saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses.
Parallel translations
- WEB saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees sat on Moses’ seat.
- KJV Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:
- BSB “The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.
- NKJV saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.
- NLT “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus acknowledges that the scribes and Pharisees occupy 'Moses' seat,' a recognized teaching office for expounding the Law. It frames the respect due to their office before he exposes their failings.
Overview
To sit on 'Moses' seat' meant to hold the recognized role of interpreting and teaching the Law of Moses. Jesus grants the legitimacy of that teaching function even as he is about to condemn the teachers' conduct. The point is that God's word retains its authority even when delivered by unworthy messengers.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Luke 20:46“Beware of the scribes, who like to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts;
- Mark 12:38In his teaching he said to them, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk in long robes, and to get greetings in the marketplaces,
- Mal 2:7For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of Yahweh of Armies.
- Ezra 7:6this Ezra went up from Babylon. He was a skilled scribe in the law of Moses, which Yahweh, the God of Israel, had given; and the king granted him all his request, according to Yahweh his God’s hand on him.
- Ezra 7:25You, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God that is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges, who may judge all the people who are beyond the River, who all know the laws of your God; and teach him who doesn’t know them.
- Neh 8:4–8Ezra the scribe stood on a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 23:2 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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