pharisees. 4. Jerusalem The city where Jesus delivered this discourse, a central place for Jewish religious life and the location of the Temple. 5. The Crowd and Disciples The audience to whom Jesus was speaking, including His followers and the general public who were listening to His teachings. Teaching Points Hypocrisy in LeadershipLeaders should practice what they preach. Jesus condemns the Pharisees for imposing burdens they themselves are unwilling to bear, highlighting the importance of integrity and authenticity in leadership. The Burden of Legalism Legalism places heavy burdens on people, focusing on rules rather than relationship. Jesus calls us to a life of grace and freedom, not one of oppressive legalistic demands. Compassion and Support As followers of Christ, we are called to help others with their burdens, not add to them. This involves practical acts of love and support, reflecting the heart of Jesus. Self-Examination Believers should examine their own lives for areas of hypocrisy or legalism, seeking to align their actions with the teachings of Christ. The Role of Grace Emphasize the importance of grace in the Christian life, understanding that our relationship with God is based on His grace, not our ability to follow rules perfectly.(4) Heavy burdens.--The thought was involved in our Lord's call to the "heavy laden," in the words that spoke of His own "burden" as "light" (Matthew 11:28; Matthew 11:30). Here it finds distinct expression. That it appealed to the witness which men's hearts were bearing, secretly or openly, we see from St. Peter's confession in Acts 15:10. They themselves will not move . . .--The rigorous precepts, the high-flown morality were for others, not themselves. Professing to guide, they neither helped nor sympathised with the troubles of those they taught. (Comp. Romans 2:17-23.) Verse 4. - Bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne; δυσβάστακτα: importabilia (Vulgate). The last epithet, which is very uncommon (Luke 11:46), is omitted by some manuscripts and versions, but it is probably genuine here. The burdens are the minute regulations and prescriptions, the vexatious restrictions, the innumerable traditional observances with which these teachers had garbled and defaced the written Law. We have noticed some of these glosses in the matter of the sabbath and ceremonial purification; and these are only specimens of a system which extended to every relation of life, and to all details of religious practice, binding one rule to another, enforcing useless and absurd minutiae, till the burden became insupportable. Alford considers that not human traditions and observances are signified by the "burdens," but the severity of the Law, the weighty duties inculcated therein, which they enforce on others, but do not observe. It may, however, well be doubted whether Christ would ever have termed the legitimate rites and ceremonies of the Law unbearable burdens, though their rigorous enforcement by men who regarded only the letter, while they had lost the spirit, would naturally deserve censure. (If the epithet is not genuine, of course this remark does not apply.) What Christ denounced was not the Law itself, however severe and grievous to human nature, or even immemorial tradition, but the false inferences and deductions therefrom, leading to injunctions insupportable and impracticable. Will not move them with one of their fingers; with their finger. This does not imply (and it would not be true) that the rabbis themselves were all hypocrites, and broke or evaded the Law with impunity. We know that they scrupulously attended to all outward observances. What is meant is that they take no trouble to lighten (κινῆσαι, "to move away"), to make these burdens easier by explanation or relaxation, or to proportion them to the strength of the disciple. They impose them with all their crushing weight and severity upon others, and uncompromisingly demand obedience to these unscriptural regulations, putting "a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear" (Acts 15:10; Galatians 5:1). Contrast with this the Christian's service: "My yoke is easy," says Christ, "and my burden is light" (ch. 11:33).Parallel Commentaries ... Greek They tie upδεσμεύουσιν (desmeuousin) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural Strong's 1195: To bind, put in chains, tie together. From a derivative of desmeo; to be a binder, i.e. To enchain, to tie on. heavy, βαρέα (barea) Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural Strong's 926: Heavy, weighty, burdensome, lit. and met; violent, oppressive. From the same as baros; weighty, i.e. burdensome, grave. burdensome δυσβάστακτα (dysbastakta) Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural Strong's 1419: Difficult to carry, oppressive. From dus- and a derivative of bastazo; oppressive. loads φορτία (phortia) Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural Strong's 5413: A burden; the freight of a ship. Diminutive of phortos; an invoice, i.e. a task or service. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. lay [them] ἐπιτιθέασιν (epititheasin) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural Strong's 2007: To put, place upon, lay on; I add, give in addition. From epi and tithemi; to impose. on ἐπὶ (epi) Preposition Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at. men’s ἀνθρώπων (anthrōpōn) Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural Strong's 444: A man, one of the human race. From aner and ops; man-faced, i.e. A human being. shoulders, ὤμους (ōmous) Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural Strong's 5606: The shoulder. Perhaps from the alternate of phero; the shoulder. but δὲ (de) Conjunction Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc. they themselves αὐτοὶ (autoi) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Plural Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. are not willing θέλουσιν (thelousin) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural Strong's 2309: To will, wish, desire, be willing, intend, design. to lift a finger δακτύλῳ (daktylō) Noun - Dative Masculine Singular Strong's 1147: A finger. Probably from deka; a finger. to move κινῆσαι (kinēsai) Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active Strong's 2795: To set in motion, move, remove, excite, stir up. From kio; to stir, literally or figuratively. them. αὐτά (auta) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Neuter 3rd Person Plural Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. Links Matthew 23:4 NIVMatthew 23:4 NLT Matthew 23:4 ESV Matthew 23:4 NASB Matthew 23:4 KJV Matthew 23:4 BibleApps.com Matthew 23:4 Biblia Paralela Matthew 23:4 Chinese Bible Matthew 23:4 French Bible Matthew 23:4 Catholic Bible NT Gospels: Matthew 23:4 For they bind heavy burdens that (Matt. Mat Mt) |
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