Moses’ seat refers to the seat of authority occupied by the scribes and Pharisees in Jesus’ day. This phrase is found in Matthew 23:2, where Jesus tells his disciples and the crowds: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat.” The scribes were experts in the Law of Moses and its interpretation, while the Pharisees were a Jewish sect known for their strict observance of religious rituals and traditions. Together, these groups held positions of authority and influence among the Jewish people.
Sitting on “Moses’ seat” meant these religious leaders had successors to Moses’ authority to teach God’s law to the people. However, Jesus went on to warn against following their example, because they were hypocrites who did not practice what they preached (Matthew 23:3). They were more concerned with their own power and prestige than with truly honoring God.
Some key things to understand about Moses’ seat and its meaning:
- It was a position of authority to teach God’s law. As successors to Moses, the scribes and Pharisees had the responsibility to instruct people in the commandments of Scripture.
- It involved interpreting and applying the Mosaic law. The scribes studied and taught the Law of Moses, offering guidance for obeying it.
- The office was originally legitimate but abused by its occupants. Though they held an authoritative role, Jesus condemned the scribes and Pharisees for hypocrisy and false teaching.
- Jesus told his followers to respect the teaching authority but not to imitate the behavior of the religious leaders.
- The principle extends to religious leaders today. While pastors/teachers hold authority to preach God’s Word, they must exemplify the truth in their lives.
Some key Scripture passages to understand Moses’ seat include:
Matthew 23:1-3 – Jesus speaks of the scribes and Pharisees sitting on Moses’ seat, commanding respect for their teaching authority but warning against following their hypocrisy.
Malachi 2:7 – The priest (religious leader) was a “messenger of the Lord” and “guardian of knowledge” under the Mosaic covenant. This foreshadowed the role of scribes and Pharisees.
Ezra 7:6,10 – Ezra was “a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses,” demonstrating the scribal role of interpreting and teaching God’s law authoritatively.
Romans 2:17-24 – Paul condemns the hypocrisy of Jews who teach the law but do not follow it themselves.
James 3:1 – Warning that not many should become teachers, since they will be judged more strictly.
To summarize, “Moses’ seat” refers metaphorically to a position of authority to interpret and teach the Law of Moses. Jesus acknowledged the scribes and Pharisees held this role, but condemned their hypocrisy and abuse of power. Christians should respect church leaders today as having authority to preach God’s Word, but must also hold them accountable for living out the truth consistently.
Now let’s explore this concept in more depth…
The Role and Responsibilities of “Moses’ Seat”
The scribes and Pharisees inherited a position of spiritual authority and responsibility among the Jewish people. As successors to Moses, they occupied “Moses’ seat” – a metaphorical throne of authority to interpret and teach the Mosaic Law.
As teachers of Scripture, their primary duties included:
- Copying, preserving, and teaching the books of the Law of Moses – Genesis through Deuteronomy.
- Interpreting the legal code of the Torah and applying it to everyday situations.
- Deciding difficult or disputed cases of Jewish law through binding halakhic rulings.
- Instructing the common people on obedience to the Law’s commands and precepts.
- Conducting religious education, especially of children, in the Law and its application.
The scribes particularly focused on copying Scripture and providing written commentary on its meaning. The Pharisees tended to focus more on the oral interpretation and practical observance of the Law’s commands. Together, they influenced how the Torah was understood and followed in daily life.
Moses’ seat carried a solemn weight of responsibility. Those who held this office were to act as God’s representatives, teaching His Word faithfully. They were called to handle Scripture with care, uphold its commands with integrity, and instruct the people in holiness and obedience.
Origins in the Old Testament Era
While the office of scribe did not emerge until after the close of the Old Testament, the role of authoritative teachers of the Mosaic Law has its roots in several Old Testament figures and institutions:
- Moses – As the mediator of the Sinai Covenant and the lawgiver, Moses served as the original prophet, priest, and teacher of God’s law for Israel (Exodus 18:13-26).
- Priests – The Levitical priests descended from Aaron taught the law to the people and decided difficult cases (Leviticus 10:8-11; Deuteronomy 17:8-13).
- Levites – The tribe of Levi was set apart to assist the priests and teach the Law throughout Israel (Leviticus 10:11; Deuteronomy 33:8-10).
- Ezra – After the exile, Ezra was a priest and “scribe skilled in the Law of Moses” who taught the people and led reforms (Ezra 7:6, 10).
From this heritage, the offices of scribe and Pharisee emerged as authoritative teachers of God’s Law in the centuries leading up to Jesus’ time.
Religious Climate in New Testament Era
During the Second Temple period, the scribes and Pharisees came to dominate Jewish religious life in Judea:
- With synagogues throughout the land, scribes taught and interpreted Scripture for local Jewish communities.
- Scribal schools in Jerusalem focused on copying Scripture and debating fine points of biblical law.
- As a minority faction of skilled interpreters, the Pharisees promoted strict observance of Sabbath, tithing, ritual purity laws, and more.
- The Sadducees controlled the temple priesthood but lacked popular support due to cooperating with Rome.
Although other groups like the Sadducees held positions of authority, the scribes and Pharisees collectively shaped the practice of Judaism through their intensive study and application of Scripture.
Well-educated and zealous for the Law, they became widely respected authorities on applying the Torah to daily life. Their rulings dictated how most Jews practiced their faith, making them successors of Moses in influence and prestige.
Jesus’ Approach to Moses’ Seat
Jesus took a nuanced approach in His dealings with the scribes and Pharisees:
- He respected the legitimate authority of their office to teach the Law of Moses, telling people to obey their instructions (Matthew 23:2-3).
- But He also openly condemned their hypocrisy, false teaching, and abuse of power over people (Matthew 23:13-36).
- Jesus opposed how they added extensive traditions and legalistic rules not in Scripture (Matthew 15:1-9).
- He pronounced judgment on them for failing to recognize Him as the Messiah (Matthew 23:13-36).
In essence, Jesus upheld the authority of Moses’ seat as an office but rebuked the wickedness of the men who occupied it in His day. He respected their role but not their character.
A key passage is 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.”
Jesus acknowledged the scribes and Pharisees held the office of Moses’ seat. So He upheld their authority to teach the Law. But He immediately warned against following their hypocritical lifestyle and false teachings not grounded in Scripture.
This distinction is vitally important: we respect the office but must evaluate the person. The scribes and Pharisees failed at the personal level even as they occupied a legitimate institutional role.
Lessons for Religious Leadership Today
The complex saga of Moses’ seat contains important lessons for religious leadership today:
- Authority – Church/synagogue leaders occupy an authoritative office passed down from the apostles, like the scribes’ succession of Moses.
- Responsibility – With authority comes great responsibility to handle Scripture rightly and teach/model truth.
- Accountability – Religious leaders must live under the authority of God’s Word even as they teach it.
- Hypocrisy – When leaders fail to practice what they preach, they lose moral authority and breed cynicism.
- Discernment – Laypeople must respect the office but evaluate the person, as Jesus did with Moses’ seat.
The history of Moses’ seat is a cautionary tale of how spiritual authority can be abused. But Jesus modeled how to respect leaders’ role while holding them accountable biblically and behaviorally for wielding it justly.
Moses’ Seat in Revelation
The concept of Moses’ seat surfaces again in Revelation 2-3, in Jesus’ letters to the churches of Pergamum and Thyatira:
But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam…you also have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. (Revelation 2:14–15)
But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants. (Revelation 2:20)
In these passages, Jesus condemns the teaching of false doctrine in the churches, drawing parallel imagery to the abuses of Moses’ seat by the scribes and Pharisees. Just as they corrupted true Mosaic teaching, these heretics in the churches were twisting Christian doctrine.
This reminds believers in every generation to maintain vigilance against unbiblical teaching infiltrating from within. Church leaders must teach truth faithfully, while laypeople must exercise discernment to recognize and reject false doctrines that contradict Scripture.
Moses’ seat serves as a perpetual warning against abusing spiritual authority to mislead God’s people away from His Word.
Conclusion
In summary, Moses’ seat refers to the metaphorical position of authority occupied by the scribes and Pharisees to teach the Law of Moses in Jesus’ day. Though the office carried legitimate responsibility, Jesus condemned the officeholders for using their power hypocritically and teaching false doctrines not grounded in Scripture.
This teaches important lessons on the nature of spiritual authority. Church leaders today inherit authoritative roles for teaching God’s Word. But with great responsibility comes great accountability. Leaders must exemplify the truth they preach, while laypeople must exercise discernment, comparing all teaching to the light of Scripture.
The legacy of Moses’ seat is a perpetual reminder that no religious office confers absolute authority. All human teachers and interpreters stand under the authority of God’s infallible Word. As Galatians 1:8 declares, “Even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.” The Bible stands above all.