The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 412

Vers. 1-12.-Ethics of authority. After Jesus had put the Jewish sectaries to silence, he addressed his disciples and the people, who had witnessed his encounters, as to how they should deport themselves in respect to the scribes and Pharisees. L SECULAll AUTHORITY SHOULD BE RESPECTED. 1. Jewish magistrates were to be obeyed. (ii.) "The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses' seat." Moses is figuratively represented as then still sitting to dflliver his oracles (cf. Acts xv. 21). Note here the lessons of posthumollll influence. (2) The Law of Moses was the municipal law of the state. '.!.'he scribes and Pharisees, being members of the Sanhedrin and inferior councils, "sat in Moses' seat," viz. as magistrates. As expounders of the municipal law, they did not travel out of their depth., and were therein sufficiently learned to give them weight and reputation. (3) Evil men occupy good places. The seat of Moses must not be overturned because its occupants dishonour it. It must rather be upheld to make them ashamed. 2. Pagan rulers are to be obeyed. (1) Any regular government is better than none. The tyranny of a monarch is more tolerable than the anarchy of a mob. (2) Christ mbmitted to the rule of Ciesar, and to that of the inferior Roman magistrates. This he did purely for our example. (3) His inspired apostles encouraged obedience to existing authorities as being "ordained of God.'' They were therefore to be held in reverence. They were to be supported. Taxes were to be paid to them. Prayer was to be made for them. IL THE EXilll'LE OF EVIL BULERS llUST BE AVOIDED. 1. .A, lnconsistent teachers. (l) The scribes and Pharisees did not fill the chair of Moses as theologians with the sanction of Christ. On the contrary, he Rhowed that they made void the Law by their traditions. Be warned h.iR followen to beware of their doctrine (see eh. xvi. 6). (2) They might be obeyed in what they read from the Law and the prophets. 'l'he "there- fore " limits the application of the "all things whatsoever" to precepts of inspiration as distinct from the traditions of the elders. We may not reject sound teaching beca.W1e of the =worthiness of the teacher. (3) Yet must we be suspicious of the teaching of ~e wicked. People must be warned of wolves and doge and deceitful workers (of. Ac!J! x.x. 29, 80; Phil. iii 2; 2 Cor. xi 13). 2. .As inconaistent workers. (1) "The;v B&Y, and do not." The study of the hypocrite is to seem religious in the eight of men, ra.ther than to be religions in the sight of God. (2) They would aggravate the burden of the Law, which was sufficient in itself (see Acts xv. 10), by the addition of traditional impost.a. (3) The burden they imposed upon the people they would not touch with & -finger t,hemselves. They were the priests who fasted upon wine and s_weetmeats, wLlJ.e they furced the people to fast upon bread and water I (4) How different the e1&mple of Christ, who took upon himself our heaviest burden, to make all easy for his people! a. .a, ~ l e , of pride and ostentation. (1) 'l'he scribes and Phariaeea OJI, xxm. 1-39.J THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. 417