In these verses of scripture, Jesus is teaching us about the diference between the inner reality of the heart and outward profession of wearing things on the body to show we are religious.
Phylacteries were boxes with verses of scripture that they wore between their forehead and on their arm. Scripture on the outside does no good. It has to be in the heart. Tassels were a sign of spirituality. Theirs was outward, ours should be the heart.
To sit in Moses' seat meant they were keepers of the law literally. Jesus said this we should do because the law was good. However, the ways of Christ is our rule of thumb today (see Matt 11:28 - 30). He speaks of My commands; again it is inner not a vain show.
He then speaks of honoring men because of garment, title or any outward show of religiousity. We are not to seek to be honored in that way either. Instead we are to be servants of God and then ultimately servants of men, especially brothers and sisters in Christ.
If we seek to exalt ourselves, we will untimately be humbled. If we humble ourselves, we will be exalted.
~Curt Darling
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