What Is Phylacteries In The Bible?
Have you ever come across a Bible passage that made you pause because the word seemed strange or old-fashioned? One of those words is phylacteries. For many readers, it shows up only once or twice in Scripture, and yet it carries a world of meaning when you begin to unfold it.
When Jesus mentioned phylacteries in Matthew 23, He wasn’t simply pointing out a piece of religious clothing. He was speaking to the very heart of faith, how easy it is to turn devotion into display, and how vital it is to keep God’s Word close, not just on the outside but deep within.
In this article, we’ll walk slowly through what phylacteries are, where they come from in the Bible, what they meant to the Jewish people, and why Jesus spoke about them. We’ll also reflect on how their lesson still applies to you and me today.
This isn’t just about ancient leather boxes. It’s about the bigger question: What does it mean to carry God’s Word with us every day?
Phylacteries in Simple Words
If I had to explain phylacteries to a child in Sunday school, I’d say this:
“Phylacteries are little leather boxes with Bible verses inside. Jewish men wore them when they prayed to help them remember God’s Word.”
The Hebrew name for phylacteries is tefillin. Each set contains two small square boxes made of leather. Inside each box are hand-written scrolls of Scripture, verses from the books of Exodus and Deuteronomy. One box is placed on the forehead, tied with straps. The other is placed on the arm, close to the heart, and wrapped with leather straps down the arm and around the hand.
This wasn’t fashion. It wasn’t jewelry. It wasn’t a random tradition. It was a physical, visible reminder: keep God’s commands in your thoughts (forehead) and in your actions (hand).
It’s not so different from how we keep wedding rings on our fingers today, not just for beauty, but as symbols of a covenant. Phylacteries symbolized covenant faithfulness to God’s Word.
What Is a Phylacteries in Matthew 23?
One of the most famous references to phylacteries is in Matthew 23:5. Jesus says:
“Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long.”
Here Jesus was speaking about the Pharisees and religious leaders. He wasn’t criticizing the practice of wearing phylacteries itself, which had been a part of Jewish devotion for centuries. Instead, He was addressing the heart behind it.
Some leaders made their phylacteries extra wide or extra large, not because it helped them remember God’s Word better, but because it helped them look holier in the eyes of others. It’s like someone who prays loudly in the town square to get applause, rather than humbly seeking God.
The point of a phylactery was to carry God’s Word close. But if it turned into a spiritual badge of honor, then the symbol lost its meaning. Jesus warned that it’s not about outward show, it’s about inward obedience.
Where Did the Practice Come From?
The tradition of phylacteries wasn’t invented by men. It came from commands in the Old Testament.
Let’s look at a few passages:
Exodus 13:9 – “This observance will be for you like a sign on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that this law of the Lord is to be on your lips.”
Deuteronomy 6:8 – “Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.”
Deuteronomy 11:18 – “Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.”
These verses were originally meant as powerful reminders: God’s commands should shape both our thoughts and our actions. In other words, let His Word guide your mind and the work of your hands.
Over time, Jewish tradition interpreted these words literally. They crafted boxes and scrolls, bound them with straps, and wore them during times of prayer as a way of putting God’s Word into practice physically.
Are Phylacteries Worn Today?
Yes, they are still worn today. In Jewish communities around the world, whether in Jerusalem, Brooklyn, or London, if you attend morning prayer in a synagogue, you’ll likely see men with tefillin bound on their foreheads and arms.
Typically, they are worn during weekday morning prayers (not on the Sabbath). Boys often begin wearing them around the age of 13, as part of their bar mitzvah, when they are considered old enough to take on the responsibility of the commandments.
Even though Christians don’t wear phylacteries, the principle behind them still matters. We are called to carry God’s Word not in a box, but in our hearts and lives.
Did Jesus Wear a Phylactery?
The Bible doesn’t specifically say whether Jesus Himself wore phylacteries. However, as a faithful Jewish man who grew up obeying the Law, it is very possible He did, especially during synagogue prayers.
What we do know is this: Jesus honored Jewish traditions, but He also pointed out when people elevated tradition above the heart of God’s law. He fulfilled the Law perfectly, not by the size of outward symbols, but by the purity of His heart and the perfection of His obedience.
What Are Examples of Phylacteries?
If you held a set of phylacteries in your hand, you’d notice:
The two small black boxes – one is worn on the forehead (tefillin shel rosh), the other on the arm (tefillin shel yad).
Inside each box – handwritten scrolls containing verses from Exodus and Deuteronomy, written by a trained scribe.
The leather straps – long and carefully wrapped, with specific ways of tying them that symbolize God’s name.
It’s all very intentional. Every knot, every strap, every word has meaning.
For someone who wears them, it isn’t just a ritual, it’s a way of centering prayer and remembering God’s covenant.
Lessons for Us Today
Now let’s step back and ask: What does this mean for us as Christians today?
We may not wear phylacteries, but the heart lesson applies deeply.
Keep God’s Word close.
Just like the forehead and hand symbolized thoughts and actions, we are called to let Scripture shape both our beliefs and our behavior.Beware of showy religion.
Jesus warned against making phylacteries wide to be seen by others. Our devotion should never be about impressing people, it should be about loving God sincerely.Faith is inward before outward.
A person can wear a symbol on the outside but still have a heart far from God. True devotion begins inside, then flows outward.Find modern reminders.
For us, that might mean writing a verse on a sticky note for the fridge, setting a phone reminder to pray, or keeping a small Bible in the car. The tools may change, but the purpose is the same: keeping God’s Word alive in daily life.
A Story to Bring It Home
I once visited a small prayer gathering where a man brought his Bible so worn that the cover was falling off. The pages were underlined, highlighted, even taped back together.
When someone asked why he didn’t buy a new one, he smiled and said, “This Bible has been with me through everything. When I hold it, I remember God’s faithfulness in my life.”
That’s the spirit behind phylacteries. It’s not the box or the straps that matter, it’s the deep desire to let God’s Word become part of you, to carry it through every moment of life.
A Modern Reflection
Today, you and I might not wrap Scripture in leather and strap it to our arms. But maybe we keep a verse in our pocket. Maybe we memorize Scripture and let it surface when we’re anxious or tired. Maybe we play worship songs in the car or keep Scripture art on the wall at home.
The principle is the same: Keep God’s Word before you, and let it guide both your thoughts and your actions.
Wrapping It All Together
So, what are phylacteries in the Bible?
They are small leather boxes filled with Scripture, worn on the forehead and arm as a reminder of God’s commands. They show up in the Old Testament commands and in Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 23.
But more than that, they are a symbol for us today. They remind us not just to carry God’s Word in a box, but to let it live in our hearts.
The Pharisees made theirs wide to impress others, but God is not impressed by big boxes, He’s moved by humble hearts.
Whether we wear phylacteries or not, the real question is this: Is God’s Word written on my heart? Does it guide my thoughts? Does it shape my actions?
That’s the challenge and the invitation. To walk daily with His Word close, so close it becomes part of who we are.
