American Standard Version
Matthew 23:2
2saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat:
Matthew 23:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:
- New International Version (NIV)“The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.
- English Standard Version (ESV)"The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat,
- New King James Version (NKJV)saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.
Context of Matthew 23:2
1Then spake Jesus to the multitudes and to his disciples, saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat: 3all things therefore whatsoever they bid you, these do and observe: but do not ye after their works; for they say, and do not. 4Yea, 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.
Read all of Matthew 23Matthew 23:2 word by word
λέγων· ἐπὶ τῆς Μωϋσέως καθέδρας ἐκάθισαν οἱ γραμματεῖς καὶ οἱ Φαρισαῖοι·Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Matthew 23:2
- Nehemiah 8:4And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Uriah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchijah, and Hashum, and Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
- Malachi 2:7For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of Jehovah of hosts.
- Mark 12:38And in his teaching he said, Beware of the scribes, who desire to walk in long robes, andto have salutations in the marketplaces,
- Luke 20:46Beware of the scribes, who desire to walk in long robes, and love salutations in the marketplaces, and chief seats in the synagogues, and chief places at feasts;
Commentaries on Matthew 23:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat - . - They sat there formerly by Divine appointment: they sit there now by Divine permission. What our Lord says here refers to their expounding the Scriptures, for it was the custom of the Jewish doctors to sit while they expounded the law and prophets, ( Matthew 5:1; Luke 4:20-22;), and to stand up when they read them. By the seat of Moses, we are to understand authority to teach the law. Moses was the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2Scribes and Pharisees - See the notes at Matthew 3:7. Moses‘ seat - Moses was the great legislator of the Jews. By him the Law was given. The office of explaining that Law among the Jews devolved on the scribes and Pharisees. In the synagogues they sat while expounding the Law, and rose when they read it. By “sitting in the seat of Moses” we are to understand authority to teach the Law; or, as he taught the nation by giving the Law, so they taught it by…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: This means that they give authoritative explanations about the law of Moses. They passed down oral traditions associated with the law and thought to be from Moses. They judged religious and social issues based on these traditions (see Matthew 15:2).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit--The Jewish teachers stood to read, but sat to expound the Scriptures, as will be seen by comparing Lu 4:16 with Lu 4:20. in Moses' seat--that is, as interpreters of the law given by Moses.Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 23:2
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Matthew 23
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
American Standard Version — 1901 — Public Domain
Commentaries