Matthew 23:4 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

Yes, they require people to bear heavy and difficult responsibilities, and place them on people’s shoulders [to carry out], but they themselves will not lift a finger to do them.

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

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.

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

They tie up heavy loads, hard to bear, and place them on men's shoulders, but they themselves will not lift a finger to help bear them.

American Standard Version (1901)

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.

Common English Bible

For they tie together heavy packs that are impossible to carry. They put them on the shoulders of others, but are unwilling to lift a finger to 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.

Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version

For 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.

Matthew 23:4 Cross References

Matthew 23:23

'It is too bad for you hypocritical experts in the Law of Moses and [you] Pharisees! For you give a tenth of your mint, dill and cumin [i.e., small garden herbs used for seasoning or fragrance], and [yet] neglect the heavier responsibilities required by the law, [such as] justice, mercy and faith. You should have done these [“lighter”] things and not neglected to do the other [“heavier”] things [as well].

Matthew 23:3

Therefore, observe and practice everything they urge upon you, but do not follow their example [of living] because they say [the right things] but do not do them.

Luke 11:46

And He replied them, “It is too bad for you teachers of the Law of Moses also! For you heap heavy responsibilities on people, which are difficult to bear, while you do not even lift a finger to bear them yourselves.

Acts 15:10

Why are you putting God on trial by trying to harness the disciples with a burden [i.e., compliance with the Law of Moses], which neither our forefathers nor we could possibly bear?

Acts 15:28

For it was the judgment of the Holy Spirit, and we agreed, that no greater burden be placed on you people than the following necessary things:

Galatians 6:13

For not even those who practice circumcision comply with [the requirements of] the Law of Moses, yet they want you to be circumcised so they can take credit for this physical evidence [of your compliance with the Law of Moses].

1 John 5:3

For this is [real evidence of] our love for God: [It is] obeying what He commands us to do. And obeying His commands does not cause us any grief [or, unpleasantness].

Revelation 2:24

But I say to all the rest of you there in Thyatira who have not followed this [false] teaching [See verse 20], that is, those who have not known ‘the deep things of Satan,’ as people call them --- I will not burden you with anything else [i.e., beyond this problem about Jezebel’s false teaching].