Matthew 23:5 "They make their phylacteries wide."

Greek phulakteria; defenses or protections. Most Jews call them tephillin, or prayers.

Phylacteries were strips of parchment on which were inscribed these four texts:

*Exodus 13:1-10
*Exodus 13:11-16
*Deuteronomy 6:4-9, and
*Deuteronomy 11:18-21

These were enclosed in a square leather case, on one side which was inscribed the Hebrew letter shin, to which the rabbis attached some significance. This case was fastened to the forehead, right between the eyes.

The "wide phylacteries" spoken of by Jesus in the text above refers to the enlarging of the case so as to make it conspicuous.

Another form of the phylactery consisted of two rolls of parchment on which the same texts were written, enclosed in a case of black calfskin. This was worn on the left arm near the elbow. It was bound to the elbow by a leather thong. This was called the "Tephillah on the arm."