Bible Strands
Matthew 23:2
“The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus speaks to the crowds and His disciples at the opening of a broader pronouncement against religious leaders. He delivers this declaration immediately after turning His attention to both groups.
The words — The Greek phrase ἐπὶ τῆς καθέδρας Μωϋσέως (epi tēs kathedras Mōuseōs) literally means "on the seat of Moses." This denotes the official teaching and judicial authority historically occupied by the scribes and Pharisees.
The thread — The text records Jesus warning against the scribes in Mark 12:38 and Luke 20:46, while Malachi 2:7 establishes the standard for those entrusted with preserving and delivering instruction.
Why it lands — The text commands listeners to practice and observe the instruction these leaders give, while forbidding imitation of their actions. Readers must separate the validity of the teaching from the hypocrisy of the teachers.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:
Cross-references
- Luke 20:46 “Beware of the scribes. They like to walk around in long robes, and they love the greetings in the marketplaces, the chief seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets.
- Mark 12:38 In His teaching Jesus also said, “Watch out for the scribes. They like to walk around in long robes, to receive greetings in the marketplaces,
- Malachi 2:7 For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts.
- Ezra 7:6 this Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted Ezra all his requests, for the hand of the LORD his God was upon him.
- Ezra 7:25 And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God, which you possess, are to appoint magistrates and judges to judge all the people west of the Euphrates—all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach these laws to anyone who does not know them.
- Nehemiah 8:4 Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform built for this occasion. At his right side stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, and at his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.