Digging Deeper: What was Moses’ Seat?

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Author: Mr. Kenneth Frank | Faculty in Theology, Living Education

Estimated Reading time: 7 min.

Did you know that Moses was honored with a seat in New Testament Jewish synagogues?

Centuries after Moses died, the seat of Moses was an honored chair in these meeting houses. In the first century, there is evidence from some synagogues of a special decorative seat called the “Seat of Moses” on a raised platform. His seat was filled by men who claimed the exalted position of teaching by Moses’ authority. Jesus referred to this religious office with some sharp statements about the religious leaders who occupied it. Today’s Digging Deeper explores the history behind this exalted position with Jesus’ important caveat.

Our central passage for this study is: “Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not” (Matthew 23:1-3 KJV). In this same chapter, Jesus pronounced seven woes upon these men for their abuse of power (Matthew 23:13-36).

The authority of Moses

Moses was the great legislator of the Israelite nation. God inspired him to preach and to inscribe five books (the Torah or Pentateuch) in God’s name. His influence transcended the centuries, for he is named 80 times in our New Testament, having a massive presence among the devout of the land. Moses occupied the office of expounder and chief justice for the application of the law to specific cases of conduct. Exodus 18 describes how his father-in-law convinced him to delegate authority to other judges under his command, thereby sharing his authority but leaving him as the chief justice with God’s final authority. Upon his death, Moses’ authority passed on to his successors who sat in his seat.

The Expository Notes of Dr. Constable explains what sitting in Moses’ seat represented: “According to Old Testament figurative usage a person who sat on a predecessor’s seat was that person’s successor (Exodus 11:5; 12:29; 1 Kings 1:35; 1:46; 2:12; 16:11; 2 Kings 15:12; Psalm 132:12)” (e-Sword 12.2). Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible explains why God permitted them to do so: “They sat there formerly by Divine appointment: they sit there now by Divine permission” (Ibid.). They were not authorized to mandate new law but rather to interpret already provided law for their followers.

The College Press Bible Study Textbook Series describes how his position was transferred upon his death: “Moses’ seat is his cathedra, his ‘Bible Chair’ from which his doctrine is read and expounded. In Malachi’s day it was the priests who had the magisterial responsibility (Malachi 2:7 ff.), a duty as old as the priesthood itself (Leviticus 10:17; Deuteronomy 17:9-13). But with ‘Ezra the priest and scribe’ (Nehemiah 12:26) the function began shifting onto professional scribes (Nehemiah 8:4, 7-9; 8:13, 18; cf. Ezra 7:1-6; 10)” (e-Sword 12.2).

The Transfer of Influence

In the first century, the Levites were to have been Israel’s teachers, but most of them were Sadducees and no longer carried the same authority. Moses’ authority had devolved to the scribes and Pharisees. Study of the Scriptures was of little interest to the indifferent Sadducees. The Pulpit Commentary, edited by H.D.M. Spence and Joseph S. Exell, explains: “The Sadducees seem to have had no popular influence, and were never recognized as leaders. The Levitical priests never appear in the Gospels as teachers or expositors of the Mosaic system; this function of theirs had devolved upon scribes and lawyers” (e-Sword 12.2).

By Jesus’ day, scribes (doctors of the law or legal experts) were mostly from the Pharisaic party instead of the Sadducean, but not all Pharisees were scribes. Dr. Bob Utley’s You Can Understand the Bible describes the scribes as “…experts in the Written Law (OT) and the Oral Law (Talmud) of Israel and were available to make local practical applications. In effect they replaced the traditional OT functions of the local Levites” (e-Sword 12.2). A Commentary on the Holy Bible, edited by J.R. Dummelow explains their claim to authority: “The scribes (who were ordained with the laying-on of hands) claimed to have received their authority through an unbroken succession from Moses. The ‘sitting’ refers to the judicial power, and the authority to teach, which all scribes or rabbis possessed, and which was centred in the Great Sanhedrin [Jewish supreme court]” (Ibid.).

Sitting to Teach

Moses’ writings were read incrementally in the synagogues every Sabbath day (Acts 15:21). When the Law of Moses (Genesis-Deuteronomy) and the Prophets were read from the scrolls stored in “the Ark” (cabinet) in synagogues, the reader stood; however, when he expounded the reading afterward he sat. Sitting was the posture of a teacher. Jesus employed this position to teach as well: “And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him” (Matthew 5:1 KJV). The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges notes that “In the Talmud ‘to sit’ is nearly synonymous with ‘to teach'” (e-Sword 12.2).

When Jesus said the scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, He merely acknowledged the fact. The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges explains His remark about these leaders: “Where they went wrong Jesus will point out. But here He must mention them, because, despite their faults, they uphold Moses, as opposed to the paganizing leadership of the Sadducean priesthood” (e-Sword 12.2).

However, Jesus did criticize their hypocrisy (Matthew 23:3-7). The College Press Bible Study Textbook Series clarifies that Jesus’ criticism of these religious leaders was not for their holding such an authoritative position but “…because their party zeal strenuously applied the theologians’ legalistic conclusions to everyday life with a rigor that required everyone to fall in lock-step behind them. In this sense, the Pharisees, too, were Israel’s teachers, even if unofficially” (e-Sword 12.2).

To do what they say

In Matthew 23:3 Jesus does not dispute the importance of Moses’ law, but His implication is clear. He goes on to explain that these teachers did not obey their teachings (Matthew 23:4). As The College Press Bible Study Textbook Series continues ” … whatever comes from Moses is from God and is to be received with full confidence and submission. Merely because Jesus must undercut the unjustified pretensions of the Jewish magisterium does not mean that Moses must go too. So, before beginning His condemnation of the unfaithfulness and sinful conduct of the religious leaders, He calls for sincere reverence for God’s Law” (e-Sword 12.2).

Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible provides us two important lessons from this passage:

“1. Many a good place is filled with bad men; it is no new thing for the vilest men to be exalted even to Moses’s seat (Psalm 12:8); and, when it is so, the men are not so much honoured by the seat as the seat is dishonoured by the men. Now they that sat in Moses’s seat were so wretchedly degenerated, that it was time for the great Prophet to arise, like unto Moses, to erect another seat.

2. Good and useful offices and powers are not therefore to be condemned and abolished, because they fall sometimes into the hands of bad men, who abuse them. We must not therefore pull down Moses’s seat, because scribes and Pharisees have got possession of it; rather than so, let both grow together until the harvest, Matthew 13:30″ (e-Sword 12.2).

Respect for high office, especially religious office, is a fundamental teaching of church government. Jesus set the record straight at a time when there was much abuse of this position by the religious teachers. This was not meant to condone their unbiblical behavior but rather to instruct their followers to abide by their correct teachings of God’s word, despite their hypocrisy. God’s mighty word will still change lives, even if delivered by defective servants.

Kenneth Frank headshot

Kenneth Frank was born and raised in New Jersey, USA, and attended Ambassador College, graduating in 1973. He served in the Canadian ministry from 1973-1999, after which he returned to the USA to pastor churches in Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina for 15 years. Having earned a BA degree from Ambassador College he later earned a MA degree from Grand Canyon University before being assigned to the Charlotte office to teach at Living University, now Living Education. Currently, he teaches the Survey of the Bible course to the on-campus students and writes the Digging Deeper column for our online Bible study program. He is married, has four children, and seven grandchildren.

Student Life: A Ladies Weekend

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Author: Juliette McNair | Student, Living Education Charlotte 2021

On February 13, at 1:00 p.m., Mrs. Christy McNair, Mrs. Carol Weston, Miss Rebekah Ross, and the female Living Ed students joined the Walterboro congregation for services. Later that evening, after an adventure of several wrong turns, U-turns, and GPS malfunctions, they happily arrived at their booked Airbnb outside the Historic District of Charleston, South Carolina.

The ladies spent a rainy Sunday morning on a “Charleston’s Alleys & Hidden Passages” tour. They followed their guide through romantic city alleys sandwiched between historic brick pubs, meeting houses, and homes. Magnolias, ferns, and camellias sprawled in the tiny spaces around intricately wrought iron gates, red brick walls, and cobblestone pathways. They walked “Rainbow Road,” where old merchant buildings that originally stood on the riverfront were restored in the 1900s into today’s most-photographed section of Charleston. The ladies stood on the Battery promenade—a civil war defensive artillery site—where the Ashley and Cooper rivers pour into the Charleston Harbor. Through the rain, they could just glimpse Fort Sumter, Fort Johnson, and Fort Sullivan across the water.

That afternoon, they walked and shopped the Charleston City Market, only slightly chilled by the cold rain. The girls warmed up that evening with cups of hot chocolate and cheerful conversation They asked Mrs. Weston and Mrs. McNair about their experiences and shared their own. The next day, they rounded off the trip by visiting the Charleston Tea Garden Angel Oak, a huge 1400-year-old southern live oak.

When asked what she enjoyed most about the Charleston weekend, Meredith Hodges replied, “I really enjoyed the car ride. Getting to know Mrs. Weston was really fun… Also, the tour—all those little alleys and plants were really cool. And dancing in the rain.”

The ladies drove back to Charlotte in more stormy weather—but not even a little rain could dampen their fun this weekend.

Juliette McNair headshot

Juliette McNair is a student at Living Education Charlotte. She works in the Editorial Department transcribing sermons and proofreading transcripts. She also assists Living Education by writing Second Thoughts essays and Forum/Assembly Summaries for the website. Juliette recently graduated from SUNY Cobleskill in Upstate New York with an A.A.S in Horticulture, a B.T in Plant Science, and a minor in English with a writing focus. She loves playing soccer on the beach, getting up early to watch the sunrise, and playing piano with the lights out.

Course Spotlight: The Gloss of 1 John 5:7-8

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1 John 5:7-8 is a common passage in Scripture that secular Christians claim that the Bible supports the Trinity. How can we prove that these verses are not talking about God having a Trinitarian nature?

Course Spotlight From The General Epistles: (Part 2) The Letters of John and Jude
Find the answer!

Children’s Bible Program – Level 1: NT Lesson 8 “Jesus and the Centurion”

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Featured Passage: Luke 7

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NT-L1L8 Jesus and the CenturionDownload/Print

Jesus performed many miracles, and His fame grew throughout the region. The Romans were also very much aware of what Jesus was doing. Jesus and His disciples traveled to Capernaum where Roman soldiers were stationed. A Roman centurion, a man who commanded one hundred soldiers, had a servant who was very sick and about to die. When the centurion found out that Jesus was in town he sent some people to get Him knowing this may be the only chance his servant had to be healed.

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Discuss:

  1. Do you think the centurion was an important person in the town? 
  2. Who did the centurion send to get Jesus? Why were the people so eager to help him? 
  3. Why did the centurion send his friends to tell Jesus not to come into the house? 
  4. What was Jesus’ response when he heard what the centurion had said? How did Jesus know that the man had faith? 
  5. What happened to the centurion’s servant?
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Memory Challenge:

Luke 7:8

“For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

Assembly Summary: Don’t Despise the Day of Small Things

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Author: Juliette McNair | Student, Living Education 2021

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes, 55 seconds.

Mr. Rod McNair walked into the Living Ed classroom and hung a large picture frame on the whiteboard. It was a portrait of a regal couple standing in a throne room. He said, “Have you ever thought as you’re going through the day, How does this relate to me ruling over cities?” It’s easy to think that the little things of today are trivial and don’t affect our future kingships. But Mr. McNair pointed out that the knowledge and skills learned today may be exactly what is needed in the future. He began, “I’d like to tell the story of a real-life king.”

“We shall reign with righteousness for the benefits and happiness of the Siamese people.”

King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Thailand’s longest-reigning monarch, swore this traditional oath when he ascended the throne in 1950. He planned a career in engineering and science, but when his brother was killed unexpectedly, he became king, and duties of state took precedence over his personal interests. Yet, King Bhumibol was more than just a royal figurehead in Thailand’s constitutional monarchy. Because of his training in engineering, conservation, forestry, and irrigation, he had the ability to begin 43,000 development projects in his lifetime. That training started when he was very young. The king said once, “Some people wonder why I became interested in irrigation or forestry… When I was 10 years old, a science teacher who is now dead taught me about soil conservation.”

Apply yourself to dead-end situations.

Joseph is another example of a ruler whose earlier experiences prepared him for leadership. He eventually recognized that his past prepared him for a specific role. He said to his brothers, “God sent me before you to preserve life” (Genesis 45:5). Mr. McNair said, “He applied himself in dead-end situations. Joseph asked himself, What can I learn from this?” Mr. McNair gave seven pointers to the students.

“Take advantage of what’s in front of you.”

Ephesians 5:15-16 reads, “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Mr. McNair told the students to not miss out on the three months they have left in Living Ed. “It’s easy to think the big, valuable stuff is somewhere else and miss the goldmine right in front of us.”

“Look beyond what you can see.”

2 Corinthians 5:7 states that Christians walk by faith and not sight. Just like children playing with Legos and dolls, they have no concept of what they will be as adults. “Whatever stage we’re at, we can’t foresee the whole future.”

“Learn how to relate to different types of people.”

One of the biggest lessons a young person learns is that not everybody thinks like them. Mr. McNair said, “You didn’t choose the other people in this program.” Clashes between differing personalities are inevitable. “But you learn that conflict is not the end of the world… Don’t run from it.” The skill to relate to people and work together as a team lasts forever.

“Learn the habit of learning.”

Education does not stop with formal instruction—most of it occurs outside of the classroom. God inspired the workmen who built the tabernacle (Exodus 31:1-7). “God can download knowledge into you… But probably, God used people who had some ability in that direction.” Establish the habit of learning.

“Keep God at the center.”

“For some, life centers around experience—but if we’re not keeping God at the center, that experience is empty.” Even Christ did nothing apart from God and His will (John 5:30). Mr. McNair related how, as a freshman at Ambassador College, he was offered advice from a vastly more experienced sophomore: “You’re going to have too much to do. When you do, make sure you make time to pray.”

“Go all out.”

“That doesn’t mean burn out.” Living-Ed requires the male students to be in Spokesman’s Club and the ladies to do the Women’s Enrichment Program. From cooking for Friday night dinners to participating in the scheduled activities, Mr. McNair said, “Throw yourself into it.” As Dr. Meredith said after his stroke: “I want to learn every lesson God has for me from this.”

“Don’t despise the day of the small things.”

King Bhumibol died in 2016, but his legacy lives on in the Royal Projects scattered around the nation. The small things he learned early in life laid the foundation for his reign. Zechariah 4:9-10 reads, “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; His hands shall also finish it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you. For who has despised the day of small things?” Mr. McNair said, “We’re going to have way more responsibility and opportunities than King Bhumibol… Don’t take it lightly when things start small.”

This post is part of our new series of student-written content for LivingEd-Charlotte. These summaries cover topics originally presented by our faculty and guest speakers in our weekly Forum and Assembly. For more Assembly-related content check out our Second Thoughts posts.

Children’s Bible Program – Level 1: NT Lesson 9 “The Wind and the Waves”

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Featured Passage: Luke 8

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NT-L1L9 The Wind and the WavesDownload/Print

Jesus picked twelve men from among His disciples to travel with Him and to be taught by Him firsthand. Others also followed Jesus throughout the region as He preached the gospel of the Kingdom of God, performed miracles, and healed the sick.  Often, large crowds came to see Jesus and to hear Him preach. They wondered who He could be and what was the meaning of the things He said. His disciples believed that He was the Messiah, but did they really know what that meant? They would soon begin to see.

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Discuss:

  1. Who were some of the women that traveled with Jesus? 
  2. What is a parable? Why did Jesus speak to the people in parables? 
  3. What happened after Jesus and the disciples set out to sea? What was Jesus doing? 
  4. Why do you think the disciples wanted Jesus to wake up? What happened when Jesus woke up? What does the word “rebuke” mean? 
  5. How was Jesus able to calm the storm? What were the disciples’ reactions when the storm ceased? Do you think they were surprised?
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Memory Challenge:

Luke 8:25 

“Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him.”

Children’s Bible Program – Level 1: NT Lesson 10 “A Little Girl Resurrected”

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Featured Passage: Luke 8

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NT-L1L10 A Little Girl ResurrectedDownload/Print

Like wildfire, the news spread that Jesus was doing miracles and healing many people of all kinds of sicknesses. Crowds of people followed Him nearly everywhere He went. One day, when Jesus returned to one of the towns by the Sea of Galilee, a man came to Jesus and desperately begged him to come to his house. The man’s young daughter was very sick and was dying. Jesus began to follow the man, but as he went, the crowd of people tried to keep following Him, bumping and pushing to get close. Suddenly Jesus felt someone touch him. He stopped to find that a woman had reached out to touch His garments, believing she would be healed—and she was! While Jesus was still talking to the woman someone came to tell Him that the little girl had already died. It was too late, or was it?

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Discuss:

  1. How old was the girl who was sick? 
  2. How do you imagine the man, Jarius, felt while the crowd was making it take longer for Jesus to get to his house to heal his daughter? 
  3. What did Jesus say when they found out the little girl was dead? Why do you think He told them that?
  4. Who did Jesus allow to be with Him in the house when He went to the little girl? Why do you think He didn’t want anyone else to come in?
  5. What did Jesus mean when He said the little girl was “sleeping”? Can you think of any other places in the Bible where God says being dead is like sleeping?
  6. How do you think the girl’s parents felt when Jesus caused her to wake up from being dead? Is there anyone you know who has died who you are looking forward to seeing again when God brings them back to life in the resurrection?
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Memory Challenge:

Luke 8:50 

But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, “Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.”

Children’s Bible Program – Level 1: NT Lesson 11 “Five Loaves and Two Fish”

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Featured Passage: Luke 9, John 6

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NT-L1L11 Five Loaves and Two FishDownload/Print

The disciples had just returned from preaching the gospel to many people, and they were excited to tell Jesus about what they had done. Jesus took them to a deserted place so that they could rest. Even so, the crowds heard where they went and came to find them. Jesus began to teach the people so they stayed to listen to Him all day as He preached the gospel of the Kingdom and healed their sick. After sitting there so long everyone started getting hungry.

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Discuss:

  1. Why do you think Jesus wanted to feed the people? How many people were there listening to Him teach?
  2. What food did Andrew find among the people? Who brought the food to share? Was it enough to feed all the people?
  3. What did Jesus do to the food before giving it to the disciples to distribute?
  4. How many baskets of leftover food was taken up by the disciples? 
  5. What did the people want to do when they witnessed the miracle Jesus performed (John 6:14-15)? Why didn’t Jesus want this?
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Memory Challenge:

John 6:35 

“And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.”

Children’s Bible Program – Level 1: NT Lesson 12 “Walking on Water”

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Featured Passage: Matthew 14

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NT-L1L12 Walking on WaterDownload/Print

After a long day, Jesus sent the disciples to the other side of the lake by boat. By a miracle He had fed the multitude with five loaves of bread and two small fish, then he told the people to go home. Jesus wanted to spend some time alone to pray as He often did. Late that night, He went to catch up with the disciples, but they were at sea and He had no boat. This was not a problem for Jesus; He knew exactly what He would do.

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Discuss:

  1. Why do you think Jesus wanted to spend some time alone to pray? 
  2. How did Jesus decide He would catch up with the disciples?
  3. Why was it taking the disciples so long to get to the other side of the lake?
  4. Why were the disciples scared when they saw Jesus coming toward them? 
  5. What did Peter do when He realized who was walking toward them? Why do you think Peter began to sink after he started walking toward Jesus on the water? What lesson can we learn from this?
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Memory Challenge:

Matthew 14:27

“But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”

Children’s Bible Program – Level 1: NT Lesson 13 “The Good Samaritan”

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Featured Passage: Luke 10

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NT-L1L13 The Good SamaritanDownload/Print

Jesus Christ taught many different kinds of people. They would sometimes ask Him questions and many times He would use stories, called parables, to answer them and to explain certain lessons. One day a lawyer asked Christ a question about how to receive eternal life. Jesus found that the man already knew the answer – to have eternal life, he must love God with all his being and love his neighbor as himself. The lawyer then asked Christ, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus could see that the lawyer didn’t really have the right attitude, so He had a very special story in mind to answer his question.

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Discuss:

  1. Why was the lawyer asking Jesus questions? 
  2. What happens to the man who is traveling in the story? 
  3. Who are the first two people who saw the man? What do priests and Levites do as their jobs? Why do you think they didn’t stop to help? 
  4. Who was the third person to see the man lying on the road? Why did he stop to help? What does it mean to have compassion?
  5. How did the Samaritan help the man who was hurt? 
  6. Who is our neighbor? When we see someone who needs help, what should we do? Can you think of some examples of things you could do to help others?
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Memory Challenge:

Luke 10:27

 “…You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”