Matthew 23 4

Matthew 23:4 kjv

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 nkjv

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.

Matthew 23:4 niv

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.

Matthew 23:4 esv

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.

Matthew 23:4 nlt

They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.

Matthew 23 verses

Matthew 23 4 Meaning

This verse powerfully condemns the hypocrisy of the Jewish religious leaders, particularly the scribes and Pharisees, during Jesus' earthly ministry. It reveals their practice of imposing numerous, severe, and difficult-to-follow rules and traditions upon the common people, while they themselves evade responsibility for upholding these burdens or offering any practical assistance in fulfilling them. This establishes a profound contrast between their words and their actions, highlighting a complete lack of empathy and a reliance on legalism over genuine care or spiritual substance.

Matthew 23 4 Context

Matthew chapter 23 immediately precedes Jesus' Passion Week and serves as His final public address and a scathing denouncement of the religious establishment of His day, particularly the scribes and Pharisees. Earlier in Matthew, Jesus had debated their interpretation of the law (e.g., Sabbath, purity) and accused them of valuing outward show over inner righteousness. This chapter builds on that, escalating His criticism from private challenges to a public warning against their teachings and practices. Verse 4 specifies how their authority is misused, demonstrating their disconnect between lofty demands and personal accountability. It sets the stage for the seven "woes" (Matt 23:13-36) that outline their specific sins, from hypocrisy and pride to obstructing entry into the kingdom. This verse encapsulates the core charge: they burden others without compassion or personal effort.

Matthew 23 4 Word analysis

• They tie up (δεσμεύουσιν, desmeuousin): From desmeuo, meaning "to bind," "to tie together." It implies an active, intentional, and continuous imposition. It evokes the image of packing or bundling something tightly and forcefully, leaving no room for adjustment.
• heavy (βαρέα, barea): Means "heavy," "burdensome," "weighty." It denotes something difficult to lift or carry due to its physical weight or emotional gravity.
• cumbersome loads (δυσβάστακτα, dysbastakta): From dysbastaktos, meaning "hard to bear," "intolerable," "oppressive." This word amplifies heavy, suggesting something not just heavy but also awkward, unmanageable, or utterly overwhelming. It conveys the idea that these requirements were not merely challenging but nearly impossible for people to consistently uphold. The use of both "heavy" and "cumbersome" creates a strong rhetorical emphasis on the oppressiveness of the imposed traditions.
• and put them on other people's shoulders (ἐπὶ τοὺς ὤμους τῶν ἀνθρώπων, epi tous omous tōn anthrōpōn): Literally "upon the shoulders of men." This imagery highlights the direct and physical imposition of burdens. It implies an authority that forces obligations upon others without considering their capacity to bear them. It also points to the public nature of these demands, making them visible to the community.
• but they themselves (αὐτοὶ δέ, autoi de): The strong contrasting particle de emphasizes the absolute disparity between the imposer and the burdened. It draws sharp attention to the hypocrisy.
• are not willing (οὐ θέλουσιν, ou thelousin): From thelō, "to wish," "to desire," "to be willing." This is a crucial point, highlighting a deliberate refusal rather than inability. Their lack of action stems from an unwillingness to participate in or empathize with the struggles they inflict.
• to lift a finger (δανκτύλῳ αὐτῶν, daktylō autōn): Literally "with their finger." This idiom emphasizes the smallest possible effort. They are unwilling to even provide minimal assistance or lighten the load in the slightest way.
• to move them (κινῆσαι αὐτά, kinēsai auta): From kineō, "to move," "to stir." Combined with "a finger," it underscores their complete disengagement and lack of compassion. Not only do they not help carry, but they also won't even adjust or ease the load slightly for those struggling.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people's shoulders": This describes the creation and enforcement of extensive human-made religious traditions (halakhah) which extended beyond the clear written law of Moses. These traditions, meant to build a "fence around the Torah," became oppressive additions, prioritizing outward performance and intricate regulations over the spirit of the law, which emphasizes justice, mercy, and faithfulness (Matt 23:23). They elevated their oral traditions to the status of divine command, thereby creating an unattainable standard.
• "but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them": This highlights the profound moral failure and hypocrisy of these leaders. They are portrayed as lacking basic human empathy. While quick to mandate and enforce, they exhibit no solidarity with those burdened by their rules, nor do they apply the same strict standards to themselves. This points to a self-serving spirituality, driven by a desire for control and outward prestige rather than genuine service or holiness.

Matthew 23 4 Bonus section

• The concept of "heavy burdens" (φορτία βαρέα καὶ δυσβάστακτα) in the context of Jewish legalism connects to the Greek term halakhah, which refers to the collective body of Jewish religious law derived from the written and oral Torah. While some interpretations could be genuinely helpful, the issue Jesus highlights is their overreach and the uncompassionate enforcement that resulted in human flourishing being stifled.
• This verse provides insight into Jesus' consistent critiques throughout Matthew. He often challenges the Pharisees' strict adherence to the letter of the law while neglecting its spirit—justice, mercy, and faithfulness (Matt 23:23). His own life exemplified servant leadership, radically differing from the authoritarian style He condemns here.
• The charge in Matt 23:4 is not against the Mosaic Law itself, but against the elaborate human traditions and interpretations that elevated rules above compassion and accountability. Jesus himself taught obedience to the Law (Matt 5:17-18) but redefined its true application.

Matthew 23 4 Commentary

Matthew 23:4 is a concise and damning indictment of the hypocrisy embedded in a religious system dominated by external legalism. The "loads" refer primarily to the multitude of oral traditions and meticulous interpretations of the Law that the Pharisees had developed and enforced, often adding burden beyond what God had originally intended (Mk 7:8-13). These requirements, ranging from elaborate purification rituals to hyper-detailed Sabbath observances, became suffocating, especially for ordinary people engaged in daily life. Jesus highlights that these leaders not only imposed impossible standards but also actively refused to show compassion or practical assistance. Their unwillingness "to lift a finger" reveals a heart hardened by pride and self-righteousness, more concerned with their own authority and image than with the well-being of God's people. This stands in stark contrast to Jesus' invitation to find rest under His "light burden and easy yoke" (Matt 11:28-30), advocating for a spiritual walk founded on grace, love, and inward transformation rather than outward, crushing demands. The verse serves as a timeless warning against any spiritual leadership that uses rules and traditions to control or oppress, rather than to lead to freedom and Christ-like living.