Matthew 23:2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Despite the corruption among the scribes, the Savior upholds their authority with such strength that even after delivering a stern indictment, He instructed the crowd, “All things whatsoever they say ye shall do, do ye,” highlighting that they were not presenting their own commands but rather those of God, as revealed through Moses in the law. Notice the profound respect He shows towards Moses, which further illustrates the consistency of His message with the Old Testament.

What could illustrate greater kindness and compassion from the Lord? He faces temptation from the Pharisees; their schemes are thwarted, and as the Psalmist notes, 'The arrows of babes were plagues to them' (Psalm 63:8-70). His declaration that the scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses' seat indicates their role in upholding the law’s teachings. Similarly, the Psalm states: Upon the seat of destruction he sat not down, and: He hath overthrown the seats of the sellers of doves; these must be understood in terms of their doctrinal implications.

Every word spoken in vain is lifeless and of no value, especially those articulated by individuals esteemed in the priestly office. The more adeptly they utilize their words, the less believable they become to those who scrutinize their behavior. Hence, it is essential for them to exhibit a profound transformation and substantial change, embracing both journey and silence, disregarding their accumulation of wealth if they wish to captivate anyone's thoughts. By doing so, not only will the actions of their subordinates be enhanced, but they will find themselves honored as well.

After the Lord exposed the unfaithful priests, who attacked Him like wild animals, with the piercing clarity of His response, He revealed their obstinacy. Errant laypeople can often be corrected, yet when clerics stray, they tend to be unyielding. He then addresses the apostles and the gathered crowd, acknowledging that the scribes and Pharisees positioned themselves on the seat of Moses. Thus, the failures of the former serve as a lesson for the latter.

As He approached the conclusion of His earthly mission, the Lord deemed it crucial to unveil, without compassion, the wickedness of His adversaries' character and actions to the crowd, aiming to caution innocent hearts against following their example. His mighty rebukes thundered down upon their guilt-ridden souls with the weight of divine authority. With a serene yet grave demeanor, and wielding unassailable power, He delivered a condemnation that would cause all hypocrites to tremble. Then Jesus addressed the people and His disciples, saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; they have assumed the role of Moses the Lawgiver and claimed the authority to interpret the Law."

Jesus Christ begins His address by acknowledging the enduring influence and authority of the Pharisees and scribes as the teachers of the people, interpreters of the Law of Moses, and guides for living in accordance with that law, instructing them to uphold all that they are mandated to observe. However, He quickly cautions His audience regarding the moral decay of the Pharisees, advising them not to emulate their conduct, which starkly contradicts the true message of the law. While the Pharisees are meticulous in enforcing their requirements on the people, they themselves show no intention of adhering to these standards.

Addressing the crowd and His followers while indicating the Pharisees, who likely distanced themselves from those they looked down upon, Jesus remarked, “The scribes and Pharisees occupy the seat of Moses.” This indicates that while Moses conveyed the law to the people, the scribes and Pharisees have now assumed his role, claiming exclusive authority to teach these laws and interpret their significance.

The phrase "on the seat of Moses" serves as a symbolic representation indicating that during Christ's time, the scribes and Pharisees acted as interpreters of the Mosaic Law for the populace, as if occupying the role of the lawgiver himself, elucidating the statutes. This imagery likely derives from the pulpits found in synagogues, where scribes and Pharisees would ascend to read specific sections from the laws or the prophets and would then sit down to provide their explanations of the readings. Therefore, to occupy the seat of Moses implies possessing the authority and right to serve as an official teacher or interpreter of the Mosaic Law for the people. Just as Moses instructed the Israelites by delivering the laws, the scribes and Pharisees in Christ's era similarly conveyed the teachings of these laws through their interpretations.

After addressing the Pharisees and silencing their objections, He discerned that His adversaries were afflicted by a grievous ailment. He understood the concealed motives and desires of the hypocritical and envious. As His earthly ministry approached its conclusion, He delivered a powerful address that condemned the immoralities of the scribes and Pharisees, who masked their true nature with superficial piety. The pronounced woes, which those spiritually blind leaders had previously heard from Him (Luke 11:42-44, 47-51; 13:34, 35), were reiterated with renewed vigor. He no longer hoped for the hardened to repent but aimed to safeguard the people from adopting their vices (St. John Chrysostom).