²“The ^•scribes and the ^•Pharisees are seated in the chair of Moses. ^j^k³Therefore do whatever they tell you, and observe it. But don’t do what they do, ^lbecause they don’t practice what they teach. ^m

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Footnotes

•A professional group in Judaism that copied the law of Moses and interpreted it, especially in legal cases
•A religious sect of Judaism that followed the whole written and oral law
j23:2 Perhaps a special chair for teaching in synagogues, or a metaphorical phrase for teaching with Moses’ authority
l23:3 do according to their works

Cross references

k23:2 Ezr 7:6, 25; Neh 8:4
m23:3 Mt 5:20; 15:3–9; Rm 2:17–23

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

“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.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

“The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

“The scribes and the Pharisees are seated in the chair of Moses. Therefore do whatever they tell you, and observe it. But don’t do what they do, because they don’t practice what they teach.

NLTNew Living Translation

“The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on the seat of Moses. Therefore do and observe everything that they tell you, but do not do as they do, for they tell others to do something and do not do it themselves.

KJV 1900King James Version

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.

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