Detachment from praise and prestige: Matthew here names two of Jesus’ strongest criticisms of the scribes and Pharisees. One is the general strictness of their interpretations of the Law, a strictness which is not humane and which is at times criticized also by some rabbis. With their 613 rules and regulations, the Pharisees are making religion an intolerable burden.
Jesus’ second criticism is of the religious leaders’ vanity, conceit, and hypocrisy that move the Pharisees to widen their phylacteries. Phylacteries are little boxes containing Scripture texts which Jews bind to their forehead and left wrist when saying their prayers. The Law has commanded them to keep the Law as a sign on their hand and as a memorial between their eyes. They interpret this literally instead of figuratively, the sense in which the regulation is probably meant. And they widen their phylacteries in order that everyone would see them.
The Pharisees also lengthen their tassels. Originally these were to be worn on the four corners of their cloak as reminders of the Law. The Pharisees enlarge them out of ostentation. And they covet places of honor at banquets and the front seats of honor in synagogues.
The best soil for the growth of Christian virtue is humble service and detachment: detachment not only from things, but from praise and prestige. In the humble Christ—poor, shunned, and oppressed—is where the growth of virtue always finds fertile soil.