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Matthew describes the Pharisees sitting on Moses’ seat, with Jesus saying to follow their teaching but not their action. Rabbinic tradition in Leviticus Rabbah uses similar language, describing the difference between correct teaching and flawed behavior.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Matthew 23:3
New Testament
1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The experts in the law and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat. 3 Therefore pay attention to what they tell you and do it. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they teach. 4 They tie up heavy loads, hard to carry, and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing even to lift a finger to move them. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by people, for they make their phylacteries wide and their tassels long.
Leviticus Rabbah 35:7
Aggadah
Rabbinic
“And observe My commandments, and perform them” – Rabbi Ḥama ben Rabbi Ḥanina said: If you observe the Torah, I ascribe it to you as though you instituted them. “And perform them [otam]” – Rabbi Ḥanina bar Pappa said: He said to them: ‘If you observe the Torah, I ascribe it to you as though you made yourselves.’ “And perform them” – Rabbi Ḥiyya taught: One who studies in order to perform, not one who studies in order not to perform. One who studies not to perform, it would be preferable for him had he not been created. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: One who studies not to perform, it would be preferable had his afterbirth overturned onto his face and he did not emerge to the air of the world. Rabbi Aḥa said: One who studies in order to perform merits to receive the Divine Spirit. What is the source? “So that you will take care to act in accordance with everything that is written in it, as then your way will prosper, and then you will succeed [taskil]” (Joshua 1:8).
Date: 500 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... Jesus’ education and understanding of Torah was in agreement with the Pharisees’ norms, based on both the Written and Oral Torah (Luke 2:41-47). He even taught his disciples and followers: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in the seat of Moses, so be careful to observe everything they tell you” (Matthew 23:2-3). The expression “seat of Moses” is also found in midrashic literature and such seats have actually been found in ancient synagogues. Jesus, however, warned the people not to behave like the Pharisees, because “they say, but do not do” (Matthew 23:3) ..."
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