Dictionary Article

Biblical expression occurring only in Matthew 23:2, where Jesus speaks of the scribes and the Pharisees as having sat down on the seat of Moses. In biblical times, the seat that one occupied usually indicated the degree of rank or respect one claimed for himself or was to receive from others (Mt 23:6). Sitting on “Moses’ seat” referred to a place of dignity and the right to interpret the Mosaic law. The scribes were the successors and the heirs of Moses’ authority and were rightfully looked to for pronouncements upon his teaching.

Show passage in OET: MAT 23:2

OET-RV MAT 23:2

2 “The religious teachers and the Farisaios party claim Mosheh’s (Moses) authority.

OET-LV MAT 23:2

2 saying:
The scribes and the Farisaios_party sat _down on the seat of _Mōsaʸs/(Mosheh).

Show passage in OET: MAT 23:6

OET-RV MAT 23:6

6 They love the best places at dinners and the best seats in the Jewish meeting halls.

OET-LV MAT 23:6

6 And they _are _loving the best _place at the suppers, and the best _seats in the synagogues,

Jump to OET MAT 23:2 section.

Jump to OET MAT 23:6 section.

In the context of Matthew 23:2, Jesus does not seem to challenge this right, for he commands his hearers to practice and observe whatever the scribes and the Pharisees speak, that is, all they teach that is in accordance with the law. But Jesus warned the people against doing their works, because they did not practice what they spoke. On other occasions Jesus condemned their unbiblical traditions relative to the law of Moses (Mt 15:3-6; 23:4, 16-22 OET MAT 23:4 · OET MAT 23:16–22).

Show passage in OET: MAT 15:3–6

OET-RV MAT 15:3

3 “Well why do you break God’s command because of your tradition?” Yeshua responded.

OET-RV MAT 15:4

4 “God told us to honour our fathers and mothers, and also that anyone who speaks evil about their father or mother deserves the death penalty.

OET-RV MAT 15:5

5 But if someone tells their father or mother that whatever help they may have expected from them is now given away as a gift, then you people say

OET-RV MAT 15:6

6 that they’re not actually dishonouring their parents. So by saying that, you’re overriding God’s message with your own tradition.

OET-LV MAT 15:3

3 And he answering said to _them:
For/Because_ why _reason also you _all are _breaking _from the command of_ the _god because _of the tradition of _you _all?

OET-LV MAT 15:4

4 For/Because the god commanded saying:
Be _honouring the father and the mother, and:
The one speaking _evil of _father or mother, let _be _dying in _death.

OET-LV MAT 15:5

5 But you _all are _saying:
Whoever wishfully may _say to _the father or the mother:
Whatever if you _may _be _benefitted by me:
A_gift,

OET-LV MAT 15:6

6 by _no _means he_˓will˒_ not _be _honouring the father of _him.
And you _all _annulled the message of_ the _god because _of the tradition of _you _all.

Show passage in OET: MAT 23:4; MAT 23:16–22

OET-RV MAT 23:4

4 They package up unbearably heavy loads and put them on the people’s shoulders, while they themselves won’t even lift a finger to help.

OET-RV MAT 23:16

16 “You blind guides will have a bad end. You say that if anyone makes a promise on the temple, it’s worthless, but if they make a promise on the gold in the temple, then they have to honour it.

OET-RV MAT 23:17

17 You’re both stupid and blind, because which is greater: the gold, or the temple which makes the gold sacred?

OET-RV MAT 23:18

18 And you say that if anyone makes a promise on the altar, it’s worthless, but anyone who makes a promise on the gift on the altar has to honour it.

OET-RV MAT 23:19

19 You’re both stupid and blind, because which is greater: the gift, or the altar which makes the gift sacred?

OET-RV MAT 23:20

20 Anyone who makes a promise on the altar is bound by both the altar and the things on it.

OET-RV MAT 23:21

21 Anyone who makes a promise on the temple is bound by both the temple and God who lives in it.

OET-RV MAT 23:22

22 And anyone who makes a promise on heaven is bound by both God’s throne and the one who’s sitting on it.

OET-LV MAT 23:4

4 And they _are _binding heavy and unbearable burdens, and they _are _laying_ them _on on the shoulders of_ the _people, but they are_ not _willing to _move them with _the finger of _them.

OET-LV MAT 23:16

16 Woe to _you _all, blind guides, you _all saying:
Whoever wishfully may _swear by the temple, it _is nothing, but whoever wishfully may _swear by the gold of _the temple is _owing.

OET-LV MAT 23:17

17 Foolish and blind.
For/Because which is greater, the gold or the temple which having _sanctified the gold?

OET-LV MAT 23:18

18 And:
Whoever wishfully may _swear by the altar, it _is nothing, but whoever wishfully may _swear by the gift which on it is _owing.

OET-LV MAT 23:19

19 Foolish and blind.
For/Because which greater, the gift, or the altar which sanctifying the gift?

OET-LV MAT 23:20

20 Therefore the one having _swore by the altar, is _swearing by it and by all the things on it.

OET-LV MAT 23:21

21 And the one having _swore by the temple, is _swearing by it and by the one dwelling _in it.

OET-LV MAT 23:22

22 And the one having _swore by the heaven, is _swearing by the throne of_ the _god and by the one sitting on it.

Jump to OET MAT 15:3–6 section.

Jump to OET MAT 23:4 section. · OET MAT 23:16–22 section.

Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary