Click
here to show/hide instructions.
Instructions on how to use the page:
The commentary for the selected verse is is displayed below.
All commentary was produced against the King James, so the same verse from that translation may appear as well. Hovering your mouse over a commentary's scripture reference attempts to show those verses.
Use the browser's back button to return to the previous page.
Or you can also select a feature from the Just Verses menu appearing at the top of the page.
Selected Verse: Matthew 23:2 - Strong Concordance
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
Mt 23:2 |
Strong Concordance |
Saying [3004], The scribes [1122] and [2532] the Pharisees [5330] sit [2523] in [1909] Moses [3475]' seat [2515]: |
|
King James |
Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
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. |
Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
Scribes and Pharisees - See the notes at Mat 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. |
The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917] |
sit in
Compare (Ezr 7:6); (Ezr 7:25); (Ezr 7:26).
Jesus' disciples were to honour the law, but not the hypocritical teachers of it. |
Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Moses' seat (καθέδρας)
Or chair, as Wyc., in allusion to the practice of teachers sitting. |
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
The scribes sit in the chair of Moses - That is, read and expound the law of Moses, and are their appointed teachers. |
Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat - Εκαθισαν. - They sat there formerly by Divine appointment: they sit there now by Divine permission. What our Lord says here refers to their expounding the Scriptures, for it was the custom of the Jewish doctors to sit while they expounded the law and prophets, (Mat 5:1; Luk 4:20-22), and to stand up when they read them.
By the seat of Moses, we are to understand authority to teach the law. Moses was the great teacher of the Jewish people; and the scribes, etc., are here represented as his successors. |
20 Whoso therefore [3767] shall swear [3660] by [1722] the altar [2379], sweareth [3660] by [1722] it [846], and [2532] by [1722] all things [3956] thereon [1883] [846].
16 And [2532] he came [2064] to [1519] Nazareth [3478], where [3757] he had been [2258] brought up [5142]: and [2532], as [2596] his [846] custom [1486] was [2596], he went [1525] into [1519] the synagogue [4864] on [1722] the sabbath [4521] day [2250], and [2532] stood up [450] for to read [314].
7 But [1161] when he saw [1492] many [4183] of the Pharisees [5330] and [2532] Sadducees [4523] come [2064] to [1909] his [846] baptism [908], he said [2036] unto them [846], O generation [1081] of vipers [2191], who [5101] hath warned [5263] you [5213] to flee [5343] from [575] the wrath [3709] to come [3195]?
26 And whosoever [03606] will not [03809] do [01934] [05648] the law [01882] of thy God [0426], and the law [01882] of the king [04430], let judgment [01780] be [01934] executed [05648] speedily [0629] upon him [04481], whether [02006] it be unto death [04193], or [02006] to banishment [08332], or [02006] to confiscation [06065] of goods [05232], or to imprisonment [0613].
25 And thou [0607], Ezra [05831], after the wisdom [02452] of thy God [0426], that is in thine hand [03028], set [04483] magistrates [08200] and judges [01782], which may judge [01934] [01778] all [03606] the people [05972] that are beyond [05675] the river [05103], all [03606] such as know [03046] the laws [01882] of thy God [0426]; and teach [03046] ye them that know [03046] them not [03809].
6 This Ezra [05830] went up [05927] from Babylon [0894]; and he was a ready [04106] scribe [05608] in the law [08451] of Moses [04872], which the LORD [03068] God [0430] of Israel [03478] had given [05414]: and the king [04428] granted [05414] him all his request [01246], according to the hand [03027] of the LORD [03068] his God [0430] upon him.
20 And [2532] he closed [4428] the book [975], and he gave it again [591] to the minister [5257], and sat down [2523]. And [2532] the eyes [3788] of all them [3956] that were [2258] in [1722] the synagogue [4864] were fastened [816] on him [846].
21 And [1161] he began [756] to say [3004] unto [4314] them [846], This [3754] day [4594] is [4137] this [3778] scripture [1124] fulfilled [4137] in [1722] your [5216] ears [3775].
22 And [2532] all [3956] bare [3140] him [846] witness [3140], and [2532] wondered [2296] at [1909] the gracious [5485] words [3056] which [3588] proceeded [1607] out of [1537] his [846] mouth [4750]. And [2532] they said [3004], Is [2076] not [3756] this [3778] Joseph's [2501] son [5207]?
1 And [1161] seeing [1492] the multitudes [3793], he went up [305] into [1519] a mountain [3735]: and [2532] when he [846] was set [2523], his [846] disciples [3101] came [4334] unto him [846]: