Matthew 23:1-3
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus begins by addressing both the crowds and his disciples. This highlights that the upcoming critique of the scribes and Pharisees isn't just for the general public to hear, but is also a crucial lesson for his inner circle about spiritual leadership and authority.
Jesus has just concluded a series of intense confrontations with the religious leaders, exposing their hypocrisy and challenging their authority in the Temple courts. Now, turning away from his adversaries, he addresses a broader audience, including both the crowds and his own disciples, to offer a crucial warning about their spiritual guides. This marks a significant shift as Jesus prepares to deliver his final public discourse before his passion.
Have you ever noticed how sometimes, in life, a particular season just… ends? Jesus's public ministry is reaching a critical turning point, and Matthew 23:1 marks the transition.
A Public Farewell
Matthew 23:1 tells us, 'Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples.'
This moment is like a seasoned mentor realizing that direct correction is needed, not just gentle guidance, before a critical decision must be made.
What happens when someone in a position of authority teaches truth but lives a lie? Jesus tackles this head-on.
Sitting in Moses' Seat
The verses following Matthew 23:1 delve into a crucial distinction:
Understand the original words
grammateus · Greek Noun
Professional interpreters and teachers of the Mosaic Law; they were tasked with copying, studying, and explaining the Scriptures to the people.
Pharisaios · Greek Noun
A Jewish sect known for their strict adherence to the Law of Moses and the "traditions of the elders." They emphasized ritual purity and separation from those considered non-observant.
kathedra Mōyseōs · Greek Noun phrase
A symbolic position of authority representing the legitimate teaching office of the Law given through Moses. To "sit on Moses' seat" signifies the authority to interpret and declare the Law's requirements.
This discourse occurs during Jesus' final week in Jerusalem, a period of intense conflict with religious authorities, marking the culmination of His public ministry before His crucifixion.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus' Galilean Ministry
Jesus preached and performed miracles throughout Galilee, gathering a large following but also attracting opposition from religious leaders.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Ministry in Judea
Jesus' ministry extended to Judea, including Jerusalem, where His teachings and actions increasingly challenged the authority of the scribes and Pharisees.
Passover Week, AD 30— this verse
Jesus' Final Week in Jerusalem
Jesus entered Jerusalem triumphantly, cleansed the Temple, and engaged in a series of public confrontations with the religious authorities.
Passover Week, AD 30
Jesus' Public Teachings and Debates
During His final week, Jesus delivered numerous parables and teachings, including His strong rebukes of the scribes and Pharisees, culminating in His public discourse recorded in Matthew 23.
This passage directly echoes Jesus' criticism of the scribes and Pharisees for loading people with heavy burdens, highlighting the disconnect between their teachings and their actions.
Matthew 15:8-9This passage speaks to the hypocrisy Jesus confronts, stating that while people may honor God with their lips, their hearts are far from Him, a theme central to His critique of the religious leaders in Matthew 23.
Galatians 3:10This verse speaks of the curse for not continuing in all things written in the book of the law to do them, directly relating to the burden of the law and the Pharisees' failure to uphold it themselves.
Romans 2:17-23Paul's words here describe those who boast in the law but dishonor God by their actions, mirroring the condemnation Jesus levels against the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy.
John 7:19Jesus confronts the crowd about seeking to kill Him, showing a similar tension between what people say and what they intend, which is a key aspect of the hypocrisy Jesus addresses in Matthew 23.
bensonMatthew 23:1: "Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,"
Matthew 23:1-3 . Then spake Jesus to the multitude — Leaving all converse with his adversaries; whom he now gave up to the hardness of their hearts. The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses’s seat — Or, chair — That is, read and expound the law of Moses, and are the appointed teachers of the people. The Jewish doctors, as is well known, always taught sitting. The name Pharisees being the appellation of a sect, it cannot be s…
calvinMatthew 23:1-12: "Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,"
- Then Jesus spoke to the multitude, and to his disciples, 2. Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in the chair of Moses. 3. Observe and do, therefore, all things whatever they command you to observe; but do not according to their works; for they say and do not. 4. For they bind heavy and intolerable burdens, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they refuse to touch them with their finger. 5. And they do all their…
Jesus begins by addressing both the crowds and his disciples. This highlights that the upcoming critique of the scribes and Pharisees isn't just for the general public to hear, but is also a crucial lesson for his inner circle about spiritual leadership and authority.
Jesus has just concluded a series of intense confrontations with the religious leaders, exposing their hypocrisy and challenging their authority in the Temple courts. Now, turning away from his adversaries, he addresses a broader audience, including both the crowds and his own disciples, to offer a crucial warning about their spiritual guides. This marks a significant shift as Jesus prepares to deliver his final public discourse before his passion.
Jesus has just concluded a series of intense confrontations with the religious leaders, exposing their hypocrisy and challenging their authority in the Temple courts. Now, turning away from his adversaries, he addresses a broader audience, including both the crowds and his own disciples, to offer a crucial warning about their spiritual guides. This marks a significant shift as Jesus prepares to deliver his final public discourse before his passion.
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This highlights a timeless challenge: How do we engage with flawed leaders or institutions? Jesus's answer is clear: respect the divine truth they convey, but reject the human failure they embody.
Passover Week, AD 30
The Prediction of Jerusalem's Destruction
Following His denunciation of the religious leaders, Jesus lamented over Jerusalem and predicted its future destruction, emphasizing its rejection of God's messengers.
"Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice." — Jesus begins by addressing both the crowds and his disciples. This highlights that the upcoming critique of the scribes and Pharisees isn't just for the general public to hear, but is also a crucia…
