Phylacteries

Phylacteries (the Greek term for the Hebrew tefillin, meaning: things to be especially observed) were small leather boxes containing four passages of Scripture (Exodus 13:1–10, 13:11–16; Deuteronomy 6:4–9; 11:13–21) bound with leather straps to the forehead and left arm during morning prayers, based on the Mosaic command to bind the words of God as a sign on the hand and frontlets between the eyes. The practice reflected a literal interpretation of Deuteronomy 6:8. Jesus criticized the Pharisees for making their phylacteries broad and their tassels long to be seen by others — using religious observance for social display rather than genuine devotion.