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"The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do" (Mt 23:13).

1. If the disciples were required to observe whatever the scribes and the Pharisees told them, they would have to end up denying the Lord; wouldn't they?


2. Does anyone in our modern day sit 'in Moses' seat'? If so who are they e.g. the Jewish Rabbis. And are we required to observe anything they say?

Moses’ seat is a symbolic expression only, there was no real chair. The seat of Moses signifies the teaching authority of the scribes and Pharisees. Sitting in Moses’ seat means teaching from the books of Moses, the Pentateuch: the first five books of the Bible. The reader (in this case a scribe or Pharisee) would exhort the people to be keepers of the law of Moses. Obviously our Lord Jesus Christ here is saying that whatever scripture (Moses' seat) they read from and bid the people to observe, should be observed by the people. They piously read from the scriptures, but did not keep nor carry out what the scriptures had taught. Our Lord Jesus Christ tells the people not to follow their example. In other words, He wants us to obey what the Holy Scriptures say but not those who read it and interpret it falsely.