Matthew 23:2

“Saying, the Scribes and Pharisees, etc.] The Persic version adds, the priests: but Christ does not here speak of the sanhedrim, or grand council of the nation, and of their legislative power; but of those that were the teachers of the people, and the interpreters of the law; and of those, who, though they corrupted the word with their glosses and traditions, yet retained some truth, and at least came nearer truth, than the Sadducees; who therefore are omitted, and only Scribes and Pharisees mentioned, who gave the literal and traditional sense of the Scriptures; of whom he says, they sit in Moses’s seat: not that they were his successors in his office as a legislator and mediator; though the…”

“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 Luk 4:16 with Mat 23:20. in Moses' seat--that is, as interpreters of the law given by Moses.”

“Scribes 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 explaining it. return to 'Top of Page'”

“The scribes sit in the chair of Moses - That is, read and expound the law of Moses, and are their appointed teachers. Matthew 23:3”

“23:2 the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses: They transmitted the oral traditions that were associated with the law and thought to be from Moses, and they judged religious and social matters on the basis of these traditions (see 15:2).”

“Neh 8:4-8; Mal 2:7; Mar 12:38; Luk 20:46 Matthew 23:3”